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SWS: Majority of poor Filipinos are satisfied with their lives


(Updated 6:12 p.m.) Despite the nation's problems, four out of five Filipinos or 81 percent are satisfied with their lives, a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed. Ninety-five percent of those surveyed among the Class ABC on the income scale were satisfied with their lives, but even among Class D and E respondents at the bottom of the scale, the rates of life satisfaction were quite high at 82 percent (Class D) and 74 percent (Class E).
 
The SWS said the fourth quarter 2012 survey conducted among 1,200 adults nationwide on Dec. 8 to 11 showed that of the 81 percent, 33 percent were "very satisfied" and 48 percent "fairly satisfied."
 
But 20 percent said they felt dissatisfied with life, including 14 percent who said they were "not very satisfied," and five percent who said they were "not at all satisfied."
 
The fourth quarter 2012 survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that 45 percent of Filipinos who were very satisfied expected an improvement in the quality of life for the next year.
The results were posted Monday on the website of SWS' media partner BusinessWorld.
 
Still, the SWS said this was an improvement from the 76 percent satisfied in March, including 31 percent who said they were very satisfied and 45 percent who said they were fairly satisfied.
 
Also in March, 24 percent of Filipinos were dissatisfied, including 18 percent who were not very satisfied, and five percent who were not at all satisfied.
 
Also, the SWS noted those satisfied with life were optimistic of the improvement of their lives the general economy this 2013.
 
It added that 45 percent of those very satisfied expected an improvement in their quality of life in the next 12 months.
 
Some 40 percent of those very satisifed with life are optimistic the economy will improve in the next 12 months.
 
In past SWS surveys, life satisfaction was above 80 percent four times since September 2010. This fell to 76 percent in November 2010 and March 2012.
 
But the record-high life satisfaction was recorded at 86 percent in December 2011. The lowest, 61 percent, was tallied in September 2002 and November 2003.
 
Satisfaction highest among Class ABC
 
In the SWS survey, 95 percent of those surveyed among Class ABC were satisfied with their lives.
 
Eighty-eight percent of college graduates surveyed, meanwhile, said they were satisfied with life.
 
Among Class D and E, the rates of life satisfaction were lower, at 82 percent in Class D and 74 percent in Class E.
 
"Satisfaction was almost the same for both sexes with 81 percent (30 percent very, 51 percent fairly) among men, and 80 percent (36 percent very, 45 percent fairly, correctly rounded) among women," SWS said.
 
Also, it said satisfaction was highest among respondents aged 25-34 at 85 percent, and among those married at 82 percent.
 
Satisfaction, however, was lowest among those in the 35-44 age bracket at 76 percent, and among those single or without a partner at 77 percent.
 
By area
 
In Metro Manila, life satisfaction was recorded at 81 percent.
 
The rest of Luzon (“Balance Luzon”) had 84 percent, while Visayas had 82 percent. These were higher than the 72 percent rating in Mindanao.
 
Satisfaction was noted at 84 percent in urban areas, while in rural areas, it was recorded at 77 percent. Urban poor groups unsatisfied with results Despite the survey showing a high satisfaction rate among Class D and E, urban poor groups disagree with the results, saying that many of the urban poor remain unsatisfied. "Sa amin sa urban poor, hindi kami agree sa ganun," Manny Manato, spokesman of Kilos Maralita, told GMA News Online. "Baka sa mga sinurvey lang nila. Depende yan sa area, sa mga ininterview nila," he said. Gloria Arellano, national chairman of the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) agreed, saying that they do not know why the survey findings show a high satisfaction among Class D and E. "Kung sa aming mga maralita, nararanasan namin na hindi nagbabago. Mataas pa rin ang mga bilihin, bayarin...Patuloy ang kawalan ng trabaho, patuloy ang pagbaba ng sahod," she told GMA News Online. "Hindi po natin pinagbabatayan na mas tumaas ang kalidad ng buhay sa ganyan. Hindi ho natin nakikita yan talaga. Ramdam na ramdam ang kahirapan," she said. "Nakatali lang naman po ang ekonomiya sa ilang pamilya, sa ilang korporasyon. Hindi ho yan bumababa sa mahihirap." — with a report from Amanda Lago/KG/HS/BM, GMA News
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