SENATE OFFICE, Manila, January 24, 2011-Nationwide survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported that an overwhelming majority of Filipinos are supporting the passage of a new law seeking to curb the abuses in government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), saying that seven out of 10 Filipinos or 73% of the respondents agreeing to a congressional action that a new law be passed that will reform state-run companies, particularly in granting unconscionable salaries and perks to directors, trustees and employees.

From November 27 to 30, it showed that only 8% of the respondents did not see a need to pass a new law, while 18% were undecided. About 1% either answered “don’t know” or refused to answer.

The SWS survey indicates that the growing public clamor to rationalize state firms by Senator Franklin Drilon who is the principal author of Senate Bill No. 2640 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 where the Senator said that to regulate GOCCs a majority of which had enjoyed a virtually unregulated environment in years, saying that “there is a need to pass the law,” Drilon said, who is also the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee that exposed the irregularities in the state enterprise.

SWS showed agreement with a new legislation is “strong in all areas, registering 81% approval in Metro Manila, 72% in Luzon, 77% in the Visayas and 67% in Mindanao while six percent disagreed with the proposal in Metro Manila, 8% each in Luzon and the Visayas and 9% in Mindanao. Indecision was 12% in Metro Manila, 20% in Luzon, 15% in the Visayas and 22% in Mindanao.

Locale reported that 75% endorsed the measure in urban areas while 72% backed the bid in rural areas. According to socio-economic class, meanwhile, approval is highest among class ABC, with 76%. Seventy-three percent and 72% approved of the proposal among classes D and E, respectively.

With the enactment of a law by sex, 74% of the female and 73% of the male respondents agreed while by age group, agreeing were 70% (18-24 years old), 73% (25-34 years old), 75% (35-44 years old), 71% (45-54 years old) and 76% (55 years and up).

The survey used personal interviews with 1,200 adult respondents with a margin of error of plus/minus 3% at 95% confidence level and were asked (the respondents) stating that “there should be a law that will strengthen the oversight over the activities of GOCCs.” (Jason de Asis)


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