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Pulse Asia Research, Inc. is pleased to share with you some findings on Charter Change from the July 2016 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 July 2 to 8, 2016 using face-to-face interviews.

The following news developments preoccupied Filipinos immediately before and during the conduct of the interviews for this nationwide survey:

(1) The oath-taking of President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo on 30 June 2016;

(2) The appointment of Vice-President Robredo as Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairperson, former National Food Authority (NFA) Chief Angelito Banayo as Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Managing Director and Resident Representative, and former Gabriela Party List Representative Liza Maza as National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Lead Convenor;

(3) The filing of cases against former President Benigno S. Aquino III in connection with his administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Mamasapano encounter on 25 January 2015 which resulted in the death of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF);

(4) The bills filed by Senator Franklin M. Drilon granting emergency powers to President Duterte to enable him to address the traffic crisis in Metro Manila and other key cities across the country, by Negros Occidental Representative Alfredo Benitez calling on Congress to sit as a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution for the purpose of changing the country’s form of government to a federal form, and by Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez and Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro reimposing the death penalty through lethal injection;

(5) The spate of drug-related killings in various parts of the country and calls for a congressional investigation into the matter; President Duterte’s naming of five (5) former and incumbent police officials as drug lord coddlers, an accusation which these officers denied;

(6) The decision of President Duterte’s economic managers to reduce the national growth targets for 2016 and 2017;

(7) The impending implementation of the executive order on freedom of information (FOI) to be issued by President Duterte in mid-July 2016;

(8) The expression of willingness by President Duterte to engage in bilateral talks and joint exploration with China in disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea; and

(9) The increase in the electricity bills to be paid by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) customers in July 2016 by 29 centavos per kilowatt-hour due to higher generation charges.

As in our previous Ulat ng Bayan 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 Research in writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used.

Pulse Asia Research’s 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 Research undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort.

For any clarification or questions, kindly contact Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Research Director of Pulse Asia Research at 09189436816 or Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia Research President at 09189335497 or via email (ronald.holmes@gmail.com).

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Less than half of Filipinos (41%) report awareness of proposal to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution; most of them (73%) admit knowing little/nothing at all about the 1987 Philippine Constitution

Around four (4) in 10 Filipinos (41%) say they have heard, read or watched something related to proposal to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, the only majority level of awareness is recorded in Class ABC (57%). Furthermore, awareness is more pronounced in the best-off socio-economic grouping than in the poorer ones (57% in Class ABC versus 33% to 41% in Classes D and E). Essentially the same awareness figures are recorded in the various geographic areas (39% to 43%). (Please refer to Table 1.)

Most Filipinos (73%) have little or no knowledge at all about the country’s charter – with 45% knowing only a little while 28% have almost or completely no knowledge at all. Majority figures obtain across geographic areas and socio-economic groupings (66% to 78% and 57% to 80%, respectively). The rest of Filipinos (27%) claim to know much or enough about the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Higher levels of sufficient/great knowledge are registered in Metro Manila than in Mindanao (34% versus 22%) as well as in Class ABC than in Classes D and E (43% versus 20% to 27%). These figures do not differ significantly from those recorded by Pulse Asia Research in November 2014.  (Please refer to Tables 2 to 3.)

Even among those aware of charter change proposals, most of them, albeit a smaller percentage (56%), have little or no knowledge at all about the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Similarly, majority levels of little/no knowledge are recorded in all geographic areas (52% to 62%) and in Classes D and E (56% to 67%). Conversely, 44% of those aware of proposals to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution say they have at least enough knowledge about the law of the land – much higher than figure recorded among the general population (27%). (Please refer to Table 2.)

 A big plurality of Filipinos (44%) oppose charter change now

The plurality sentiment among Filipinos (44%) is one of opposition to proposals to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution at the moment – a view shared by virtually the same percentages of those aware of charter change proposals and those with a great deal/sufficient knowledge about the 1987 Philippine Constitution (both at 42%). Meanwhile, more Filipinos support charter change now (37%) than express indecision on the matter (19%). The same pattern may be observed among those aware of charter change proposals (46% versus 12%) and among those with at least enough knowledge about the country’s constitution (47% versus 10%). (Please refer to Table 4.)

Almost the same percentages either support or oppose charter change in Metro Manila (47% versus 42%), the rest of Luzon (33% versus 42%), Mindanao (47% versus 36%), Class ABC (42% versus 43%), and Class E (39% versus 42%). Big pluralities to small majorities in the Visayas (58%) and Class D (44%) do not think the 1987 Philippine Constitution should be amended now. Between November 2014 and July 2016, support for charter change becomes more pronounced in Metro Manila (+24 percentage points), Mindanao (+15 percentage points), and Class D (+10 percentage points). Conversely, opposition to charter change eases in Metro Manila (-20 percentage points) and Mindanao (-13 percentage points). (Please refer to Table 5.)

