A growing sense of unease is sweeping across the Philippines, as a recent survey reveals a significant shift in how Filipinos perceive their own lives. For the first time in two years, more adults report a decline in their quality of life than an improvement.
The survey, conducted among 1,500 Filipinos in late September, paints a stark picture: 32% experienced a worsening of their circumstances, while only 30% felt their lives had gotten better. Nearly 40% reported no change, resulting in an overall assessment categorized as “fair” – a reversal of positive trends seen earlier in the year.
This shift is reflected in a dramatic drop in the Net Gainers score, which measures the difference between those who feel their lives are improving and those who feel they are worsening. Plummeting from +12 in June to -2 in September, the index reached its lowest point since 2023.
The rising pessimism coincides with the surfacing of a major corruption scandal involving public works officials, lawmakers, and contractors. This revelation has undoubtedly shaken public trust and contributed to the increasingly negative outlook.
Historically, the Net Gainers score was largely negative until 2015, experiencing a brief period of positivity before being severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. While a recovery to pre-pandemic levels was observed in mid-2023 and continuing into 2024, this recent downturn signals a worrying trend.
The decline in optimism is widespread, affecting all major regions, income levels, age groups, and genders across the country. Even Mindanao, previously the most optimistic region, saw a substantial 13-point decrease in its Net Gainers score.
The Visayas experienced an even more significant drop, plummeting 21 points to +1, while Metro Manila fell 18 points to -8. Balance Luzon also saw a decline, moving from +6 to -4. This broad-based negativity underscores the pervasive nature of the growing concerns.
Urban areas experienced a particularly sharp downturn, with the Net Gainers score falling from +10 to -5. Rural areas also saw a decline, though less pronounced, moving from +14 to +1. This suggests that economic pressures are being felt acutely in cities.
While younger Filipinos (aged 18-24) remain the most optimistic, with a score of +23, even this group experienced a significant decrease from +39 in June. The most dramatic shift occurred among those aged 55 and above, whose sentiment plummeted to -18, a 22-point drop.
Educational attainment also played a role, with those who completed elementary school experiencing the largest decline in optimism, falling 24 points to -12. Even college graduates saw their positive outlook diminish, dropping from +13 to +5.
Adding to the concerns, half of Filipino families now identify themselves as poor, according to a separate survey. This self-assessment of poverty is most pronounced among those already struggling, with a Net Gainers score of -13 compared to +10 for those on the borderline and +9 for those who do not consider themselves poor.
The sharpest decline in optimism was observed among those who identify as poor, experiencing a 21-point fall from June. This suggests that the most vulnerable segments of society are feeling the brunt of the current economic pressures and are losing hope for improvement.
