MEDIA RELEASE (October 9, 2014)
FROM:
Prof. Ronald D. Holmes President Pulse Asia Research, Inc.
RE:
Pulse Asia Research’s September 2014 Nationwide Survey on Urgent National Concerns, National Administration Performance Ratings on Selected Issues, and Possibility of Successfully Combatting Corruption in Government
Pulse Asia Research, Inc. is pleased to share with you some findings on Urgent National Concerns, National Administration Performance Ratings on Selected Issues, and Possibility of Successfully Combatting Corruption in Government from the September 2014 Ulat ng Bayan national survey. We request you to assist us in informing the public by disseminating this information. The survey fieldwork was conducted from September 8 – 15, 2014 using face-toface interviews. In the first half of September 2014, the news headlines were dominated by the following key developments: (1) the ongoing Senate investigation into the reported overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, with witnesses claiming, among other things, that the bidding for the said project was rigged to favor Hillmarc's Construction Corporation and that Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay received kickbacks from various Makati City projects while serving as its local chief executive; (2) a suggestion made by Albay Governor Joey Salceda to impeach VicePresident Binay due to the charges of corruption raised against him in connection with the construction of the allegedly overpriced building in Makati City which began under his watch as Makati City mayor - a
proposal rejected by politicians allied with and critical of the current national administration; (3) the junking of three impeachment complaints against President Benigno S. Aquino III which were found to be insufficient in substance by members of the Committee on Justice of the House of Representatives; (4) the suspension for 90 days of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile emanating from the Sandiganbayan's suspension order issued on 24 July 2014 so as to prevent him from influencing the investigation into his alleged involvement into the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam; (5) the arrest of the suspects in a foiled "bombing attempt" at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on 01 September 2014 which is reportedly related to the desire of a group called the USA Freedom Fighters of the East (USAFFE) to retake the Spratly Islands from China; (6) the confirmation of the appointment of General Gregorio Pio Catapang as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez praising him for the escape of Filipino peacekeepers stationed in Golan Heights on 31 August 2014 who were under siege from Syrian rebels; (7) President Aquino's request addressed to Congress for emergency powers to enable him to address the impending energy crisis next year; (8) the transmittal of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to Congress and President Aquino's call for the lawmakers to prioritize and fast-track the bill; and (9) calls for the resignation of Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima amidst the increasing number of crimes involving policemen and President Aquino's expression of trust in the beleaguered police official. Other news items at this time include the statement made by Vice-President Binay as regards his preference for Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company Chairperson Manuel V. Pangilinan as his running mate in May 2016; talks of a second term for President Aquino; the preparations being done by the leaders of the Catholic Church for the January 2015 visit to the Philippines of Pope Francis; public uproar against the construction of a condominium tower in Manila City which ruins the vista of the Rizal Monument; the oath-taking of Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza as the newest member of the Supreme Court following 2
his 19 August 2014 appointment by President Aquino; the latter's visit to Europe and the United States where he will be discussing matters related to the West Philippine Sea dispute with China, trade and investment, and the plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs); and the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila, the port congestion in Manila City, and the continuing woes experienced by passengers of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 due to technical problems which hamper the MRT's operations. As in our previous surveys, this nationwide survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a ¹ 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a ¹ 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. Those interested in further technical details concerning the survey's questionnaire and sampling design may request Pulse Asia Research in writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used. Pulse Asia Research’s pool of academic fellows takes full responsibility for the design and conduct of the survey, as well as for analyses it makes based on the survey data. In keeping with our academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group influenced any of these processes. Pulse Asia Research undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort. For any clarification or questions, kindly contact Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Research Director of Pulse Asia Research at 09189436816 or Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia Research President at 09189335497 or via email (ronald.holmes@gmail.com).
