By Christine Fabro
A record-high 89% of adult Filipinos said they are satisfied with the way democracy works in the Philippines, the Fourth Quarter 2022 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed.
According to SWS, this is relatively higher compared to the 78% rating in April 2021, and three points above the previous record of 86% in September 2016.
“Satisfaction with the way democracy works used to range from 29% to 70% from November 1991 to March 2010, and then it has ranged from 59% to 89% since June 2010,” SWS said, noting that it is responsive to the national elections.
The survey also found that two out of three Filipinos said democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government, while 26% believed that an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one under some circumstances.
Meanwhile, 15% of the respondents said it does not matter whether there is a democratic or a non-democratic regime.
“The survey items on satisfaction with democracy and preference for democracy are not commissioned. They are done on SWS’s own initiative and released as a public service,” the polling body noted.
The poll was conducted from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14 last year, covering 1,200 Filipinos aged 18 and above. – gb
