PHNO-HL: BETTER LIFE AHEAD? PALACE CITED SWS POLL REPORT OF IMPROVED OPTIMISM


 


BETTER LIFE AHEAD? PALACE CITED SWS POLL REPORT OF IMPROVED OPTIMISM

[PHOTO - AGAINST DEMOLITION Residents raise their fists and chant slogans after setting up a barricade to stop the scheduled demolition of their houses in Barangay South Triangle along Mother Ignacia Ave. in Quezon City. The residents made the move after receiving notice from the Quezon City government for them to vacate their houses within five days. (Photo by MARK BALMORES)]

MANILA, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 (BULLETIN) Malacañang cited Monday the improved optimism among Filipinos towards a better life this year, based on the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

In the survey conducted last June 3-6, 36 percent of the respondents expect their lives would improve in the next 12 months, while nine percent said otherwise.

The net personal optimism reached a high of +27 in the June survey.

"What is most significant is that, overall – nationally speaking, optimists at +36 outnumber pessimists at -9 at a ratio of 4:1," said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

He said the survey results on the people's bullish outlook were a recognition and support to the government's clean and transparent governance, and resolve for inclusive growth.

"This latest snapshot of public opinion shows that the government and the people are as one, in their positive attitude, based on the improved fiscal situation and policies conducive to inclusive growth of the administration," Lacierda said.

"This is a recognition by domestic public opinion that parallels the recognition of improvements in governance and the economy by foreign institutions, whether in terms of the four upgrades given to the government by ratings agencies, or the latest good news on the competitiveness ranking of the Philippines jumping a truly remarkable 10 points in the span of one year," he added.

The result was an improvement from the net personal optimism of +24 recorded last March.

"The Filipino people remain overwhelmingly bullish on their personal prospects for the coming 12 months," Lacierda said.

The survey also showed an increased positive outlook of the economy. At least 29 percent of the respondents are optimistic the economy will get better in the next 12 months, and 16 percent predict it will worsen.

With the positive outlook of many Filipinos, Lacierda claimed that there is no longer space for pessimism in the country.

He stressed that the government will continue its efforts to achieve peace, stability, and economic growth in the country.

"The nay-saying, apathy, and discouraged attitudes of the past are giving way to a can-do attitude in the public and private sectors, as we continue to unite to make our country more competitive, and achieve growth, stability, and peace despite the many turbulent events in the global economy," he said.

Meanwhile, the group Makabayan Coalition said Malacañang should not gloat over the so-called optimism of classes A, B, and C in the urban areas covered by the survey, noting the same survey should the perception of classes D and E about their misery in the next 12 months has not improved.

Liza Maza, Makabayan spokesperson, also claimed that respondents in the Visayas and Mindanao, who are most affected by continuing price increases of oil products, found the situation to be worse.

SWS results showed the optimism rating diving by five percent in the Visayas, and three percent in Mindanao.

"The prevailing public perception is that Aquino is just covering up for the Big 3 oil cartel comprised of foreign oil monopolies to the detriment of consumers, business and the nation's interest," Maza added.

"If Aquino truly wants dialogue, he should walk the talk," she argued.

"The administration so far has done the opposite of meaningful dialogue since it has committed grievous mistakes. First, it has shot down Makabayan's petition before the Department of Finance (DoF) to suspend the 12 percent VAT (value-added tax) on oil products despite the P4.4 billion in windfall that the government gained in previous oil price hikes, and second, it has insisted on a dole-out Pantawid Pasada Program merely meant to coop transport groups," Maza noted.

"Moreover, it has not included House Bill 4355, also known as the Downstream Oil Industry Regulation Act among his 13 priority bills in Congress, refused a rollback even on the overpricing of oil products estimated at P9 and continues to insist on so-called belt-tightening measures even as the people are getting poorer and the cost of doing business is getting worse, precluding any meaningful capital build-up in the process," she stressed.

"If the Malacanang spokesperson can only see through the SWS survey, public optimism may be up since March but only for the ABC sectors and limited to Luzon. For the poorer sectors (D and E) and in the Visayas and Mindanao, where oil prices are much higher, the perceived direction of our quality of life has really not improved (unchanged for D and E), and actually gone down (five points and three points for Visayas and Mindanao)," Maza explained. (With reports from Ellalyn B. de Vera and Marvyn N. Benaning)

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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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