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Pulse Asia Research’s September 2014 Ulat ng Bayan Survey: Media Release on Urgent National Concerns, National Administration Performance Ratings on Selected Issues, and Possibility of Successfully Combatting Corruption in Government 09 October 2014 Filipinos continue to be most concerned about two economic issues – inflation (50%) and workers’ pay (49%); levels of concern remain essentially unchanged between June and September 2014 Half of Filipinos (50%) cite the need to control inflation as an issue that must be immediately addressed by the current administration. Virtually the same percentage (49%) express concern regarding the low pay of workers. A second cluster of national issues deemed urgent by Filipinos includes fighting corruption in government (41%), creating more jobs (38%), and reducing poverty (35%). Meanwhile, a quarter of Filipinos (25%) consider criminality as an urgent national concern. Another group of issues cited by Filipinos as urgent includes enforcing the rule of law (15%), promoting peace (12%), controlling population growth (12%), and protecting the environment (12%). Filipinos are least concerned about charter change (6%) and defending the country’s territorial integrity against foreigners (5%). (Please refer to Table 1.) Table 1 MOST URGENT NATIONAL CONCERNS: OVERALL September 8 - 15, 2014 / Philippines (Multiple Response, up to 3 allowed / In Percent) Base: Total Interviews, 100% LOCATION BAL LUZ VIS
RP
NCR
Controlling inflation
50
50
49
Improving / Increasing the pay of workers
49
62
Fighting graft and corruption in government
41
Creating more jobs Reducing poverty of many Filipinos
CLASS MIN
ABC
D
E
51
53
44
49
56
45
49
48
49
47
55
44
42
38
38
47
42
32
38
34
38
42
37
31
40
36
35
36
35
34
37
31
35
38
Fighting criminality
25
23
26
20
30
34
25
21
Enforcing the law on all, whether influential or ordinary people
15
17
15
14
16
17
15
16
Increasing peace in the country
12
7
13
13
14
12
13
11
Controlling fast population growth
12
12
14
11
9
14
11
11
Stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment
12
7
12
14
11
8
11
15
Changing the Constitution
6
6
6
7
6
6
6
7
Defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners
5
4
5
7
2
5
5
4
NATIONAL CONCERNS
Q. Sa mga sumusunod na isyung pambansa, pakisabi ang hanggang TATLONG isyung dapat aksyunan agad ng administrasyong Aquino. Maaari kayong magbanggit ng iba pa na wala sa listahan. Alin po ang unang isyung dapat aksyunan agad ng kasalukuyang administrasyon? Ang pangalawa? Ang pangatlo?
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Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, the only majority concerns are low pay of workers (62% in Metro Manila and 55% in Class E) and inflation (51% in the Visayas, 53% in Mindanao, and 56% in Class E). Those living in the rest of Luzon and Class ABC are most concerned about inflation (49% and 44%, respectively), workers’ pay (45% and 49%, respectively), and corruption in government (42% and 47%, respectively). In Class D, the most often mentioned urgent national concerns are inflation (49%), workers’ pay (47%), corruption in government (42%), and job creation (40%). Less than one in 10 Filipinos in the different geographic areas and socio-economic classes is concerned about amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution (both at 6% to 7%) and defending the country’s territorial integrity (2% to 7% and 4% to 5%, respectively). Five national issues are cited as the first-, second- or third-ranked urgent national concerns by basically the same percentages of Filipinos in September 2014. These issues are controlling inflation (12% to 21%), increasing the pay of workers (13% to 18%), fighting corruption in government (12% to 15%), creating more jobs (12% to 13%), and reducing poverty (11% to 12%). (Please refer to Table 2.) Table 2 MOST URGENT NATIONAL CONCERNS September 8 - 15, 2014 / Philippines (Multiple Response, up to 3 allowed / In Percent) Base: Total Interviews, 100%
OVERALL
FIRST
MENTIONED SECOND
THIRD
Controlling inflation
50
21
17
12
Improving / Increasing the pay of workers
49
18
17
13
Fighting graft and corruption in government
41
14
12
15
Creating more jobs
38
13
12
13
Reducing poverty of many Filipinos
35
12
11
12
Fighting criminality
25
9
7
9
Enforcing the law on all, whether influential or ordinary people
15
4
5
6
Increasing peace in the country
12
2
5
5
Controlling fast population growth
12
3
5
5
Stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment
12
2
4
5
Changing the Constitution
6
1
2
2
Defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners
5
1
1
3
Q. Sa mga sumusunod na isyung pambansa, pakisabi ang hanggang TATLONG isyung dapat aksyunan agad ng administrasyong Aquino. Maaari kayong magbanggit ng iba pa na wala sa listahan. Alin po ang unang isyung dapat aksyunan agad ng kasalukuyang administrasyon? Ang pangalawa? Ang pangatlo?
