
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PAHAYAG 2022 End of the Year Survey
OVERVIEW
PAHAYAG 2022 END OF THE YEAR is an independent and non-commissioned survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. between November 25 to 30, 2022.
It is a nationwide purposive sampling survey comprised of 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with multinational presence. The sample was restricted to registered Filipino voters.
Note from PureSpectrum: “Samples provided by PureSpectrum are not affiliated with any bias or political party. All opinions voiced in the interpretation and analyses of the data are those of the writer and/or project sponsor.”
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS
- Majority 8 in 10 fall within 18-49yo (younger skewed in MIN, older skewed in NCR), at least some College, Working, and Roman Catholic. Sample also has slightly more Females (except in NCR).
- More than half of HHs have income ranging from 20-70K, an average family having 5 members, about 4 of whom are registered voters. Mobile phone and internet penetration nearing saturation.
- Looking closer into the political leaning, 1 in 4 is a hardcore Pro-Marcos Admin+Anti-Opposition, less than 1 in 10 is Pro-Opp+Anti-Admin, while another 1 in 4 is consistently neutral/on the fence.
STATE OF THE COUNTRY AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
- Statistically stable but gradually down-trending strong view of the current state/direction of the country. However, prospects improving in the next quarter remain optimistic.
- NCR, NCL, VIS drive downtrend in Strong perception of current state while MIN (Q3-82 vs. Q4-75) and 18-29 (66 to 61) join in the diminishing confidence that PH is going in the right direction, albeit still a majority.
- With the optimism of prospects improving, prevailing sentiment about the state of our country is also positive+excited+happy = 72%. However, balance 28% takes on a negative outlook.
NATIONAL ISSUES
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 following issues?
- Top most-approved national programs are mainly about help extended by the government to Filipinos i.e., goods at lower prices, response to national disasters, free rides, VAT exemption and ayuda for the poor.
- Second highest issues given a thumbs up are about fighting criminality/improving defense, collaborating to improve internet speed, resumption of FTF classes but allowing for a hybrid setup, and optional mask outdoors.
- Third group is a mix of tax-related issues, reinstatement of ROTC for SHS, bringing back death penalty, banning POGO, constructing nuclear plants, granting VP Sara’s intelligence fund, Clark Airport and mandating the 2 booster shots for COVID-19.
- Hybrid work setup more relevant for the HIG, VAT exemption in utilities appeal more to the senior citizens, and infra improvements tend to be more useful for the working age group.
- Hybrid setup for schools also appeal to HIG, while MIN folks feel strongest towards FTF classes, NTF-ELCAC and submarines. Senior citizens tend to be more concerned about criminality, whereas more 30s lean towards getting back to normalcy + better internet speed.
- MIN also positively skewed to repealing oil excise tax, ROTC, imposing tax on foreign digital services, and granting VP Sara her intelligence fund, while NCL is more in favor of Clark Airport’s Premiere upgrade. In addition, older segments (40s+) skew against POGO while more HIG are for completing the 2 boosters.
- Least approved are the proposed revision of the Constitution, allowing US AF to base here in case the Taiwan Strait conflict erupts, privatization of public transports/terminals and increase in water rates.
MACRO AND MICRO ISSUES
Q: Select the most important issues that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should focus on.
- The PH economy is still considered the topmost priority for Pres. BBM to focus on. Prices/inflation moves up as a clear 2nd place indicating a growing concern, particularly in NCR.
Q: Select the biggest concerns of your household heading into the fourth quarter (October, November, and December) of 2022.
- Concern on rising prices/inflation links to worry of not being able to afford their basic needs, not finding or losing a job, not getting enough pay, and getting sick as additional burden on their budget (skew 40s, HIG).
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 over the past six months (July 2022 to December 2022)?
- Generally stable approval ratings for the country’s top officials, except for CJ Gesmundo who weakens in approval as more become neutral with their assessment.
- Drop in approval for CJ Gesmundo is driven primarily by the youngest age group and those with college education.
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 over the past six months (July 2022 to December 2022)?
- Among institutions, highest approval is given to TESDA (fluctuating) followed by AFP (stable). Closing in with gradually gaining approval are DepEd, DSWD, DOT, DOST, and CHED, while others are generally stable. Supreme Court just reverts to first half levels, losing the uptick in Q3.
- Gains of TESDA is driven by VISMIN, HIG, Working, and those with lowest educational attainment. These segments also drive increase in approval for several other institutions.
- The rest of bottom half are also largely flat except for DOH (sustained gain from last quarter) while COMELEC continues to lose approval significantly.
Trust Ratings: Top 5 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 MARCOS ADMINISTRATION (JUNE 2022 to DECEMBER 2022)?
- Trust rating is stable for the top two national officials, but same cannot be said for the other three (i.e., sig more Filipinos downgrade to moderate trust vs. last quarter).
- Decline in high+very high trust for the other three top country officials is driven by the Non-working group and those with at least some College education.
Trust Ratings: Top 5 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 MARCOS ADMINISTRATION (JUNE 2022 to DECEMBER 2022)?
- TESDA again leads trust ratings seconded by AFP (stable from Q3 drop) and DepEd in a tie. Close thirds are BSP, CHED, DOST, DSWD and DOT all of which gain at least 50% High+Very High trust. Supreme Court generally flat since significant gain in Q2.
- Recovery of TESDA from dip in Q3 is driven by VIS, Working and those with lowest educational attainment. CHED and DOST also regain, pulled up by several segments.
- Institutions falling below 50% high+very high trust ratings are mostly flat or fluctuating quarter-on-quarter. Only COMELEC is not able to get back the high trust from Q2’22.
EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT OF INCUMBENT LEADERS
- Top traits of Pres. BBM is his love for PH, concern for its citizens, being humble, responsible for his duties and eloquent in speech. VP Sara also deemed to have same top traits except eloquence.
FIRST SIX MONTHS ASSESSMENT
- About 2 in 3 approve of Pres. BBM’s cabinet (top members – Erwin Tulfo and VP Sara), and 3 in 4 perceive this administration to be at least equally as good or even better as the previous.
- Same level of agreement on Pres. BBM’s self-appointment as DA Secretary. However, Pres. BBM urgently needs to arrest inflation increase to prevent turning Filipinos’ worries into disappointment with his admin.
- Big drop in agreement on VP Sara’s appointment as DepEd Sec (Q3-74 vs. Q4-65). All regions except MIN contribute to the significant decline vs. last quarter.
MEDIA CONSUMPTION HABITS
- Social media and streaming platforms overtake TV as the primary media touchpoint used as well as the source of daily news, consistent across areas.
- Facebook and YouTube lead as the most used platforms even for daily news.
TRUST RATINGS IN NEWS OUTLETS
- Top 3 most trusted news outlet are GMA 7, CNN PH, and PDI, respectively.
- CNN PH is quite stable throughout 2022, unlike GMA 7 and PDI, which dropped significantly in Q2’22 but managed to recover this last quarter.
- Bottom half of the list are mostly stable to very gradually declining in trust as No Basis for rating increase. -> Are Filipinos dropping off multiple news sources and just focusing on a few major ones?
- Several and various socio-demographic groups give high trust to the major news outlets (e.g., VISMIN, 18-29, 30s, MIG, Working, with at least some College education).