Most Pinoys say gov’t ayudas ‘helpful’ —surveys

A great majority of Filipinos said that the government’s social welfare programs are helpful to poor citizens, according to the surveys of Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia in January.

The programs covered in the surveys commissioned by Stratbase Group were:

• Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
• Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD)
• Ayuda sa Kapos and Kita Program (AKAP)
• Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)
• Walang Gutom Program (WGP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program

SWS

Based on the SWS survey, 90% of Filipinos said 4Ps was helpful, with 66% saying it is “very helpful” and 24% considering it “somewhat helpful”.

For TUPAD, 88% believed that the program was helpful to underprivileged citizens. Of the total percentage, 51% said it was “very helpful” while 37% said it was “somewhat helpful.”

For AKAP, 81% found the aid helpful, with 42% rating it as “very helpful” and 39% as “somewhat helpful”.  

For WGP, 81% said it was helpful to poor Filipinos. Of the total percentage, 48% said it was “very helpful” and 33% said it was “somewhat helpful.”

For AICS, 80% deemed the program helpful, with 42% saying it was “very helpful” and 38% saying it was “somewhat helpful.”

The SWS survey was conducted from January 17 to 20, 2025 and asked 1,800 respondents on their awareness of the government's social welfare programs and whether or not they found them helpful. 

The survey has a ±2% margin of error.

Pulse Asia

Based on the Pulse Asia survey, 82% said 4Ps improved the financial stability of Filipinos from the lower social class.

For TUPAD, 82% believed that the program was beneficial to the overall well-being of the Filipino people by providing livelihood and ensuring employment.

For AKAP, 81% of Filipinos said they find it helpful in the financial stability of Filipinos belonging to the lower social class. 

Conducted from January 18 to 25, 2025, the Pulse Asia survey asked 2,400 respondents on the helpfulness and benefits of 4Ps, TUPAD, and AKAP. 

The survey has a ±2% margin of error. 

Noting the importance of ayuda to indigent citizens, Stratbase Group president Dindo Manhit said there should be transparency in the government programs to guarantee that public funds are used efficiently.

“To ensure the continuous and effective delivery of social government programs, there is a need to also continuously uphold transparency in their implementation, particularly in the list of recipients,” he said. 

“There is a need to ensure that public funds serve their intended purpose—to uplift the lives of the poor—and not the personal interest of some. When taxpayers’ money are spent properly, the Filipino people benefits through better services and economic progress,” he added. —AOL, GMA Integrated News