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Filipinos’ sense of urgency in relation to 10 issues (out of 12) included in this probe is virtually unchanged between June and September 2014. Even the 6-percentage point decline in the level of concern for government corruption and the 5percentage point increase in the level of concern as regards criminality fall within the overall error margin of +/- 3 percentage points)1. However, year-on-year, one might observe an increase in the level of concern as regards fighting criminality (+8 percentage points) and a decline in the level of concern toward fighting corruption in government (-7 percentage points) and promoting peace in the country (-10 percentage points). (Please refer to Table 3.) Table 3 MOST URGENT NATIONAL CONCERNS September 2013 to September 2014 / Philippines (Multiple Response Allowed / In Percent) National Concerns
Sep13
Dec13
Mar14
Jun14
Sep14
Change*
Controlling inflation
48
52
50
52
50
- 2
Improving / Increasing the pay of workers
46
45
48
49
49
0
Fighting graft and corruption in government
48
46
44
47
41
- 6
Creating more jobs
42
37
31
38
38
0
Reducing poverty of many Filipinos
32
35
34
34
35
+ 1
Fighting criminality
17
20
23
20
25
+ 5
Enforcing the law on all, whether influential or ordinary people
18
19
20
17
15
- 2
Increasing peace in the country
22
21
16
16
12
- 4
Controlling fast population growth
11
9
15
9
12
+ 3
Stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment
15
16
18
16
12
- 4
Changing the Constitution
---
---
---
---
6
---
Defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners
---
---
---
---
5
---
*Change = Figures of September 2014 minus Figures June 2014.
No comparative data are available for the issues of charter change and territorial integrity as they are not included in Pulse Asia Research’s June 2014 Ulat ng Bayan survey. 1
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The Aquino administration obtains only one majority approval rating in September 2014 – 53% for its efforts to fight criminality; public assessment of the administration’s performance is virtually unchanged during the period June to September 2014 Most Filipinos (53%) appreciate the national administration’s efforts to deal with the problem of criminality in the country – an issue deemed urgent by 25% of Filipinos. This is the only majority approval score recorded by the Aquino administration in this survey. Nonetheless, appreciation is the plurality sentiment toward the latter’s initiatives to defend the country’s territorial integrity against foreigners (48%), promote peace (46%), enforce the rule of law (43%), and fight corruption in government (43%). In contrast, the plurality assessment concerning the administration’s efforts to control inflation – the issue considered urgent by half of Filipinos (50%) – is one of outright disapproval (46%). (Please refer to Table 4.) Table 4 PERCEIVED URGENCY OF SELECTED NATIONAL ISSUES AND THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION'S PERFORMANCE RATINGS September 8 - 15, 2014 / Philippines (Row Percent) % citing as One of Three Most Urgent Issues
Approve
Undecided
Disapprove
NAR*
Fighting criminality
25
53
29
18
+35
Defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners
5
48
33
19
+29
Increasing peace in the country
12
46
36
18
+28
Stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment
12
42
40
19
+23
Enforcing the law on all, whether influential or ordinary people
15
43
36
21
+22
Fighting graft and corruption in government
41
43
31
26
+17
Controlling fast population growth
12
35
39
27
+ 8
Creating more jobs
38
34
37
29
+ 5
Improving/Increasing the pay of workers
49
28
36
36
- 8
Reducing the poverty of many Filipinos
35
26
35
39
- 13
Controlling inflation
50
22
32
46
- 24
National issues
Q. Nais naming malaman ang inyong opinyon tungkol sa pagganap sa tungkulin ng administrasyon ni Presidente Aquino sa pagharap nito sa mga sumusunod na isyung pambansa. Sa bawat isyung mabanggit, sa pamamagitan po ng board na ito (SHOW RATING BOARD), maaari bang pakisabi ninyo kung kayo ay TALAGANG APROBADO, APROBADO, M AAARING APROBADO AT M AAARING HINDI APROBADO, HINDI APROBADO o TALAGANG HINDI APROBADO sa pagganap sa tungkulin ng pambansang administrasyon sa mga isyu na ito? Notes: (1) % Approve = % Truly Approve plus % Somewhat Approve; % Disapprove = % Somewhat Disapprove plus % Truly Disapprove. (2) *NAR (Net Approval Rating) = %Approve minus % Disapprove (3) Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding off or to Don't Know and Refuse responses.
