(CNN Philippines Staff) — Personal optimism among Filipinos hit a record high in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey – with 37% of Pinoys feeling more positive about the quality of their lives.
The said percentage – classified as “very high” in the SWS net personal ratings – was a point up from the previous high of 36% recorded in June 2010.
The survey, conducted from March 20 to 23 among 1,200 adults nationwide, asked the respondents about their personal quality of life and optimism about the national economy in the next 12 months.
Of the adults surveyed, 42% said they expect their quality of life to improve within the next 12 months while 5% said it would get worse.
Filipinos were similarly optimistic with the economy with 27% of the respondents saying it would improve and 20% saying they felt it would deteriorate.
While this result yielded a “high” score, it is still a 10-point decline compared to the results from December 2014: the recent survey yielded a score of +6 compared to +16 in December.
On the question if they experienced any change in their quality of life in the last 12 months, 32% said it improved while 26% said it became worse.
The SWS determines the classification based on the following criteria:
Net personal optimism: +30 up (very high), +20 to +29 (high), +10 to +19 (fair), +1 to +9 (mediocre), -9 to zero (low), -10 and below (very low).
Net optimism about the economy: +10 up (very high), +1 to +9 (high), -9 to zero (fair), -19 to -10 (mediocre), -29 to -20 (low), -30 and below (very low).
In a report on Business World Online, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma said “people’s optimism contributes to creating a wholesome environment for the full fruition of long-standing aspirations.”
Coloma also stated during a press briefing in Malacañan on Tuesday (May 26) that the positive outlook of the Filipinos under President Benigno Aquino III’s administration is good for the country.
”We are happy that despite the life’s challenges, our countrymen remain positive about their future,” he said.
