PUBLiCUS Asia Inc.'s 2022 End of the Year poll showed that “Kadiwa ng Pasko,” a national caravan where basic goods are sold at a lower price, emerged as the top approved program of the national government in the fourth quarter of 2022.

In a public briefing on Friday, Dec. 16, PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. released the list of highest approved national programs of the Philippine government in the last quarter of 2022. All of the records were gathered through its 2022 Pahayag End of the Year survey held from Nov. 25 to Nov. 30, 2022, which covered 1,500 male and female respondents across the country.

Eric Yancy Estrabo of PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. stressed that the most approved national programs cover the “economic stance” of Filipinos, especially the working class.

“It covers basic needs. Mababaw ang kaligayahan ng mga Pilipino in a way. Kapag ito ay mga na-address, ang mga simpleng tao ay sasabihing gumaganda ang ekonomiya natin (It covers basic needs. The happiness of Filipinos is superficial in a way. When these are addressed, ordinary people will say that our economy is improving) ,” said Dr. Rosalina Ora’a-Fuentes of Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute.

Apart from the launching of “Kadiwa ng Pasko” which garnered 84 percent of votes, other most approved initiatives of the government include the administration’s response to natural disasters (83 percent), the implementation of hybrid work arrangement (82 percent), continuation of Libreng Sakay Program in EDSA Bus Carousel (80 percent), value added tax exemption on electricity and water (80 percent), launching of infrastructure projects under Build Better More program (78 percent) and the provision of financial aid or “ayuda” for the marginalized sectors (77 percent).

Second highest-approved programs and policies are about fighting criminality, improving internet speed, resumption of in-person classes, as well as the implementation of voluntary face mask mandate in open spaces.

“Kapag tinignan mo yung top two, napaka disperse ng data. Lumawak na ang kanilang pananaw na beyond the basic ay meron pa tayong dapat pagtuunan ng pansin (When you look at the top two, the data is very dispersed. Their view has expanded that beyond the basic needs, we still have something to focus on),” said Ora’a-Fuentes.

The list of third top approved initiatives covered a mix of tax-related issues, reinstatement of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for Senior High, reimposition of death penalty for heinous crimes, as well as the government’s mandate to complete two booster shots against Covid-19.

Least approved

PUBLiCUS Asia’s poll likewise covered the least approved initiatives of the national government. With 44 percent of rating, the revision of the Constitution topped the list.

It was followed by the act of allowing US Armed Forces to use the Philippine Military bases when the Taiwan Strait Conflict begins (37 percent), privatization of public transports (29 percent), and the increase in water rates by Manila Water and Maynilad (11 percent).