THERE was general dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of inflation and controlling prices of basic goods, a recent independent opinion survey showed.
According to the non-commissioned study by the OCTA Research conducted on September 30 to October 4 this year, only 14 percent were satisfied with how the national government controlled inflation and reined in prices of consumer goods.
Curiously however, 29 percent said they were contented with the government’s efforts to fight poverty, while 34 percent gave the thumbs up approval on hunger reduction.
On non-economic issues, bigger number of the people indicated that the government was doing alright. Forty-three percent believed that the national government was on the right track in the fight against graft and corruption, 46 percent favored efforts to reduce taxes, 47 percent said “yes” to the anti-drugs campaign, and 48 percent happy with the handling of food security.
Interestingly, majority of the people (72 percent) said they were most satisfied with the national government’s efforts toward quality primary and secondary education, while 71 percent hinted that the government was doing fine in the tertiary and vocational department, including delivery of educational infrastructure.
In terms of government services for the welfare and protection of the overseas Filipino workers, 69 percent found the issue acceptable.
Nearly the same number, (68 percent) said they were happy with the government’s response to natural disasters, 64 percent nodded to the government’s handling of the West Philippine Sea crisis.
Conversely, the OCTA survey also showed that only 36 percent of Metro Manilans were satisfied with the government’s efforts in creating new job opportunities, with an equal percentage point favouring human rights protection.
However, a much higher percent of the residents in the National Capital Region were in favour of government response to natural disasters, and 82 percent in providing quality and affordable healthcare services.
Forty-nine percent of adult Filipinos in Luzon were also satisfied with the government’s performance in stopping the destruction and abuse of the environment.
Respondents in the NCR were also satisfied with the government’s programs on helping the poor (41 percent), creating more jobs (36 percent), protecting human rights (36 percent), stopping the spread of illegal drugs in the country (23 percent), fighting graft and corruption (20 percent), reducing hunger (16 percent), controlling the prices of basic goods or managing inflation (5 percent ), and reducing poverty (11 percent), the GMA News reported.
Eighty-three percent of respondents in the Visayas showed high satisfaction in the public infrastructure projects.
Adult Filipinos belonging to class ABC were found satisfied with the government’s performance in reducing poverty (18 percent), providing quality tertiary and technical/vocational education (48 percent), and providing quality primary and secondary education (64 percent).
Meanwhile, respondents belonging to Class E were confident with the government’s help to give quality and affordable healthcare (77 percent), and protect the welfare of OFWs (74 percent).
The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. It had a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.