Survey: Metro Manilans believe quality of life to improve

A survey conducted by Vox Populi Philippines showed that 28.8 percent of Metro Manilans believe their economic conditions will improve in the coming months.

A sizable segment particularly looks forward to a better life this year as a result of employment opportunities in war-torn Iraq.

Of those who said their economic condition will improve, 12.7 percent belonged to the A-B economic class; 34 percent from the upper C, 40.6 percent from the lower C and 12.7 percent from the DE income segments.

This positive outlook gave President Arroyo a 56.4 percent public acceptance rating for having joined the so-called "coalition of the willing," which gave moral support to the United States in its armed action in Iraq.

Employment opportunities in the rehabilitation of Iraq had been closely watched by countries that provide overseas labor force, including the Philippines.

As early as the onset of the US-Iraq conflict, the government has already projected some 10,000 job openings in the devastated country, through peacekeeping or humanitarian work.

The Vox Populi survey was conducted last April 5 and 6 with 1,330 respondents selected at random from all 17 cities and towns in Metro Manila.

Majority of the survey respondents (47.5 percent), however, think their economic status will not change.

The bulk of those who believe that there will be no significant improvement in their economic condition came from the lower C income bracket (35.3 percent).

This was followed by the upper C (28.2 percent), DE (22 percent) and AB (8 percent).

Meanwhile, 22.5 percent of the respondents said their condition will deteriorate this year.

Those who are not so optimistic about their chances came mostly from the lower C at 41.6 percent, followed by upper C at 33.1 percent, DE at 22.1 percent and even the AB class at 3.2 percent.