MANILA, Philippines — A large majority of Filipinos disapprove of the way the Marcos administration handles select national issues, including controlling inflation and addressing graft and corruption, a survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed.
Results of the Dec. 12 to 15 survey showed that the government’s approval ratings in 17 out of 18 issues provided to the respondents were all below 50 percent.
In 12 issues, including those identified as among the most urgent national concerns, more respondents said they disapproved of the government’s actions than those who gave their approval.
Controlling inflation had the highest disapproval rating at 69 percent, with only 14 percent saying they approved of the government’s actions to stop the increase in prices of basic goods.
Three other issues had majority disapproval ratings: fighting graft and corruption (17 percent approve, 68 percent disapprove), fighting the widespread sale and use of illegal drugs (14 percent approve, 67 percent disapprove) and reducing poverty (16 percent approve, 55 percent disapprove).
Controlling inflation, fighting graft and corruption and reducing poverty are the topmost urgent concern of Filipinos, the survey showed.
Other issues with higher disapproval than approval ratings included addressing hunger (24 percent approve, 45 percent disapprove), reducing taxes (24 percent approve, 43 percent disapprove), fighting criminality (31 percent approve, 41 percent disapprove), increasing the pay of workers (37 percent approve, 39 percent disapprove), promoting peace (30 percent approve, 36 percent disapprove), stopping the destruction of the environment (28 percent approve, 35 percent disapprove), equal enforcement of the law (30 percent approve, 33 percent disapprove) and providing support to small businesses (27 percent approve, 31 percent disapprove).
In terms of creating more jobs, the Marcos administration had similar approval and disapproval ratings of 37 percent.
The government only had higher approval ratings in five issues, with only one receiving the approval of the majority: protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (57 percent approve, 18 percent disapprove).
The other issues included responding to the needs of areas affected by calamities (46 percent approve, 30 percent disapprove), defending the integrity of Philippine territory (43 percent approve, 23 percent disapprove), preparing to face any kind of terrorism (38 percent approve, 25 percent disapprove) and providing assistance to farmers (38 percent approve, 35 percent disapprove).
Pulse Asia’s fourth quarter survey showed that more Filipinos disapprove than approve of President Marcos (34 percent approve, 48 percent disapprove).
The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.8 percent.