Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 30) — Nearly all Filipinos are welcoming the New Year with hope, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The SWS said a record-high 96 percent of Filipinos are hopeful for 2018, surpassing the 95 percent set in 2002, 2011 and 2016.
The group interviewed 1,200 adults nationwide in December 2017, adding the poll was based on the one conducted by German pollster Allensbach Institute.
The one-point jump from the same period last year was due to increases in the Visayas, which went up three points to 95 percent, and Metro Manila, which went up one point to 96 percent.
Meanwhile, hopefulness remained steady for the rest of Luzon and Mindanao at 97 percent and 95 percent, respectively.
Of those who made New Year’s resolutions for 2017, six percent said they fulfilled all or almost all of them.
Meanwhile, 12 percent fulfilled most of them, 23 percent fulfilled only a few and four percent fulfilled none or almost none of their resolutions. The remaining one percent did not give an answer.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Saturday the Palace is pleased by the results and that prospects for the future “look bright.”
“Indeed, there are reasons to be hopeful,” he said in a statement. “Our economy is on a roll with institutions like the Asian Development Bank upgrading our growth outlook for 2017 and debt watcher Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings also adjusting upward its economic growth forecast for the Philippines this year.”
He said the liberation of Marawi will likewise spur economic activities in Mindanao. The implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act — together with higher investment in infrastructure — are also expected to prop up the economy in 2018.
