MANILA, Philippines — A survey has revealed that 62.4 percent of Filipinos support the proposed constitutional amendments that will result in economic reforms.
The November 18 to 20 survey of Tangere marked a slight yet significant increase from the previous month’s findings, underscoring a shift in public sentiment as discussions surrounding economic reforms gain traction.
The poll results released on Sunday showed stronger backing for economic reforms in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, and Eastern Visayas, and lower levels of approval in Mindanao and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).
Age also played a role, as respondents between 26 and 45 years old expressed greater enthusiasm for the proposed amendments.
The survey highlighted perceived benefits, including job creation (74.0 percent), a decrease in the prices of goods and services (72.5 percent), accelerated economic growth (71.0 percent) and improved salaries and work benefits (70.0 percent).
Concerns over potential negative consequences were evident, with 37.0 percent of respondents worried about the possibility of increased corruption and 35.0 percent apprehensive about heightened competition from foreign businesses potentially impacting local enterprises. These concerns underline the need for the government to carefully balance economic ambitions with safeguards against unintended consequences.
One of the most supported amendments was for Article XII on National Patrimony and Economy, which includes provisions for foreign ownership of public utilities. Two-thirds of Filipinos backed this specific change, hopeful that it could lead to reduced utility prices, particularly for essential services like water and electricity.
The survey queried 1,500 respondents through a mobile-based application. Using a stratified random sampling method with quotas, the study achieved national representation: 12 percent of respondents came from NCR, 23 percent from Northern Luzon, 22 percent from Southern Luzon, 20 percent from Visayas, and 23 percent from Mindanao. The survey’s margin of error is ±2.50 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
Tangere is a market research firm and member of the Marketing and Opinion Research Society of the Philippines.
