EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2022 PAHAYAG Second Quarter Survey

Table 0.01: Respondent Age Group Distribution by Regional Group

Table 0.02: Respondent Gender Distribution by Regional Group

Table 0.03: Respondent Work Status Distribution by Regional Group

Table 0.04: Respondent Economic Class Distribution by Regional Group

Table 0.05: Respondent Educational Level Distribution by Regional Group

Table 0.06: Respondent Internet Access at Home Distribution by Regional Group

Table 0.07: Respondent Cable TV Access at Home Distribution by Regional Group

Table 0.08: Respondent Cellphone Usage by Regional Group

Table 0.09: Respondent Views on the Administration Distribution by Regional Group

Table 0.10: Respondent Views on the Opposition Distribution by Regional Group

Table 1.01: National Economic Prospects by Regional Group

Close to 70% of respondents indicated that they expect at least some improvement in the Philippine economy heading into the third quarter of 2022. Optimism about the Philippine economy is noticeably lower in NCR and Southern Luzon. In contrast, it is higher in Northern and Central Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Q: Which of the following best represents your views on the current state of the country?

Table 1.02: Country Status by Regional Group

Close to 60% of respondents indicated that the country is strong or very strong. This figure drops to 45% in Southern Luzon and 52% in NCR. In contrast, this figure rises to 71% in Mindanao and 62% in Visayas – suggesting a geographically defined split.

Q: Which of the following best represents your views on the current direction of the country?

Table 1.03: Country Direction by Regional Group

Close to three-fourths of the sample indicated that the country is either maybe or definitely headed in the right direction. This figure rises to 85% in Mindanao and 77% in Visayas – but dips to 62% in Southern Luzon and 65% in NCR. Again, we find a geographically-defined split in perceptions.

NATIONAL ISSUES AND CITIZENS’ CONCERNS

 Q: Using the rating scale from 1 to 5, where 1 is STRONGLY DISAPPROVE, 3 is NEITHER APPROVE NOR DISAPPROVE, and 5 is STRONGLY APPROVE, how would you describe your position on the following issues?

Table 2.01: Issues Approval Matrix

The (1) Continuation of the Build, Build, Build program of the Duterte administration, (2) Partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink to Improve Internet Access in the Philippines, and (3) Continuation of the War on Illegal Drugs garnered total approval shares on or above the 73% mark. Moreover, total disapproval shares for these topped out at 11%. The construction of a nuclear plant in the Philippines, the construction of more coal fired power plants, and the accreditation of bloggers/vloggers in Malacañang garnered the highest total disapproval ratings (22%, 24%, and 26%). It is of note, however, that these total disapproval ratings can still be viewed to be low and that the total approval ratings of these range are reasonably high – with the total approval rating of the construction of a nuclear power plant at 59%.

Q: Select and rank three (3) of the most important issues that the next president should focus on.

Table 2.02: Top Three Macro Issues Matrix

The Philippine economy remains, by far, the most popular issue among respondents. Close to three-fourths of respondents included the Philippine economy in their top three issues. It is also worth noting that the Philippine economy is the most popular rank 1 issue with a selection rate of 42%. Jobs / job generation is at second place with an overall selection rate of 53%. Education emerges as the third most popular issue with a selection rate of 32%.

Poverty, corruption, inflation, and agriculture notched selection shares on or above the 15% mark – but well below the 25% mark, keeping them in the background.

Q: Select and rank three (3) of the biggest concerns of your household heading into the third quarter (July, August, and September) of 2022.

Table 2.03: Top Three Micro Issues Matrix

The inability to afford basic needs emerges as the most popular micro / household-level issue among respondents. Difficulty in finding employment is at second place with an overall selection rate of 46%. Getting sick with a disease apart from COVID, not getting enough pay, getting sick with a COVID variant, and losing a job can be viewed to be tied for the third spot given their selection shares. The numbers can be viewed to be consistent with the distribution of macro-level concerns. More specifically, people are keenly concerned with the economy – and how it relates to their livelihoods.

SCORECARD OF NATIONAL LEADERS AND INSTITUTIONS

Approval Ratings: Top Five Government Officials

Q: Using the rating scale from 1 to 5, where 1 is STRONGLY DISAPPROVE, 3 is NEITHER APPROVE NOR DISAPPROVE, and 5 is STRONGLY APPROVE, how would you rate the overall performance of the following THROUGHOUT THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION (June 2016 to June 2022)?

Table 3.01: Top Officials Approval Matrix

President Duterte once again notched the highest total approval rating given his 75% total approval share. Senate President Sotto comes in at second place with his 45% total approval share. Vice President Robredo notched a total approval rating of 37% – equivalent to her total disapproval rating. Moreover, her total disapproval rating is the highest among the top government officials.

