Survey: Satisfaction with government performance in key issues drops

MANILA, Philippines — Although the Marcos administration still enjoys the support of a majority of Filipinos, satisfaction with the government’s performance in key issues has significantly dropped in recent months, a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group showed.

OCTA’s March 24 to 28 survey found that eight in 10 respondents were satisfied with the government in three issues: providing quality primary and secondary education (82 percent), providing quality tertiary and technical education (80 percent) and responding to natural disasters (80 percent).

But in its July 22 to 26 survey released on Sept. 7, satisfaction with government performance on these issues went down to 72 percent, 70 percent and 72 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, from 79 percent in March, satisfaction with the Marcos administration in terms of developing public infrastructure and protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers went down to 69 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

Other issues that saw declines in satisfaction ratings included providing quality and affordable health care (from 76 percent to 72 percent), protecting human rights (from 75 percent to 62 percent), improving foreign relations (from 73 percent to 63 percent), promoting peace and order (from 73 percent to 59 percent) and defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners (from 68 percent to 66 percent).

Lower satisfaction ratings were also noted in terms of stopping the destruction of the environment (from 68 percent to 56 percent), fighting criminality (from 68 percent to 58 percent), preparing for terrorist threats (from 67 percent to 64 percent), equal enforcement of the law (from 65 percent to 56 percent) and ensuring food security (from 63 percent to 57 percent).

Satisfaction also dropped with government’s programs to help the poor (from 63 percent to 56 percent), prevent the spread of illegal drugs (60 percent to 55 percent) and create more jobs (from 57 percent to 55 percent).

From just two issues in March, the July survey found that less than a majority of respondents were satisfied with the government’s performance in six issues.

These included reducing hunger (from 53 percent to 48 percent), controlling population growth (from 54 percent to 48 percent), fighting graft and corruption (from 52 percent to 44 percent) and reducing the amount of taxes (from 52 percent to 38 percent).

Still obtaining the lowest satisfaction among the issues included in the survey were the government’s actions to reduce poverty (from 38 percent to 36 percent) and manage inflation (from 35 percent to 34 percent).

Although dissatisfaction in managing inflation dropped from 36 percent to 32 percent, it increased in other issues, such as in terms of reducing taxes (from 11 percent to 20 percent), fight graft and corruption (from 16 percent to 21 percent) and controlling population growth (from 12 percent to 17 percent).

Dissatisfaction stayed at 26 percent in terms of reducing poverty, while it was 16 percent for reducing hunger (from 14 percent) and preventing the spread of illegal drugs (from 12 percent).

The government obtained a dissatisfaction rating of 15 percent or below in other issues, with the lowest in terms of responding to disasters (five percent).

The sums of the satisfaction and dissatisfaction ratings on key issues were below 100 percent because some respondents said they were undecided.

These ranged from 19 percent (providing affordable and quality health care) to as high as 43 percent (reducing the amount of taxes).

OCTA’s non-commissioned Tugon ng Masa survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.