MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Despite the global economic crisis, growing political tension, the armed conflict in the south, and steep commodity prices, nearly seven in ten Filipinos believe the country is not hopeless while five of 10 say they would not migrate to another country even if they had an opportunity.
According to a Pulse Asia Inc. survey conducted from October 14 to 27, 68 percent of respondents, asked if they agreed with the statement that "This country is hopeless," said they disagreed. Thirteen percent agreed while 18 percent were undecided.
Asked if they would migrate to another country if given the chance, 54 percent disagreed, 20 percent agreed, while 24 percent were undecided, the independent survey showed.
The study had a margin of error of +/-3 percent and a confidence level of 95 percent. It polled 1,200 adults nationwide.
Disagreement with the statement that the Philippines is hopeless was highest in Mindanao (78 percent), followed by the Visayas (72 percent), Metro Manila (69 percent), and Luzon (62 percent).
On the other hand, agreement with the statement that the country is hopeless is highest in Luzon (15 percent), followed by Metro Manila (14 percent), the Visayas (13 percent), and Mindanao (6 percent).
The percentage of the population that would rather stay in the country than migrate abroad was highest in Luzon (61 percent), statistically tied with Mindanao (60 percent), followed by the Visayas (43 percent), and Metro Manila (35 percent).
On the opposite side, those who would opt to migrate was highest in the Visayas (35 percent), followed by Metro Manila (28 percent), Luzon (15 percent), and Mindanao (14 percent).
Across social classes, 72 percent of the ABC bracket, and 69 percent from the D bracket said they did not agree the country is hopeless.
More people from the D bracket (53 percent) than from the ABC bracket (35 percent) said they would prefer to stay in the Philippines.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita welcomed the survey results, saying: "This shows that Filipinos are very nationalistic and they are hopeful that their lives will get better here, rather than migrate."
"In other words, there are very high hopes things will be much better here than abroad," he said.
The year 2008 saw inflation shoot up to record highs as world crude prices soared. The government's economic team also moved to set in place measures to cushion the impact of the global economic crisis, which is expected to fully affect the country early next year.
On the political front, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo survived yet another impeachment attempt on charges of massive corruption in the botched $329-million national broadband network contract and the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.
In Mindanao, fresh fighting erupted between government forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels erupted in August as formal peace talks bogged down.(inquirer.net)
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