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Public opinion regarding the administration’s performance on two issues is split three-ways – creating more jobs (34% approval, 37% indecision, and 29% disapproval) and increasing the pay of workers (28% approval, 36% indecision, and 36% disapproval). The Aquino administration scores practically the same approval and indecision ratings for its handling of two issues – environmental degradation (42% versus 40%) and population control (35% versus 39%). However, on the issue of poverty reduction, essentially the same percentages of Filipinos are either critical of the administration’s anti-poverty initiatives or ambivalent on the matter (39% versus 35%). Between June and September 2014, the only significant movement in the national administration’s performance ratings on these selected issues is the decline in the level of approval for its efforts to increase the pay of workers (-8 percentage points). All other changes – including the 6-percentage point decline in approval and the 6-percentage point increase in disapproval for the administration’s antipoverty initiatives as well as the 6-perentage point rise in disapproval for its work in the area of increasing workers’ pay – are marginal in nature. (Please refer to Table 5.) Table 5 COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE RATINGS OF THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION ON SELECTED NATIONAL ISSUES June and September 2014 / Philippines Change*
Disapproval
Change*
Jun 14
Approval
Sep 14
Sep14 Jun14
Jun 14
Sep 14
Sep14 Jun14
Jun 14
Sep 14
Sep14 Jun14
Fighting criminality
54
53
- 1
32
29
- 3
14
18
+ 4
Defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners
47
48
+ 1
37
33
- 4
16
19
+ 3
Increasing peace in the country
50
46
- 4
33
36
+ 3
17
18
+ 1
Fighting graft and corruption in government
42
43
+ 1
31
31
0
27
26
- 1
Enforcing the law to all, whether influential or ordinary people
44
43
- 1
38
36
- 2
18
21
+ 3
Stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment
46
42
- 4
37
40
+ 3
17
19
+ 2
Controlling fast population growth
39
35
- 4
38
39
+ 1
23
27
+ 4
Creating more jobs
37
34
- 3
37
37
0
26
29
+ 3
Improving/Increasing the pay of workers
36
28
- 8
34
36
+ 2
30
36
+ 6
Reducing the poverty of many Filipinos
32
26
- 6
35
35
0
33
39
+ 6
Controlling inflation
26
22
- 4
33
32
- 1
41
46
+ 5
Selected National Issues
Change*
Undecided
*Change = Figures of September 2014 minus Figures of June 2014.
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Nearly half of Filipinos (48%) are of the view that it is still possible to successfully combat governmental corruption; agreement with this opinion becomes more pronounced between December 2013 and September 2014 (+9 percentage points) Amidst the decline in the level of concern for the need to fight corruption in government, 48% of Filipinos are hopeful that corruption in the use of public funds can still be successfully addressed. This opinion is shared by big pluralities to small majorities across geographic areas and socio-economic classes (45% to 54% and 47% to 54%, respectively). An exception is Mindanao where 42% agree with this view while 34% are ambivalent on the matter. On the other hand, almost the same percentages of Filipinos either doubt the possibility of successfully combatting governmental corruption (23%) or express indecision on the matter (28%). (Please refer to Table 6.) Table 6 AGREEMENT / DISAGREEMENT WITH TEST STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT CONDITION OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION September 8 - 15, 2014 / Philippines (In Percent) Base: Total Interviews, 100% "We can still successfully fight the corruption of officials in using public funds."
LOCATION RP
NCR
BL
VIS
CLASS MIN
ABC
D
E
AGREE
48
46
54
45
42
54
48
47
UNDECIDED
28
26
26
29
34
21
29
31
DISAGREE
23
28
20
24
24
25
23
21
B a ba s a hin na m in nga yo n s a inyo a ng ila ng m ga pa ngungus a p. P a k is a bi la m a ng k ung k a yo a y lubo s na s um a s a ng- a yo n, s um a s a ng- a yo n, m a a a ring s um a s a ng- a yo n a t m a a a ring hindi s um a s a ng- a yo n, hindi s um a s a ng- a yo n o lubo s na hindi s um a s a ng- a yo n s a ba wa t is a s a m ga pa ngungus a p na it o ? C UR R E N T C O N D IT IO N O F G O V E R N M E N T C O R R UP T IO N S P LIT S A M P LE (
) a . KA Y A P A N G M A T A G UM P A Y N A LA B A N A N A N G P A N G UN G UR A KO T N G M G A O P IS Y A L S A P A G G A M IT N G P O N D O N G P A M B A Y A N .
