By El Amigo

MANILA — The latest survey conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. revealed an increasing dissatisfaction among Filipinos with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Pahayag End of the Year survey, conducted from November 29 to December 4, indicates a notable decline in pro-administration sentiment, dropping from 50 percent in the third quarter to 46 percent in the fourth quarter.

Publicus Asia reported that anti-administration sentiment remained stable at 18 percent, while those adopting a neutral stance increased from 30 percent to 36 percent during the same period.

In a statement, Publicus Asia highlighted economic concerns such as price inflation, joblessness, low wages, and a perceived lack of productivity as driving factors behind this shift in the political landscape.

The polling firm noted that these issues if left unaddressed by the administration, have led to a significant migration of pro-administration voters towards neutrality.

The National Capital Region (NCR) witnessed a substantial drop in pro-administration sentiment from 49 percent to 33 percent. In comparison, Mindanao and North-Central Luzon (NCL) showed declines of 51 percent and 49 percent, respectively.

Publicus Asia emphasized that neutral sentiments increased across regions, indicating a broader shift towards non-partisanship. The polling firm also reported a decrease in anti-opposition sentiment from 40 percent to 32 percent and a notable increase in neutral sentiments from 42 percent to 47 percent.

Publicus Asia attributed the persistence of the “Duterte effect” to the challenges faced by the Opposition Party, which grapples with discreditation from the previous administration.

On a regional level, pro-opposition support remained relatively stable, with marginal increases in the NCR, NCL, and Mindanao. Anti-opposition sentiment decreased across all regions, showcasing a notable shift towards neutrality.

Publicus Asia underscored that the proportion of Filipino voters adopting a neutral stance towards the opposition has notably increased in NCR, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Pahayag 2023 End of the Year Survey was non-commissioned it said in a statement.

The poll utilized purposive sampling, involving 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum.

The sample was restricted to registered Filipino voters maintained by PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence.

(IA/MNM)