Record high optimism days before Duterte inaugural—SWS

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Filipinos expressed record-high net optimism days leading to the inauguration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

SWS on Friday released the results of its June 24 to 27 non-commissioned survey, which asked 1,200 respondents about their personal optimism and optimism about the economy. It was conducted days before Duterte took his oath of office on June 30.

The results showed that 49 percent of respondents expected positive change in their quality of life in the next 12 months while only 3 percent were pessimistic, resulting in a record-high net-optimism of +46.

READ: 6 out of 10 Filipinos believe Duterte will fulfill promises—poll

The previous record was +40 for both December 2015 and April 2016 under former President Benigno Aquino III. SWS has been conducting the said survey since 1984, under former president Ferdinand Marcos.

PHOTO FROM SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS

PHOTO FROM SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS

Another record high

Meanwhile, net optimism about the economy was also at record high +56, with 60 percent saying that they expect the economy to be better in the next 12 months and another 4 percent saying it will be worse.

PHOTO FROM SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS

Gainers

There were also more people who said that their lives improved in the last 12 months. For June 2016, 30 percent said their situation is better now while 21 percent said it was worse, resulting in “net gainers” of +9.

Since the survey started in 1983, there were usually more “losers” than “gainers” but a positive trend was seen starting March 2015.

PHOTO FROM SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS

PHOTO FROM SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS

Optimism from Class D, gainers from Class ABC

Net personal optimism was also higher among Class D or the “masa class” with a net of +49. This is 10 points higher than the +39 of respondents from Class E. Trailing behind are those from Class ABC with +37.

The same trend was seen in net optimism with the economy. Leading the pack are survey respondents from Class D with +57, followed closely by Class E with +54 and Class ABC with +49.

However, there were more “gainers” from Class ABC with the survey showing “net gainers” at +18. This is twice as much as the net gainers from Class D (+9) and thrice as much from Class E (+6). CDG/rga

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