Pinoys now feeling economic pinch

[UPDATED] MANILA, Philippines – A significant number of Filipinos are starting to feel the economic pinch.

Laylo Research Strategies in its January 28-Feb 6, 2012 survey of 1,500 respondents found that 65% of adult Filipinos are anxious about where the country is headed. They consist of the 40% who belong to the undecided and the 25% who feel the nation is headed in the wrong direction.

Asked, “Sa inyong palagay, ang bansa ba sa kabuuan ay patungo sa tamang landas o nasa maling direksyon?” only 35% say the country is on the right track. (In your opinion, is the country in general headed in the right or the wrong direction?)

In the first few months of the Aquino administration, those saying the country is in the right direction were double this number.

The anxious

Among the 65% who are anxious, there are those whose top concerns are high prices and unemployment. Those concerned about high prices consist of 22% among undecided and 23% among those who think the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Those who are worried about unemployment, on the other hand, consist of 16% among the undecided and 14% among those who think the country is in the wrong direction.

In terms of quality of life, the 65% tend to have fewer gainers and optimists, too. A majority of them consider their families as underprivileged. More among them are currently not working.

More dissatisfaction

Comparing those who are anxious with those who are satisfied with the direction the country is taking, fewer are happy with government efforts to curb corruption and address poverty.

Among the anxious, only 58% (as compared to 78% among those who think the country is on the right track) are satisfied with efforts to deal with corruption. Similarly, only 43% among the anxious (versus 69% among the sympathizers) are pleased with government efforts to address poverty.

The President has less hardcore supporters and allies among this 65%. There are more among them who are undecided and a lesser number who think Chief Justice Renato Corona should be removed from office.

The optimists

In contrast, the 35% who say the country is headed in the right direction are influenced and driven by what the government is doing mostly on the anti-corruption front alone. They tend to have more gainers than losers; are more optimistic than pessimistic; are less hard-up, with more of them working.

They have higher levels of satisfaction with regard to government actions to address corruption and poverty.

There are also more among them who are hardcore supporters and allies of the President. More of them want Corona removed from office.

Feeling the pinch

In a nutshell, the 65% are focused on the economic pinch they currently experience. They are the ones who are hurting and, in a sense, telling government to set its priorities right.

The government’s focus on graft and corruption alone and the administration’s hype on Corona and his removal from office are insufficient for the majority. This is beginning to affect the public’s disposition towards the President. – Rappler.com

Pedro ‘Junie’ Laylo Jr is an independent public opinion pollster and founder of Laylo Research Strategies, a full service polling and strategic research firm.

Erratum: Changes in some table entries were made to mirror the correct figures. We regret the error.