Optimism, safer streets reasons why 44% of Pinoys ‘very happy’

According to the survey conducted from March 28 to 31, the 44 percent of Filipinos who consider themselves “very happy” is a 5 percent higher compared to the 39 percent recorded in December 2018. (File photo by Glendale Lapastora’s Pictures (Official)/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday hailed a survey which showed that 44 percent of Filipinos are “very happy” and 37 percent are “very satisfied” with their lives.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo credited the first quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which also showed that 49 percent of Filipinos are “fairly happy”, to the ‘meaningful change’ that the government has achieved under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

“We attribute these results to the optimistic and cheery disposition of Filipinos, and to the prevailing conditions of the country where streets are safe from crimes and drugs, cities are booming with massive infrastructure buildup, and the economy is on a positive turnaround,” said Panelo in a statement.

“There is genuine, visible and meaningful change under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as validated by public sentiment,” he added.

Panelo said the Duterte administration is committed to continue bringing comfortable and peaceful lives to over 106 million Filipinos.

According to the survey conducted from March 28 to 31, the 44 percent of Filipinos who consider themselves “very happy” is a 5 percent higher compared to the 39 percent recorded in December 2018.

Meanwhile, the 49 percent of Filipinos who consider themselves “very satisfied” is a three-point increase from 2018 fourth quarter’s 34 percent.

Mindanao had the most number of “very happy” Filipinos at 58 percent and “very satisfied” at 49 percent.

The survey showed that only 7 percent of the 1,440 adult respondents have said they are “not very happy”, while 1 percent are “not at all happy”.