Approval Ratings: Government Agencies

Q: Using the rating scale from 1 to 5 where 1 is STRONGLY DISAPPROVE, 3 is NEITHER APPROVE NOR DISAPPROVE, and 5 is STRONGLY APPROVE, how would you rate the overall performance of the following THROUGHOUT THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION (June 2016 to June 2022)?

Table 3.02: Agencies Approval Matrix

TESDA, AFP, and COMELEC garnered the highest total approval ratings across all agencies. TESDA and AFP remain popular with both around the 70% mark – in line with their respective time series. The popularity of the COMELEC is likely attributable to the perceived success of the agency in the recently concluded national elections. All other agencies generally fared reasonably well, with the lowest rated agencies still managing to receive total approval ratings that outstripped their total disapproval ratings.

Trust Ratings: Top Five Government Officials

Q: Using the rating scale from 1 to 5 where 1 is NO TRUST, 3 is MODERATE TRUST, and 5 is VERY HIGH TRUST, how would you rate the overall trustworthiness of the following THROUGHOUT THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION (JUNE 2016 to JUNE 2022)?

Table 3.03: Top Officials Trust Matrix

President Rodrigo Duterte notched the highest total high trust rating. Senate President Vicente Sotto III comes in at a distant second place with 40%. Vice President Ma. Leonor Robredo is at third place with 35%. It is of note, however, that she posted the highest total low trust rating (37%) among top officials.

Trust Ratings: Government Agencies

Q: Using the rating scale from 1 to 5 where 1 is NO TRUST, 3 is MODERATE TRUST, and 5 is VERY HIGH TRUST, how would you rate the overall trustworthiness of the following THROUGHOUT THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION (JUNE 2016 to JUNE 2022)?

Table 3.04: Agencies Trust Matrix

AFP, TESDA, and COMELEC garnered the highest total high trust ratings among agencies. All three posted ratings around the 60% mark.

MEDIA TRUST AND CONSUMPTION HABITS

Media Consumption

Q: How often do you engage in the following media-related activities [to consume news]?

Table 4.01: News Sources Matrix

Close to three-fourths of respondents indicated that they turn to social media news at least four times a week. This mark is notably higher than the total high usage rate of television news. It is also of note that the total high usage rate of news on streaming platforms is roughly equivalent to the total high usage rate of television news. Radio and print news have markedly lower total high usage rates at 33% and 30%, respectively.

Media Trust Ratings

Q: Using the rating scale from 1 to 5 where 1 is NO TRUST, 3 is MODERATE TRUST, and 5 is VERY HIGH TRUST, how would you rate the overall trustworthiness of the following NEWS OUTLETS over the past twelve months?

Table 4.02: Media Trust Matrix

CNN Philippines notched the highest total high trust rating across outlets included in the survey with a 46% total high trust rating. At second place is GMA-7 with 42%. It is worth noting that no outlet managed to push past the 50% mark when it comes to total high trust. Rappler and ABSCBN notched the highest total low trust ratings at 41% and 35% respectively. It is of note that these are the only outlets that notched total low trust ratings above the 30% mark. Rappler, ABS-CBN, ABANTE, and POLITIKO are the only outlets with total low trust ratings that exceed their total high trust ratings.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Development Impact of Post-EDSA I Administrations

Q: Using the rating scale from 1 to 5 where 1 is VERY NEGATIVE, 3 is NEITHER NEGATIVE NOR POSITIVE, and 5 is VERY POSITIVE, how would you rate the overall impact of the following administrations on the development of the Philippines?

Table 5.01: Presidential Impact Matrix

The administration of incumbent president Rodrigo Roa Duterte garnered the highest total positive share of 75%. Moreover, 49% of respondents indicated that he has had a very positive impact on the development of the Philippines. Additionally, only 11% of respondents indicated that he has had a negative impact on the development of the Philippines.

The administrations of Benigno Aquino III, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Corazon Aquino garnered comparable total negative and total positive shares – with all three hovering around the 50% mark when it comes to total negative shares. The administration of Joseph Estrada garnered the highest total negative share at 55% and the lowest total positive share at 14%. All administrations apart from the Duterte administration registered total positive shares below the 30% mark.

Emotional Quotient of Incumbent Leaders

 Q: Please indicate which traits are possessed by the following individuals.

Table 6.01: Traits of Incumbent Leaders Matrix

President Duterte received majority selection shares in all but one of the traits included for consideration (religious at 47%). Moreover, he holds massive selection share margins over Vice President Robredo and Senate President Sotto in all but one trait (Robredo manages a tie with him in religiosity). It is of note that neither Robredo nor Sotto managed to bring any of their traits past the 50% mark.