Elderly pension, enhanced cybersecurity get highest approval ratings

THE UNIVERSAL social pension for senior citizens and the enhanced cybersecurity and data privacy measures for all government agencies receive the highest approval ratings among all national issues, a survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. released  lately.

In its non-commissioned PAHAYAG Second Quarter 20224 survey, PUBLiCUS Asia said the elderly pension and enhanced cybersecurity received 90 percent approval ratings from the respondents.

“The survey further highlights the public's strong support for policies aimed at improving social welfare and securing sensitive government information,” PUBLiCUS Asia said in a news release.

Following closely behind, a second group of issues garnering significant approval revolves around peace and order. These include the passage of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and a Senate investigation into an illegal drug seizure in Alitagtag, Batangas, both receiving 81 percent approval.

Additionally, the abolition of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) and the arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy are approved by 75 percent of respondents.

As inflation remains a critical concern, 81 percent of Filipinos support the revival of the National Food Authority-Food Terminal Inc.-Kadiwa (NFA-FTI-Kadiwa) system to better connect farmers with marketplaces, providing consumers with affordable agricultural products.

A third tier of issues, each approved by about 70 percent of respondents, includes proposals to revert the school calendar to June-March, adjust working hours for local government units in Metro Manila to ease traffic congestion, and consolidate various government aid programs into a single National Family Stipend Program.

Respondents expressed a mixed sentiment towards the ayuda (assistance) program with about half of Filipinos viewing it positively as a means to assist fellow citizens (47 percent), while a significant portion (43 percent) perceive it as susceptible to abuse.

In terms of coverage, only 23 percent of Filipinos report receiving ayuda from Marcos's administration in the past two years, with a concentration in the National Capital Region (NCR). Among recipients, 43 percent indicate that it has improved their quality of life, while the remaining 51 percent feel there has been no change.

The fourth group, supported by around 60 percent of Filipinos, encompasses a mix of topics such as restricting electronic gadgets during classes (which is less favored by the 18-24 age group); an inquiry into the PHP47.6 billion budget transfer from the Department of Health to the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management during the COVID-19 pandemic; economic provisions for constitutional change; a court order for the arrest of Quiboloy; and a bill allowing the National Food Authority to import rice.

With a roughly 50 percent approval rating, the fifth group includes an inquiry into the "gentlemen’s agreement" between former President Rodrigo Duterte and China, and the passage of the Divorce Bill.

The sixth group, with around 40 percent approval, covers issues such as the imposition of a 12 percent VAT on foreign digital services, adoption of AI, banning potentially threatening apps, replacing Philippine National Police officials in Davao City with Special Action Force (SAF) personnel, and the preventive suspension of local chief executives supporting the MAISUG rallies.

The last set of issues with the least approval features persistent issues lacking resolution or appearing outdated. These include Charter Change via People’s Initiative (34 percent), disputes in the West Philippine Sea (32 percent), rising commodity prices (15 percent), the resignation of VP Sara as Department of Education Secretary (32 percent), International Criminal Court actions against former President Duterte and others (31 percent), and blocking of the MAISUG Peace Rally (27 percent).

The survey was conducted from June 15 to 19, using purposive sampling composed of 1,507 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 registered Filipino voters maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence. (PR)