Palace: Latest SWS survey results a ‘vote of confidence’ in Duterte admin

Despite a drop in Filipinos’ optimism towards better quality of life and Philippine economy, Malacañang on Thursday welcomed the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, noting the results are a “vote of confidence” in the Duterte administration.

“We consider these latest survey results as a vote of confidence in the President and the members of his economic team. Our economy remains on target hitting 6.8 percent during the first quarter of 2018,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised press briefing in Marawi City.

In its First Quarter 2018 Social Weather Report, the SWS noted a four-point drop in the net personal optimism score among Filipino adults, from +46 percentage points in December 2017 to +42 percentage points in March.

The survey also posted a 11-percent drop in the net economic optimism among Filipinos, from +42 percentage points in the same period.

Despite these, Roque pointed out that many Filipinos remain optimistic that the Philippine economy would get better.

“Further, the same survey reveals that net optimism about the economy continues to be ‘excellent’ across all geographic areas and socioeconomic classes, standing at +31, which means that many of our countrymen are optimistic that the Philippine economy next year would get better,” he added.

READ: SWS: Optimism towards better PH economy slightly down

While SWS classifies both numbers as “excellent,” these are both second-lowest marks recorded during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. /vvp