Survey on effect of martial law: ‘Neutral’ but on verge of ‘unfavorable’

Filipinos’ opinion about the effect of Martial Law in Mindanao on the Philippine economy was “neutral” but on the verge of getting “unfavorable,” based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.

The nationwide survey fielded over the period of June 23 to 26 among 1,200 respondents found that 43 percent of Filipinos were saying the country’s economy will be the same even after the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, 33 percent of Filipinos were expecting the economy to get worse, while 24 percent were expecting it to get better.

The proportion of respondents having expressed that the Philippine economy will get better and those having expressed that it will get worse translates to a “neutral” -9.

SWS classifies net figures as follows: +50 and above, “extremely favorable”; +30 to +49, “very favorable”; +10 to +29, “moderately favorable,” +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “moderately unfavorable”; -30 to -49, “very unfavorable”; -50 and below, “extremely unfavorable.”

SWS found that there were unfavorable opinions in the rest of Luzon and Visayas but were countered by neutral opinions in Mindanao and Metro Manila.

In the rest of Luzon, the balance of opinion is net -14 (22 percent better versus 36 percent worse).

In Visayas, it is net -13 (24 percent better versus 37 percent worse).

Double-digit negative balances are classified by SWS as “moderately unfavorable.”

Meanwhile, in Mindanao, the balance of opinion is zero or neutral (27 percent better versus 27 percent worse).

In Metro Manila, the balance of opinion is net -7 (23 percent better and 29 percent worse), which is also neutral.

Among the 40 percent of Filipinos opposed to Martial Law in Mindanao, SWS found that there is unfavorable response on the effect of Martial Law on Philippine economy.

The findings on people’s opinion about President Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao were reported by SWS last July 11.

The balance of opinion on the effect of Martial Law on the Philippine economy is net -23 (17 percent better versus 40 percent worse) among the 29 percent who said President Duterte should have declared Martial Law only in Marawi City and Lanao Del Sur.

The balance is a similar net -22 (20 percent better versus 42 percent worse) among the 11 percent who said President Duterte should have declared Martial Law only in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, and nearby provinces.

“Thus, opinions are clearly unfavorable among the large minority 40 percent wanting a more limited geographic scope for Martial Law,” SWS pointed out.

Meanwhile, the balance of opinion is a neutral +1 (28 percent better versus 27 percent worse) among the 57 percent saying it was right that Martial Law was declared for all of Mindanao.

As also shown in the survey results, the balance of opinion is slightly negative in urban areas, at -11 (22 percent better versus 33 percent worse), but neutral in rural areas, at -8 (25 percent better versus 33 percent worse), respectively.

The balance of opinion is negative among the middle-to-upper ABC classes (net -21) and among non-elementary graduates (net -20).

In most demographic groups, SWS said the pluralities expect the economy to be unaffected either way.