More Filipinos are opposed to proposals to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution than those who favor it, amid the Duterte administration actively supporting a charter change to give way to a new form of government system, the latest Pulse Asia survey results revealed yesterday.
The nationwide survey conducted last July 2-8 among 1,200 respondents found that 37 percent of Filipinos support charter change, 44 percent are against the proposal, while 19 percent are undecided on the matter.
However, in comparison to the November 2014 survey on charter change, Pulse Asia found more Filipinos supporting charter change now, from 27 percent in November 2014 to 37 percent at present.
Fewer Filipinos also expressed opposition to charter amendment from 49 percent in November 2014 to 44 percent in July 2016.
Pulse Asia said almost the same percentages either support or oppose charter change in Metro Manila (47 percent and 42 percent, respectively), the rest of Luzon (33 percent and 42 percent, respectively), Mindanao (47 percent and 36 percent, respectively, upper-to-middle Class ABC (42 percent and 43 percent, respectively), and poorest Class E (39 percent and 42 percent, respectively).
More Filipinos in the Visayas (58 percent) and Class D or “masa” (44 percent) do not think the 1987 Philippine Constitution should be amended now.
Between November 2014 and July 2016, support for charter change became more pronounced in Metro Manila (up by 24 percentage points), Mindanao (up by 15 percentage points), and Class D (up by 10 percentage points).
Meanwhile, opposition to charter change eased in Metro Manila (lower by 20 percentage points) and Mindanao (lower by 13 percentage points).
As regards the specific proposal to change the country’s form of government from a presidential one to a parliamentary form, public opinion is split three-ways with 37 percent of Filipinos against it, 33 percent in favor, and 30 percent cannot say whether or not they support such a change.
Almost the same pattern may be noted in Class E (34 percent not in favor, 32 percent in favor, and 34 percent undecided).
Meanwhile, nearly the same percentages of those in Metro Manila as well as Classes ABC and D either support or reject the proposal to change the country’s form of government to a parliamentary one (32 percent to 43 percent against 33 percent to 39 percent).
Opposition is most pronounced in the rest of Luzon with 43 percent. (ELLALYN DE VERA)