Pinoys not satisfied with government on poverty, inflation – OCTA

MANILA, Philippines — Less than half of Filipinos were satisfied with government efforts to reduce poverty, results of a recent OCTA Research survey showed.

The results of the March 24 to 28 survey released yesterday showed only 38 percent were satisfied with the government in terms of reducing poverty, with 25 percent dissatisfied and 37 percent undecided.

The survey also indicated that only 35 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the government’s performance in managing inflation.

Thirty-six percent said they were dissatisfied, while 28 percent were undecided.

The Marcos administration received a satisfaction rating of over 50 percent in 22 other issues included in the survey.

Leading the list were providing quality and secondary education (82 percent satisfied, one percent dissatisfied), providing quality tertiary and technical education (80 percent satisfied, two percent dissatisfied), responding to natural disasters (80 percent satisfied, two percent dissatisfied), developing public infrastructure (79 percent satisfied, two percent dissatisfied) and protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (79 percent satisfied, four percent dissatisfied).

On providing quality and affordable health care, 76 percent of respondents said they were satisfied and five percent dissatisfied, protecting human rights (75 percent satisfied, three percent dissatisfied), improving foreign relations (73 percent satisfied, three percent dissatisfied), promoting peace and order (73 percent satisfied, six percent dissatisfied) and defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners (68 percent satisfied, five percent dissatisfied).

Other issues included in the survey were stopping the destruction of the environment (68 percent satisfied, five percent dissatisfied), fighting criminality (68 percent satisfied, eight percent dissatisfied), preparing for terrorist threats (67 percent satisfied, five percent dissatisfied), enforcing the law (65 percent satisfied, seven percent dissatisfied), ensuring food security (63 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied) and helping the poor (63 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied).

Completing the list were preventing the spread of illegal drugs (60 percent satisfied, 12 percent dissatisfied), creating more jobs (57 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied), controlling population growth (54 percent satisfied, 12 percent dissatisfied), reducing hunger (53 percent satisfied, 14 percent dissatisfied), fighting graft and corruption (52 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied) and reducing taxes (52 percent satisfied, 11 percent dissatisfied).

Satisfaction with the government’s performance in various issues varies across major areas.

At 18 percent, respondents in Metro Manila and Mindanao were least satisfied with the government in terms of managing inflation, compared to those in the rest of Luzon at 37 percent and the Visayas at 65 percent.

The Marcos administration obtained its lowest satisfaction rating among respondents in Balance Luzon in terms of reducing poverty (36 percent) and in the Visayas in terms of reducing hunger (60 percent).

Across socio-economic classes, managing inflation and reducing poverty also had the lowest satisfaction ratings.

OCTA’s non-commissioned Tugon ng Masa survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of +/- three percent.