MAJORITY of Filipinos believe the government’s social welfare “ayuda” programs like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and the Ayuda sa Kapos and Kita Program (AKAP), are helpful to poor Filipinos, separate surveys of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia showed.
The Stratbase Consultancy Group commissioned the SWS survey which was held from January 17 to 20 and involved 1,800 respondents with a ±2 percent margin of error while the Pulse Asia survey was held from January 18 to 25 and involved 2,400 respondents with a margin of error of ±2 percent.
The SWS survey showed that 90 percent of Filipinos found 4Ps helpful (66 percent “very helpful” and 24 percent “somewhat helpful”) while 9 percent said it was not helpful (5 percent “somewhat not helpful” and 4 percent “not at all helpful”).”
The survey firm also found that 88 percent consider Tupad as helpful (51 percent “very helpful,” and 37 percent “somewhat helpful”) while 12 percent said it was not helpful (7 percent “somewhat not helpful” and 5 percent “not helpful at all”).
The survey also showed that 81 percent believed that AKAP is beneficial (42 percent rating “very helpful” and 39 percent as “somewhat helpful”) while 19 percent said it is not helpful (10 percent “somewhat not helpful” and 9 percent “not helpful at all”).
SWS said the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), for Food Stamp Program, is perceived as helpful by 81 percent (48 percent “very helpful” and 33 percent “somewhat helpful”) while 19 percent said it is not helpful (12 percent “somewhat not helpful” and 7 percent “not helpful at all”).
It also said that 80 percent also deemed the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program as helpful (42 percent “very helpful” and 38 percent “somewhat helpful”).
Strabase said the SWS findings were echoed by the Pulse Asia results which showed that 82 percent of Filipinos view 4Ps as beneficial and helped improve the financial stability of Filipinos belonging to the lower social class of society while 9 percent said it worsened.
Pulse Asia also found that 82 percent of Filipinos also view Tupad as beneficial to the overall well-being of Filipinos while 8 percent said it is not beneficial.
Stratbase Group President Dindo Manhit said to many Filipinos, the different social welfare programs of the government have become “an essential lifeline” especially for struggling families.
“These programs serve as a safety net for Filipino families, which helps them meet their basic needs…There’s no doubt that Filipinos can feel the importance and impact of the government’s ayuda programs. These are strong examples of public funds being used to respond to the needs of the Filipino people,” Manhit said.
