SWS: Most Pinoys feel no changes in quality of life

MANILA, Philippines — The quality of life of most Filipinos stayed the same over the past year, with only one in three saying it improved, according to a recent survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Results of the survey conducted from March 21 to 25 found 45 percent of respondents saying their quality of life stayed the same in the past 12 months.

Some 30 percent said it improved, while 25 percent said it got worse.

The latest survey results were similar to the one conducted by SWS in December 2023.

It resulted in a “net gainers” score of +5, which is the rounded off difference of those who said their lives improved from those who said their lives worsened.

The “net gainers” score was -2 in October 2023 and +11 in June 2023. It was +18 in December 2019 – the last survey conducted before the pandemic.

Across areas, the “net gainers” score was highest among those in balance Luzon at +14 (from +6), followed by those in Metro Manila at +9 (from +16), the Visayas at -2 (from +4) and Mindanao at -8 (from -3).

By educational attainment, the “net gainers” score was highest among those with some college education at +12 (from +5), followed by college graduates at +10 (from +25), non-elementary graduates at -1 (from +5) and those with some high school education at -4 (same as in December 2023 survey).

SWS said the “net gainers” score was higher among “non-hungry” and “not-poor” families.

The survey had 1,500 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.5 percent for national percentages.