47% of Filipinos optimistic about quality of life - SWS

Metro Manila, Philippines - Nearly half of Filipinos believe their quality of life will improve in the next 12 months, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The poll, conducted June 25 to 29, found that 47 percent of respondents were “optimists,” expecting their lives to improve. Thirty-seven percent said their situation would remain the same, while 5 percent or the “pessimists” said it would worsen. Eleven percent did not give an answer.

The results produced a net personal optimism score of +41, classified by SWS as “excellent.” The figure was a point higher from the +40 in April.

Optimism was highest among young adults, with respondents aged 18 to 24 registering an “excellent” +54. Scores were also stronger among those who identified their families as “not poor” (+53) compared to those who considered themselves “poor” (+33).

Regionally, Metro Manila and Balance Luzon remained at “excellent” levels, while the Visayas improved from “high” to “very high.” Mindanao slipped slightly but still registered a “very high” rating.

An earlier SWS report noted that 35% percent of Filipinos said their quality of life had improved over the past year, while 23% said it worsened and 42 percent said it was unchanged. Net optimism was significantly higher among “gainers” (+56) than among “losers” (+18).

The non-commissioned survey interviewed 1,200 adults face-to-face, with 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. The national sampling error margin is ±3%, and ±6% for each geographic area.