A QUARTER of the Philippine population or 25 percent claimed their lives worsened in the last three months, slightly higher than the 22 percent that was recorded in the second quarter of the year, the September 27 to 30 survey of the Social weather Stations (SWS) showed.
The third quarter SWS survey, which involved 1,800 adult respondents nationwide with a margin of error of ±2.3 percent, also showed that fewer Filipinos expect their lives and the country’s economy to improve in the next 12 months.
The September survey showed that 25 percent of Filipinos said their lives worsened (up from 22 percent in June) – classified by SWS as losers- while 36 percent said it improved (unchanged from June) — classified by SWS as gainers.
This yielded a net gainers score (gainers’ percentage minus losers’ percentage) of a “very high” +11 down from a “very high” +13.
SWS classifies net gainers score of +20 and up as “excellent,” +10 to +19 as “very high,” +1-+9 as “high,” -9 to 0 as “fair,” -19 to -10 as “mediocre,” -29 to -20 as “low,” -30 and down as “very low.”
The SWS attributed the latest net gainers’ score to the change in the ratings in the Visayas (+7 down from +17) and Luzon (+8 from +14), combined with the improvement in Mindanao (+15 from +7) and unchanged rating in Metro Manila (+18).
The survey firm also found that 46 percent of the Filipinos are optimistic the quality of life will improve next year (unchanged from June) while 5 percent (up from 4 percent) expect it to get worse which resulted in a net personal optimism score of an “excellent” +41 (down from +42).
SWS classifies net personal optimism score of +40 and up as “excellent,” +30 to +39 as “very high,” +20-+29 as “high,” +10 to +19 as “fair,” +1 to +9 as “mediocre,” -9 to 0 as “low,” -10 and down as “very low.”
SWS also found that 41 percent (down from +42) of respondents expects the Philippine economy to growth in the next 12 months while 12 percent (up from +10) say it will slow down, yielding a net economic optimism score of +28 (down five points from +33).
SWS classifies net economic optimism score of +20 and up as “excellent,” +10 to +19 as “very high,” +1-+9 as “high,” -9 to 0 as “fair,” -19 to -10 as “mediocre,” -29 to -20 as “low,” -30 and down as “very low.”
