4 in 10 Pinoys claim life improved in 2019 — SWS

MANILA, Philippines — About four in 10 Filipino adults believe they had better lives throughout 2019, the latest survey released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said.

The poll, fielded on Dec. 13 to 16, 2019, found 39 percent of adult Filipinos saying their lives improved in the last 12 months, termed by SWS as “gainers,” and 21 percent saying their lives worsened – the “losers.”

The figures resulted in a net gainers score of +18, classified as “very high,” and an improvement in the quarter-to-quarter survey results throughout the past year.

This was up from +11 in September, +13 in June, and +17 in March, all categorized as very high.

In balance Luzon, net gainers increased from +8 (high) in September 2019 to +18 (very high) in December 2019.

It also went up in Metro Manila from +18 (very high) to +22 (very high).

In the Visayas, it rose from +7 (high) to +14 (very high).

It also increased from +15 (very high) to +16 (very high) in Mindanao.

Optimism ‘excellent’

The December 2019 survey also found 48 percent of adults expecting their personal quality of life to improve in the next 12 months – termed “personal optimists” by the SWS.

Four percent of them expect it to get worse – the “personal pessimists.”

As such, the SWS computed the net personal optimism score at +44, classified as “excellent.”

This figure is higher than the +41 net personal optimism scored in September 2019, and the +42 in June 2019.

Even if the December 2019 net personal optimism was three points down from the high +47 in March, all the figures are classified as excellent.

By area, net personal optimism rose in balance Luzon from +40 (excellent) in September 2019 to +47 (excellent) in December 2019.

In Metro Manila, it fell from +48 in September to +44 in December, both scores categorized as excellent.

It jumped to +34 in the Visayas from +32, both classified as very high; while in Mindanao, it fell from +46 (excellent) to +45 in December.

Economy

The SWS said the number of Filipino adults who expect the economy to improve in the next 12 months also increased.

Nearly half or 47 percent of adults said the Philippine economy will improve in the next 12 months, termed by the SWS as “economic optimists,” and nine percent saying it will worsen (economic pessimists), for a net economic optimism score of “excellent” +38.

This was higher than the +28 in September, +33 in June, and +35 in March, all classified as excellent.

In balance Luzon, net economic optimism rose from +23 (excellent) in September 2019 to +37 (excellent) in December 2019.

In Metro Manila, it increased from excellent +34 to excellent +39.

In the Visayas, it rose from +23 to +33, both classified as excellent.

In Mindanao, it rose from excellent +40 to excellent +44.

The Fourth Quarter 2019 SWS was based on face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults, 18 years old and above, nationwide.