Pinoys Worse

Most Filipinos think life is getting worse -- survey

Agence France-Presse

ABOUT 67 percent of Filipinos believe life has become worse over the past 12 months amid a political crisis and rising oil prices, a survey released Wednesday said.

The poll of 1,200 adults nationwide, conducted by the independent Pulse Asia research group from July 2-14, also found that 49 percent expected their lives to worsen by July next year.

Only 12 percent said their quality of life had improved over the past 12 months, while 19 percent said they expected things to get better next year, the survey revealed.

It also found that 80 percent of respondents believed the country's conditions had worsened over the past 12 months, with 65 percent saying they expected it to get worse.

The survey, which has a margin of error of six percent, did not ask for the reasons behind the respondents' perceived deteriorating quality of life.

It was conducted at the height of a political crisis stemming from audiotapes allegedly showing that President Gloria Arroyo cheated to win the May 2004 elections. She is currently battling impeachment charges.

It also came amid skyrocketing oil prices and growing calls by the opposition for the ouster of Arroyo through street protests.

Despite the scandal, 45 percent of respondents said the country's biggest concern was controlling inflation while 37 percent said it was reducing poverty.

Sixty-seven percent said they disapproved of the government's poverty-reduction efforts.

At least 38 percent blamed the government for not doing enough to control rising oil prices while 45 percent said it was out of the government's hands.

The survey found that 11 percent agreed with the statement "this country is hopeless."

However only five percent said the poor should join anti-government groups seeking the ouster of Arroyo.