SWS: Pinoys’ trust in China drops to - 24

MANILA, Philippines — More Filipinos expressed “little trust” in China, according to the second quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The poll, taken from June 22 to 26, found 51 percent of adult Filipinos who have little trust in China against 27 percent who have much trust in the country for a net trust rating of -24, classified by the SWS as poor.

China’s latest net trust rating was down 18 points from the neutral -6 in March 2019, and the lowest since the bad -35 in June 2018.

Four in 10 or 43 percent of Filipino adults meanwhile disagreed with the statement, “Most of what the Chinese government wants to happen in the Philippines is good for the Filipinos.”

Only 27 percent agreed, while 30 were undecided about the matter.

This resulted in a net agreement score of -16, classified by SWS as moderately weak, similar to the net -17 in December 2018.

On the other hand, the survey found 81 percent who said they have much trust in the United States against only eight percent who said they have little trust in the country, for a net trust rating of excellent +73.

The remaining 11 percent of respondents were undecided.

This was up 13 points from the very good +60 in March 2019, and the highest since the excellent +74 in September 2015.

To the statement, “Most of what the American government wants to happen in the Philippines is good for the Filipinos,” 55 percent agreed. However, 17 percent disagreed.

This resulted in a very strong net agreement score of +39, up 31 points from the neutral +8 in December 2005, and the highest since the record-high very strong +40 in May 1986. The remaining 28 percent were undecided.

Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Malaysia also received “good” trust ratings in the SWS poll.

The nationwide survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults, 18 years old and above.

SPE: P773-B Phl patrimony lost

Part of China’s failing trust rating among Filipinos may be due to reports that more than P700 billion worth of Philippine patrimony have been lost to China midway into President Duterte’s administration.

Ahead of the President’s State of the Nation Address, representatives from non-government organizations and academe have issued their annual State of the Philippine Environment (SPE) report, saying three years of the Duterte government have “resulted in the wholesale of at least P773 billion worth of the Philippines’ sovereign mineral, water, wildlife and marine resources.”

The estimate was based on a study conducted by the UP Marine Science Institute which said that, annually, China has been causing P33 billion worth of damage through the destruction of coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea, or about P99 billion from 2016 to 2018.

The SPE was issued during a forum attended by some 600 participants from various schools, universities, NGOs and institutions, based on “updates on the status of the country’s state of ecosystems and natural resources.”

The forum, which concluded the other day at the Ateneo de Manila University, was organized by the Center for Environmental Concerns, in cooperation with the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, Ateneo de Manila Development Studies Program and the Ateneo Environmental Science Society.

The SPE also stated that another P23 billion worth of lands and waters were promised as sovereign guarantees to pay in full should the country default on its loans that Duterte entered into with China for the New Centennial Water System-Kaliwa Dam project and the Chico River Pump Irrigation project.

“The Biodiversity Management Bureau estimates that roughly P50 billion worth of illegal wildlife trade per year, or P150 billion from 2016 to 2018, has poached and smuggled out endangered flora and fauna out of the country,” the SPE said.

However, foreign dominated and export oriented large-scale mining has cost the Filipino people the most.

Data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed that P501.4 billion worth of minerals have been exported to other countries by large-scale mining operations in the same timeframe.

The SPE noted that the P773 billion does not even account for all other environmental costs lost to other projects and future damage it may bring.

“Studies have to be done to ascertain how much opportunity costs have been lost, and how much other consequential damages down the line may be incurred because of this wholesale,” the statement said.

“There has been a short supply of the political will that President Duterte promised. The promise of an independent foreign policy has devolved into a policy of subservience to China and other foreign, corporate interests. The promise to close down big mines has resulted in the reversal of nine out of 13 mines originally up for suspension or closure,” the SPE added.

“The Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement of Oceanagold Mining, an Australian-Canadian mining firm, has been endorsed for renewal by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, despite its economic and development contributions amounting only to 5.4 percent of the mineral value it has plundered in Nueva Vizcaya province,” the annual statement also said.

“Despite this, we believe there is hope for our environment and natural patrimony. Hope lies in the indigenous communities in Nueva Vizcaya currently barricading against Oceanagold. It lies in the para-enforcers of Palawan apprehending chainsaw users and poachers through citizens’ arrests. It lies in the upcoming thousands upon thousands of people expected to converge in the United People’s Action, where the real state of the nation will be demonstrated,” the SPE also said. – With Louise Maureen Simeon, Ding Cervantes