MARKS IN 7 ISSUES OUT OF 11
MANILA, APRIL 18, 2012 (PHILSTAR)
The Aquino administration has obtained majority approval ratings on
only four out of 11 key national issues, including its campaign against
corruption and criminality, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.
Pulse Asia's March 2012 poll showed that the national administration obtained
majority approval scores for its initiatives to fight corruption (60 percent),
fight criminality (57 percent), enforce the law equally on all citizens (57
percent), and promote peace (52 percent).
"In general, the performance ratings of the Aquino administration on these
issues remain constant between November 2011 and March 2012," Pulse Asia said in
a statement.
The survey was conducted from Feb. 26 to March 9 using face-to-face
interviews of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above.
Nearly five in 10 or 46 percent are appreciative of the Aquino
administration's environmental efforts but almost the same number of respondents
(40 percent) disapproves of its initiative to control the increasing prices of
basic goods.
It said inflation is an issue deemed urgent by a sizable majority of
Filipinos (68 percent).
Meanwhile, a big plurality of Filipinos (42 percent) cannot say if they
approve or disapprove of the Aquino administration's work in the area of
population control.
In addition, the government scored the same approval and indecision ratings
in the areas of strengthening public trust in government and its officials (40
percent versus 46 percent), increasing the pay of workers (40 percent versus 35
percent) and creating more jobs (41 percent versus 38 percent).
Filipinos are divided over the administration's poverty reduction
initiatives, with 38 percent being ambivalent on the matter, 32 percent
expressing approval and 30 percent being critical of the same.
Pulse Asia noted a seven percentage-point drop on the level of appreciation
for the administration's efforts to create more jobs and control population
growth between November 2011 and March 2012.
On the other hand, ambivalence toward the latter's initiatives in these areas
as well as in strengthening public trust in government and its officials becomes
more pronounced (7 to 9 percentage points), it said.
"These are the only significant changes in the overall performance ratings of
the administration during this time," the pollster noted.
Pulse Asia said inflation and low pay of workers are the leading urgent
national concerns among Filipinos.
Most Filipinos consider controlling inflation (68 percent), increasing the
pay of workers (62 percent), fighting corruption in government (53 percent),
creating more jobs (53 percent) and reducing poverty (52 percent) as national
concerns that should be immediately addressed by the Aquino administration.
The other national concerns considered urgent by Filipinos are promoting
national peace (39 percent), protecting the environment (37 percent), enforcing
the law equally on all citizens (37 percent) and fighting criminality (31
percent).
Less concern is expressed by Filipinos for other national concerns such as
controlling population growth (22 percent), strengthening public trust in
government and its officials (21 percent), ensuring a fair trial for Chief
Justice Renato Corona (13 percent) and running after former and incumbent
government officials who are accused of graft and corruption (12 percent).
Pulse Asia said the need to control the spiraling prices of basic commodities
and increase the pay of workers are majority concerns in all geographic areas
(64 to 74 percent and 59 to 67 percent, respectively) and socio-economic classes
(66 to 71 percent and 55 to 64 percent, respectively).
Fighting corruption is a national concern deemed urgent by most respondents
in Metro Manila and those in the rest of Luzon (52 to 57 percent) and Classes
ABC and D (53 to 56 percent).
In nearly all geographic areas (53 to 58 percent) and every socio-economic
grouping (52 to 54 percent), majorities cited job creation as an urgent national
concern except Mindanao (46 percent).
Poverty reduction was also identified as an urgent national concern by most
of those in Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao (51 to 55 percent) and Classes D
and E (52 to 53 percent).
"For the most part, figures recorded across geographic areas and
socio-economic groupings are generally consistent with those posted at the
national level," Pulse Asia said.
"An exception is the lower level of concern for environmental degradation
registered among Visayans compared to Filipinos as a whole (24 percent versus 37
percent)," it added.
The non-commissioned survey has a plus or minus three percentage points error
margin at the 95 percent confidence level.
Only 5 Senators get 'pork' By Jess Diaz (The
Philippine Star) Updated April 18, 2012 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Only five senators and one member of the House of
Representatives have so far received their partial pork barrel allocations for
2012.
In its latest report on disbursements out of the annual P25-billion Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) said it has released P100 million to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
The four other recipients of 2012 PDAF releases are Senate President Juan
Ponce Enrile, P50 million; Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, P50
million; Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, P53 million; and Sen. Gregorio
Honasan, P57 million.
The other senators have either not requested for the release of their funds
for this year or are availing themselves of the balance of their allocations for
last year.
Only senators Joker Arroyo and Panfilo Lacson do not use their annual pork
barrel funds.
PDAF is the official name of the congressional pork barrel, which dispenses
P200 million a year for each senator and P70 million for each member of the
House of Representatives.
Out of 285 House members, only Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino has received
his 2012 partial allocation amounting to P20.5 million.
The combined releases to Santiago and her four colleagues, plus Antonino,
amounted to P330.5 million, less than two percent of the P25-billion PDAF.
The DBM figures belie the allegations of lawyers of Chief Justice Renato
Corona that Malacañang was dangling P200 million in additional pork barrel funds
to senators to buy their votes for Corona's conviction in his Senate impeachment
trial.
Enrile, the trial's presiding officer, and his colleagues denied the
accusation. They have cited defense lawyer Jose Roy III in contempt of the
impeachment court for making the allegation in a nationally televised news
conference.
While only P330.5 million has been released out of this year's pork barrel
fund, the DBM continues to disburse balances from last year's PDAF. Pork barrel
funds are good for two years.
Senators who have availed themselves of their 2011 balances are Pia Cayetano,
who has received releases amounting to P124.4 million; her brother Alan Peter,
P57 million; Franklin Drilon, P32.5 million; Francis Escudero, P1 million;
Teofisto Guingona III, P34.5 million; Loren Legarda, P2 million; Francis
Pangilinan, P29.5 million; and Aquilino Pimentel III, P59 million.
In the House, more than 100 members, including those from the minority or
opposition bloc, have asked for and have been given the remainder of their funds
for last year.
They include Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., P20 million; Marikina Rep. Miro
Quimbo, P20 million; and Sarangani Rep. Manuel Pacquiao, P31.6 million.
Pacquiao, a first-term congressman, has reportedly jumped from the ruling
Liberal Party to the PDP-Laban of Vice President Jejomar Binay. He is now the
third House member belonging to Binay's party. Its two other members are the
congresswomen representing Makati, one of whom is a daughter of Binay.
Opposition members who received additional releases included Arthur Yap of
Bohol, P20.5 million; Simeon Datumanong of Maguindanao, P1.6 million; and Martin
Romualdez of Leyte, P1 million.
Yap was agriculture secretary of detained former President and now Pampanga
Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, while Datumanong served as her secretary of
justice and secretary of public works and highways.
In all, additional releases from the 2011 PDAF amounted to P1.3 billion for
House members and P342.2 million for senators.
Four colleagues of Mrs. Arroyo in the minority bloc continue to remain
"pork-less." They are her two sons - Juan Miguel of the party-list group Ang
Galing Pinoy and Diosdado of Camarines Sur - and Mitos Magsaysay of Zambales and
Augusto Syjuco Jr. of Iloilo. Another Arroyo - the late Ignacio or Iggy of
Negros Occidental - did not receive his allocation.
Malacañang officials have said the funds of the five Arroyo allies have been
released to local officials in their districts.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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