(
) b. H IN D I N A KA Y A N G M A T A G UM P A Y N A LA B A N A N A N G P A N G UN G UR A KO T N G M G A O P IS Y A L S A P A G G A M IT N G P O N D O N G P A M B A Y A N .
N o t e s : ( 1) % A gre e = % V e ry M uc h A gre e plus % A gre e ; % D is a gre e = % D is a gre e plus % V e ry M uc h D is a gre e ( 2 ) F igure s m a y no t a dd up t o 10 0 % due t o ro unding o f f .
There are no significant changes in public opinion regarding corruption in government between June and September 2014. This observation holds true across geographic areas and socio-economic groupings. However, during the period December 2013 and September 2014, hopefulness among Filipinos as regards the possibility of successfully dealing with corruption in government as well as indecision on the matter both become more pronounced (+9 and +11 percentage 9
points, respectively) and, conversely, disagreement becomes less manifest (-20 percentage points). (Please refer to Table 7.) Table 7 AGREEMENT / DISAGREEMENT WITH TEST STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT CONDITION OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION December 2013 to September 2014 / Philippines (In Percent) Base: Total Interviews, 100% "We can still successfully fight the corruption of officials in using public funds." AGREE
UNDECIDED
DISAGREE
LOCATION
CLASS
RP
NCR
BL
VIS
MIN
ABC
D
E
Sep 14
48
46
54
45
42
54
48
47
Jun 14
45
46
45
41
47
42
44
47
Mar 14
52
53
53
45
56
61
49
56
Dec 13
39
40
48
26
35
34
42
35
Sep 14
28
26
26
29
34
21
29
31
Jun 14
27
23
26
30
30
29
27
28
Mar 14
24
21
19
35
27
18
25
24
Dec 13
17
17
12
21
24
21
17
17
Sep 14
23
28
20
24
24
25
23
21
Jun 14
28
31
30
27
22
29
29
25
Mar 14
24
26
28
20
16
21
25
20
Dec 13
43
44
40
53
41
45
41
48
B a ba s a hin na m in nga yo n s a inyo a ng ila ng m ga pa ngungus a p. P a k is a bi la m a ng k ung k a yo a y lubo s na s um a s a ng- a yo n, s um a s a ng- a yo n, m a a a ring s um a s a ng- a yo n a t m a a a ring hindi s um a s a ng- a yo n, hindi s um a s a ng- a yo n o lubo s na hindi s um a s a ng- a yo n s a ba wa t is a s a m ga pa ngungus a p na it o ? C UR R E N T C O N D IT IO N OF G O V E R N M E N T C O R R UP T IO N S P LIT S A M P LE (
) a . KA Y A P A N G M A T A G UM P A Y N A LA B A N A N A N G P A N G UN G UR A KO T N G M G A O P IS Y A L S A P A G G A M IT N G P O N D O N G P A M B A Y A N .
(
) b. H IN D I N A KA Y A N G M A T A G UM P A Y N A LA B A N A N A N G P A N G UN G UR A KO T N G M G A O P IS Y A L S A P A G G A M IT N G P O N D O N G P A M B A Y A N .
N o t e s : ( 1) % A gre e = % V e ry M uc h A gre e plus % A gre e ; % D is a gre e = % D is a gre e plus % V e ry M uc h D is a gre e ( 2 ) F igure s m a y no t a dd up t o 10 0 % due t o ro unding o f f .
More particularly, levels of agreement with the possibility of successfully fighting corruption in government go up between December 2013 and September 2014 in the Visayas (+19 percentage points) and Class ABC (+20 percentage points). Meanwhile, indecision on the matter becomes more notable in the rest of Luzon (+14 percentage points) and Classes D and E (+12 and +14 percentage points, respectively). As for disagreement, it becomes less manifest in all geographic areas and socio-economic groupings (-16 to -29 and -18 to -27 percentage points, respectively).
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