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Filipinos Less Upbeat with Economy - IBON SURVEY
by IBON Foundation
Thursday, Jul. 29, 2004 at 10:48 AM
editors@ibon.org (632)7132729, (632)7132737 3/F SCC Bldg., 4427 Int. Old Sta. Mesa, Manila
IBON research director Antonio Tujan Jr. notes that there was a slight improvement in the people’s perception of the economy before the elections. “But this was eroded due to the new government’s questionable mandate,” he says.
A new government usually ushers in new hope for the economy, but the latest IBON survey shows that Filipinos are less optimistic.
According to the July 2004 IBON survey results, the number of Filipinos who feels that the economy and their livelihood improved went down from the last survey.
Of the 1,681 respondents, only 5.41% said that the economy improveddown by 2.29 percentage points from last April’s 7.70 percent.
Majority of the respondents (46.94%) felt that the economy worsened this year, while 41.94% said that the economy stayed the same.
Most Filipinos are also uncertain of what the economy will bring this year. Majority of the respondents (35.75%) said they don’t know what will happen, while 30.28% said the economy will worsen. The number of respondents who said that it will improve dropped to 9.52% from 12.7% in April.
The number of respondents who said that their livelihood improved also went down to 7.70% from 12.3 percent. This number is even less than the February 2004 survey result of 8.87 percent.
Meanwhile, a big 59.37% said that their family income is not enough to meet their basic needs. The number of respondents who answered that their family income is enough fell to 36.41% from 40.50 percent in April.
Asked if there are jobs/livelihood opportunities in their area, 51% said these are available but are not enough. The number of respondents who said that there are available jobs dropped to 10.83% from 20.8 percent.
IBON research director Antonio Tujan Jr. notes that there was a slight improvement in the people’s perception of the economy before the elections. “But this was eroded due to the new government’s questionable mandate,” he says.
Because of this, he urges the new government to address the people’s pessimism by implementing a genuine pro-poor agenda. “Unless government wants to risk more unrest and instability, it should immediately implement crucial economic and social reforms,” says Tujan.
The IBON July 2004 Survey was conducted nationwide from June 30 to July 9 to find out the people’s perception of the economy, their income and livelihood, government performance, choice of president, vice president, senators, and other pressing issues.
The latest IBON Survey has a margin of error of plus or minus two percent.
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