Survey Says: Filipinos Apparently Think It's All Downhill From Here
If you think you're having it bad, then you're one of the people the Social Weather Stations (SWS) is tagging as "pessimist."
A mobile survey conducted by SWS from May 4 to 10 asked 4,010 working-age Filipinos (15 years old and above) from May 4 to 10 about their quality of life in the next 12 months, and the findings were staggering.
A record 43 percent of the respondents were expecting theirs to worsen, which the research institution confirmed to be "the new peak in the 37-year history of 135 SWS surveys, breaking the previous record 34% in March 2005." In contrast, those who believe their situation will improve and/or stay the same both got 24 percent.
The May 2020 Net Optimism score (-18, optimists minus pessimists) is also the worst in survey history. From +44 in December of last year, it eclipsed the previous low of -13 in October 2000 and March 2005.
According to SWS, "Net Optimism is rarely negative. Only 12 out of the 135 SWS surveys since 1984 have a score of net zero or lower. Out of the 12, the score reached very low levels in only 4 instances: October 2000 (-13), March 2005 (-13), May 2005 (-12), and May 2020 (-18)."
Past negative ratings were attributed to the final years of the Marcos regime (1984), Joseph Estrada getting impeached (2000), and the uncertainty surrounding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo second term (2005).
The survey also revealed a record-low net optimism in the Visayas (-37) and Mindanao (-32). Those with less education (-30, non-elementary graduates), whose pay was cut (-26), and who lost their jobs (-20) were understandably pessimistic.