 In November 2014, it may be noted than nearly half of Filipinos (49%) were of the view that the 1987 Philippine Constitution should not be amended at that time. This was the majority opinion among those aware of charter change proposals (60%) and those with a great deal/sufficient amount of knowledge about the 1987 Philippine Constitution (65%) in November 2014. Additionally, basically the same percentage of Filipinos either supported charter change proposals (27%) or expressed indecision on the matter (24%) back then. (Please refer to Table 4.)

Public opinion is split three-ways on the matter of changing the country’s form of government into a parliamentary one, with 37% being opposed to the proposal, 33% supporting it, and 30% expressing indecision

With regard the specific proposal to change the country’s form of government from a presidential one to a parliamentary form, 37% of Filipinos are against it, 33% are in favor, and 30% cannot say whether or not they support such a change. Almost the same pattern may be noted in Class E (34% not in favor, 32% in favor, and 34% undecided). In the meantime, 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% to 43% versus 33% to 39%). In the rest of Luzon, the plurality opinion is one of opposition to the proposal (43%). Among Visayans, nearly the same percentages either reject the proposal (42%) or are ambivalent on the matter (31%). And among Mindanaoans, essentially the same percentages are either in favor of a parliamentary form of government (39%) or are undecided about it (36%). (Please refer to Table 6.)

Among those with at least enough knowledge about the 1987 Philippine Constitution, 41% are in favor of shifting to a parliamentary form of government – higher than the overall figure (33%). In contrast, the level of indecision on the matter is lower among those with a great deal/sufficient amount of knowledge about the country’s charter than among the general population (22% versus 30%). The same level of opposition to a parliamentary form of government is recorded among Filipinos as a whole and only those with at least enough knowledge about the 1987 Philippine Constitution (both at 37%).

It may be recalled that in February 2009, a small majority of Filipinos (59%) were not in favor of changing the country’s form of government to a parliamentary one – higher than the present figure (37%). Furthermore, both support for a parliamentary form of government and indecision on the matter are less marked in February 2009 than in July 2016 (21% versus 33% and 20% versus 30%, respectively). Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, levels of support for a parliamentary form of government increase in Metro Manila (+24 percentage points), Mindanao (+17 percentage points), Class ABC (+29 percentage points), and Class D (+12 percentage points). On the other hand, opposition to a shift to a parliamentary form of government becomes less manifest in all geographic areas (-20 to -27 percentage points) and socio-economic groupings (-18 to -30 percentage points). With respect to indecision levels, the only notable movements are the increase in the Visayas (+23 percentage points) and Class D (+12 percentage points). (Please refer to Table 7.)

Virtually the same percentages of Filipinos either favor or do not favor a shift to a federal system of government (39% versus 33%)

While 39% of Filipinos support the proposal to change the country’s unitary system of government to a federal one, 33% are against it. Ambivalence on the matter is expressed by 28% of Filipinos. Big pluralities to small majorities in Metro Manila (45%), Mindanao (54%), and Class ABC (48%) are supportive of the proposal to change the country’s system of government to a federal one. Public opinion is split three-ways in the Visayas and Class E (30% to 36% in favor, 35% to 38% not in favor, and 29% to 32% undecided). In the rest of Luzon and in Class D, almost the same percentages either support (33% to 38%) or reject the proposal (34% to 39%). (Please refer to Table 8.)

Support for a shift to a federal system of government is more notable among those with a great deal/sufficient amount of knowledge about the 1987 Philippine Constitution than among Filipinos as a whole (47% versus 39%). Levels of indecision and opposition to the proposal are nearly the same in both subgroupings (28% versus 26% and 33% versus 28%, respectively).

Between February 2009 and July 2016, there is an increase in the national level of support for a federal system of government (+17 percentage points) as well as in the overall level of indecision on the matter (+9 percentage points). Conversely, non-support for a federal system eases during this period (-26 percentage points). A similar movement occurs in all geographic areas and socio-economic classes         (-22 to -31 and -19 to -30 percentage points, respectively). Meanwhile, support for a federal system of government becomes more manifest in Metro Manila (+28 percentage points), the rest of Luzon (+14 percentage points), Mindanao (+32 percentage points), Class ABC (+27 percentage points), and Class D (+19 percentage points). As far as indecision levels are concerned, they go up in the Visayas (+29 percentage points) and Class D (+10 percentage points). (Please refer to Table 9.)