The latest Pulse Asia survey for the period of March 23 to 28 didn’t show anything new other than the obvious daily concerns by majority of the Filipinos as they inch closer to marking the second year of the Age of Duterte.
Improving and increasing workers’ pay, controlling inflation and reducing poverty occupy the top three spots in the areas of concern of majority of the Filipinos though one cannot see that assessment in many social media posts which are usually being coopted by the administration’s diehard supporters.
In fact these concerns have topped both peace and order and fighting terrorism in the Pulse Asia list. Given this administration’s propensity to question and disparage unfavorable surveys, it is unlikely they would offer any new reassurances to the public anytime soon.
Workers’ pay is especially significant in light of the coming May 1 promise by the Duterte administration to decide on the fate of “endo” or end of contract practice by most businesses that labor groups demanded a definite end to even if it is only through a presidential executive order.
Such a promise is unlikely given the administration’s previous views that there are certain arrangements where endo can be applied such as projects with a specific time period where regularization of employees is not required.
Both workers’ pay and inflation have concerns in light of the government’s TRAIN program which raises taxes on certain items in hopes of funding its so-called “Build, build, build” program.
It’s still more than four years away and Filipinos can expect more belt-tightening as President Rodrigo Duterte warned that the brunt of TRAIN’s tax burden will become heavier in the next two to three years.
By that time, workers pay increases may be miniscule at best owing to businesses adopting to rising costs and inflation bearing down on even essential items that the national government promised won’t be affected by the TRAIN program.
Given that backdrop, there is little wonder why majority of the Filipino populace are less sympathetic about the Duterte administration’s federalism initiative, seeing that it won’t be a penultimate solution to the ills and problems they are currently experiencing.
The President may appeal for public support to his federalism initiative in his next State of the Nation Address in June or July and it is expected that public sentiment on these top concerns won’t change at all.
In fact, another survey by Pulse Asia or the Social Weather Station (SWS) may highlight these concerns to the President and serve as reference points to call him out on what his administration is doing to resolve their problems.
It’s not just the President the public should be calling into account but his allies in Congress, one of whose leaders is hell bent on pushing for Charter change to serve both his and his allies’s interests.
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