Pessimism in NCR and among youth noted – PAHAYAG Q1

The first quarter poll of PUBLiCUS Asia Inc conducted from 20-29 March 2021 has been released. The purposive sample comprised of 1,500 registered voters was drawn from an online research panel of approximately 100,000 Filipinos maintained by a Singapore-based firm. Location, gender, and age were key considerations in the construction of the sample.

Two thirds of the 1,500 respondents of PAHAYAG-Q1 appear optimistic about their personal prospects in the second quarter of 2021 while a tenth is pessimistic when it comes to their financial prospects – with pessimism slightly higher in NCR, arguably the region most adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, pessimism about the prospects of the Philippine economy appears to be markedly higher among respondents aged 18-24 years old.

In terms of household finances, aggregate optimism is noticeably higher among the higher income classes. The share of hopeful respondents in the lower income classes is around 60% to 65%, while the share of hopeful respondents in the upper income classes hover around the 70% mark. Additionally, males appear to be slightly more optimistic than females.

When asked about the household’s financial standing a year after the pandemic, almost half indicated that they are better off now than before the pandemic. Around a quarter indicated that they are financially worse off now. It is worth noting that around a tenth of the respondents aged 50-59 indicated that they are much worse now than before the pandemic – which is double the overall average across age groups.

The survey is an independent, non-commissioned, national poll covering nine modules: state of the economy and economic prospects, COVID vaccine prioritization and openness to safety protocols, national issues, scorecard for national leaders and institutions, emotional quotient of incumbent and prospective leaders, media consumption habits and responses to media campaigns, predisposition, blended learning, and new normal consumption habits.

Contact Person:

David Yap, PhD

Chief Data Scientist

Email: dbyap@publicusltd.com

Cellphone: 09285052010