PUBLIC approval of the Duterte government’s efforts to address key national issues and public concern such as inflation, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, criminality, and corruption continued its decline from February this year, the September 6 to 11 Ulat sa Bayan survey of Pulse Asia showed.
The survey also found that public approval ratings of government efforts to address 14 issues of concern dropped between 11 and 26 points compared to a survey conducted in September last year.
The latest survey involved 2,400 adult respondents nationwide and had a margin of error of ±2 percent.
Pulse Asia said that despite this, the administration maintained majority approval ratings in nine issues such as the fight against criminality with 74 percent (down from 79 percent in the last survey in June, 80 percent in the February survey, and 88 percent in the September 2020 survey), and in responding to the needs of calamity-hit areas with 71 percent (down from 73 percent in June, and 82 percent in February and September 2020).
The national government also scored majority approval ratings in the protection of the welfare of overseas Filipino workers with 66 percent (down from 73 percent, 76 percent and 79 percent), and in the promotion of peace in the country with 64 percent (down from 70, 75, and 81 percent in the the June, February, and September 2020 surveys).
It obtained majority approval ratings in providing assistance to those who lost their job or source of livelihood due to the pandemic (64 percent down from 66, 77 and 84 percent), and on the enforcement of the rule of law on all citizens with 60 percent (down from 67, 69 and 76 percent in June February and Sept 2020).
It enjoyed a majority approval rating in controlling the spread of COVID-19, with 59 percent (down from 65, 77, and 84 percent); stopping environmental destruction, 56 percent (down from 61, 65, and 75 percent); and fighting corruption, 52 percent (down from 64, 67 and 77 percent).
It scored near majority approval ratings in efforts to defend the national territorial integrity (49 percent down from 52 , 62, and 65 percent); creating more jobs (49 percent down from 54, 56, and 72 percent); and in increasing workers’ pay (48 percent down from 54, 57, and 73 percent).
The administration also saw its approval rating drop in efforts to reduce poverty (41 percent down from 44, 48 and 65 percent), and in controlling inflation (37 percent down from 43, 45, and 63 percent in the June, February and September 2020 surveys).
Pulse Asia said Filipinos disapproved most the government’s performance in handling inflation with 36 percent (up from 30 percent in June 2021 and 17 percent in September 2020) and in reducing poverty with 32 percent (up from 22 percent and 13 percent).
At least two of 10 Filipinos also disapproved of government’s performance in the creation of more jobs (22 percent up from 18 percent and 6 percent), addressing graft and corruption (22 percent up from 12 percent and 9 percent), and increase the pay ow workers (21 percent up from 16 percent and 9 percent).
Pulse Asia said four out of 10 Filipinos said the most urgent concern that the government should immediately address is inflation (41 percent) and increasing the pay of workers (40 percent).
Two of three Filipinos said the most urgent national concerns are reducing poverty (29 percent), fighting graft and corruption (26 percent), and creating more jobs.
Other concerns that the national government should attend to are the needs of those who lost their jobs or sources of livelihood due to the pandemic (19 percent), enforcing the rules of law on all citizens (15 percent), promoting peace (15 percent), and addressing the problem of involuntary hunger (15 percent), fighting criminality (14 percent) and environmental destruction (11 percent).
Other urgent national concerns are reducing the amount of taxes paid by citizens (8 percent), defending the country’s territorial integrity against foreigners (5 percent), protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (5 percent), and preparing to face terrorist threats (2 percent).
The main concern for those from Metro Manila (46 percent) and Luzon (42 percent) is inflation while Visayans (47 percent) and Mindanaoans (40 percent) are more concerned about increasing the pay of workers.
Controlling inflation is also the main concern of those from socio-economic classes ABC (40 percent) and E (45 percent), while those from Class D are equally concerned about inflation and increasing the pay of workers (40 percent each).
Staying healthy, meanwhile, is the top urgent personal concern of Filipinos (70 percent) followed by securing a well-paying job (47percent), having enough to eat daily (46 percent), and finishing school or providing school for children (43 percent).
Other urgent personal concerns of Filipinos are having some savings (32 percent), avoiding being a victim of any serious crime (32 percent), and having their own house and lot (30 percent).
Staying healthy and avoiding illnesses is the concern of the majority across all geographic areas (58 percent to 76 percent) and socioeconomic classes (68 percent to 87 percent).
