Pinoys’ optimism on better life gets ‘very high’ grade

Filipinos have remained very hopeful that their quality of life and the country’s economy will improve in 2017, according to the fourth quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) last year.

The survey showed a net optimism score of +45, two points up from the previous quarter’s +43 (46 percent optimists, three percent pessimists) and steadied at a “very high” grade.

The poll, conducted Dec. 3 to 6, 2016, among 1,500 respondents, found

that 48 percent of Filipinos are optimistic that their personal quality of life will be better in the next 12 months. Only three percent expect it to get worse.

SWS said net personal optimism score has been above +40 for the past five quarters.

Their lives improved

The December survey also showed 37 percent of respondents saying their lives improved (“gainers”) from 12 months ago and 21 percent saying theirs have worsened (“losers”), resulting to a +16 net gainers score.

This, however, declined from the September survey’s record-high +19 (36 percent gainers, 17 percent losers), which the SWS still classifies as “very high.”

Net optimism

The SWS classified net gainers and net optimism with scores of at least +30 as “very high;” +20 to +29, “high;” the +10 to +19 range that contains the historical median and mode – or what is normally expected – is classified as “fair;” +1 to +9, “mediocre” since this range is below what is normally expected; zero to – 9, “low;” as well as -- 10 and below, “very low.”

SWS said net personal optimism remained “very high” across geographical areas – with Mindanao returning to a record high at +54 which was first recorded in June last year.

Across socio-economic classes, highest optimism score was recorded from those in the poorest class E which increased seven points to a new record-high +46 in the December survey.

Net gainer scores likewise steadied in “very high” status across geographical areas and socioeconomic classes, with Metro Manila having a record-breaking of +20 and class ABC with a new record of +30.

‘On the right track’

Malacañang has welcomed the results of a survey showing high public optimism in the quality of life, saying it indicated President Duterte is on the right track in pursuing inclusive growth and peace and order in the country.

“The latest survey reaffirms that the President is on the right track for espousing economic progress and peace and order,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

Optimistic about economy

The same poll showed that 51 percent or five of 10 Filipinos are optimistic that the Philippines’ economy will improve in the next 12 months.

Eight percent, on the other hand, felt it would worsen, baring a “very high” net optimism score of +43, down one point from September’s +44.

SWS said optimism for the economy has been constantly in “very high” territory since June last year.

The nationwide poll had sampling error margins ±3 points for national percentages, and ±4 for Balance Luzon and ±6 each for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao. (With a report from Genalyn Kabiling)