MEDIARELEASE

(January 09, 2012)

FROM:

Prof. Ronald D. Holmes President Pulse Asia, Inc.

RE:

Pulse Asias November 2011 Nationwide Survey on the State of the National Economy

Pulse Asia is pleased to share with you some findings on the State of the National Economy from the November 2011 Ulat ng Bayan national survey. We request you to assist us in informing the public by disseminating this information. The survey fieldwork was conducted from November 10 to 23, 2011 using faceto-face interviews. The following developments dominated the headlines: (1) the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the watch list order against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo; (2) acting on orders of Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the immigration officials' preventing the former First Couple from leaving the country despite the SC TRO; (3) the arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 18 November 2011 on charges of electoral fraud in the May 2007 elections; (4) the murder of a son of former Senator Ramon Revilla, Sr. and the alleged involvement of family members in the murder plot; (5) the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III; (6) the visit to the Philippines by U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak; (7) the Bureau of Internal Revenues (BIR) continued campaign against tax evaders; (8) the commemoration of the second anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre; (9) the issuance of a hold departure order against retired Maj. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife following the filing of tax

evasion charges against the couple; (10) government financial assistance given to several rebel groups; (11) the Supreme Court decision mandating the distribution of the lands of Hacienda Luisita to about 6,000 farmer beneficiaries; (12) the passage of the national budget by the Senate and (13) depreciation of the Philippine peso and increase in diesel prices and power rates. Other developments during this period include Saranggani Representative Emmanuel D. Pacquiaos controversial win over Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, the appointment of Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as the new chief of the Philippine Army and the inclusion of the Palawan Underground River as one of the provisional winners in the search for the new seven wonders of nature. As in our previous surveys, this nationwide survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. Those interested in further technical details concerning the survey's questionnaire and sampling design may request Pulse Asia in writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used. Pulse Asias pool of academic fellows takes full responsibility for the design and conduct of the survey, as well as for analyses it makes based on the survey data. In keeping with our academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group influenced any of these processes. Pulse Asia undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort. For any clarification or questions, kindly contact Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia President at 09189335497 or Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Pulse Asia Chief Research Fellow at 09189436816.

Pulse Asias November 2011 Ulat ng Bayan Survey: Media Release on the State of the National Economy 09 January 2012 The plurality sentiment among Filipinos is that the state of the national economy today is the same as it was a year ago (45%); those saying the state of the Philippine economy deteriorated over the past 12 months outnumber those saying it improved (38% versus 18%) For 45% of Filipinos, the national economic situation remained unchanged over the previous 12 months lower than the October 2010 figure (54%). Meanwhile, 38% of Filipinos believe that the state of the Philippine economy deteriorated over the past year while 18% express a contrary opinion. Between October 2010 and November 2011, the percentage of Filipinos saying the economy is better now declines by 12 percentage points while the percentage of those who observe a deterioration in the Philippine economy increases by 22 percentage points. (Please refer to Table 1).
Table 1 STATE OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
October 2010 and November 2011 / Philippines (In Percent) If you compare the state of the national economy now with that of last year, would you say that the state of the national economy is ...? (Base: Total Interviews, 100%) Better now Same Worse now November 2011 October 2010 November 2011 October 2010 November 2011 October 2010 LOCATION BAL LUZ VIS CLASS MIN ABC D E

RP

NCR

18 30 45 54 38 16

18 31 50 59 32 9

16 28 52 63 32 10

22 30 46 50 32 19

17 35 26 37 57 29

16 31 47 59 38 10

19 29 43 54 38 16

16 32 48 52 36 17

To what extent are you feeling in your own life the growth of the national economy? (Base: Those who said that the national economy is BETTER NOW than last year, 18%) Strongly felt Feel somewhat Do not feel To what extent are you feeling in your own life the deterioration of the national economy? (Base: Those who said that the national economy is WORSE NOW than last year, 38%) Strongly felt Feel somewhat Do not feel 66 31 3 56 39 5 64 34 2 57 41 2 74 21 5 55 43 2 64 32 4 72 25 3 25 60 15 20 71 9 26 60 14 19 62 20 33 51 15 44 44 12 23 63 14 26 56 19

Q. Kung ikukumpara ang kalagayan ng pambansang ekonomiya ngayon sa nakaraang taon, masasabi ba ninyo na ang kalagayan ng pambansang ekonomiya ay? Q10. Gaano ninyo nararamdaman sa sarili ninyong buhay ang pag-unlad o pag-asenso ng pambansang ekonomiya? [READ OUT] Q11. Gaano ninyo nararamdaman sa sarili ninyong buhay ang pagsama ng pambansang ekonomiya? [READ OUT]

Big pluralities to small majorities (46% to 52%) in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Class E note the absence of any change positive or negative in the state of the Philippine economy over the past year. However, in Mindanao, the majority sentiment is that the state of the national economy is worse now than a year ago (57%). Almost the same percentages of those in Classes ABC and D either share this view (38%) or believe that the state of the national economy remained unchanged over the previous 12 months (43% versus 47%). (Please refer to Table 1). Among those who say the Philippine economy is in a worse state now than a year ago, 66% were strongly affected by this perceived economic deterioration, 31% were somehow affected and only 3% did not feel the impact of the worsening economic situation in the country. Majorities across geographic areas (56% to 74%) and socio-economic groupings (55% to 72%) claim to be strongly affected by the economic deterioration that they say took place in the country over the past year. (Please refer to Table 1). On the other hand, most of those who feel that the economy is in a better shape now say they somehow felt the impact of this growth on their own lives (60%). This sentiment is shared by majorities in all geographic areas (51% to 71%) and Classes D and E (56% to 63%). In the best-off Class ABC, 44% were either strongly or somewhat affected by the perceived improvement in the Philippine economy in the last 12 months. At the national level, 25% of those saying the economy grew last year were strongly affected by this growth while 15% were not affected at all. (Please refer to Table 1).