‘Most Pinoys do not want to work abroad’

MANILA, Philippines - Most Filipinos (88 percent) aspire to obtain gainful employment in the country instead of going abroad to work.

This was according to a nationwide survey conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Completed last February, NEDA’s Ambisyon Natin 2040 survey also shows that Filipinos aspire to eventually live in a country that can guarantee their security in their respective communities.

Furthermore, the survey shows that most Filipinos are attracted to a middle class and family-centric life rather than an affluent lifestyle.

Seventy-nine percent of Filipinos aspire for a “simple and comfortable life” defined as having a medium-sized home, having enough earnings to support everyday needs, owning at least one vehicle, having the means to provide their children with college education and traveling within the country for vacations, the survey showed.

When all these needs have been met, they would also want to be able to run a business, have savings and be able to afford to spend more leisure time with family and friends.

In terms of good governance, most Filipinos expressed the need to eliminate petty corruption in government transactions. This is defined as the need to pay extra to get their transactions with the government moving.

The survey, which was initiated last year, utilized face-to-face interviews of 10,000 persons across all economic classes. The respondents are aged 15 to 50 years old.

Respondents were picked from both urban and rural areas nationwide except in high-risk areas such as Abra, Sulu and Basilan and provinces with small population such as Apayao, Batanes, Siquijor, Camiguin and Dinagat Islands.