Social Weather Stations, January 30, 2020
The annual SWS Survey Review, presented at the Asian Institute of Management on January 30, 2020, summarized last year’s social weather, based on the 2019 SWS surveys, as follows:
- The people say they feel free to speak, and are aware of the risk of doing so.
- The 2019 election was favorably reviewed.
- The people’s well-being continues its progress since 2014; but official figures understate the economic deprivation.
- The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) fares very poorly relative to other areas, and deserves regular statistics.
- Satisfaction with governance is generally high, continuing the trend since 2010.
- The removal of Vice-President Leni Robredo from the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) was an admission of failure of the War on Illegal Drugs; human rights abuses are many; few accept “nanlaban”; ninja cops abound; help from international organizations is welcome.
- Safety of homes and streets is unchanged. But illegal drug usage is noticeably less.
- The people demand forceful resistance to Chinese moves in the West Philippine Sea.
- The people reject the policy “pivot” towards China and prefer continuance of traditional relations with the U.S.
Since 2001, it has been a tradition for Social Weather Stations, in partnership with the AIM Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness (formerly AIM Policy Center) and with support from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Philippines, to assess the past year from the unique perspective of survey research.
The 2020 Survey Review was opened by Dr. Jamil Paolo Francisco, Executive Director of the AIM Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness. An integrated presentation was made by Dr. Mahar Mangahas, President of SWS, with reactions from Dr. Ronald Mendoza, Dean of the Ateneo School of Government, and Dr. Jay Batongbacal, Director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs & Law of the Sea.
Mr. John Paul Flaminiano, Economist of the AIM Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness, was master of ceremonies and moderator. Dr. Stefan Jost, Country Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines, gave the closing remarks.
A copy of this year’s presentation is available for downloading at www.sws.org.ph (1.4 MB).
The SWS surveys are open for public research at the SWS Survey Library at #52 Malingap Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. For inquiries, please contact Ms Josefina Mar <[email protected]>.
Source: https://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20200130085501