54.8% of respondents had difficulty in buying enough food in the past three months, while 53% had difficulty in buying medicine or paying for medical treatment | Reference: Rosario Bella Guzman (IBON executive editor)
As the country observes Consumer Rights Day, research group IBON revealed survey results showing that many Filipino consumers have difficulty in spending for basic goods such as food and medicine.
According to the group’s latest survey, 54.8% of respondents had difficulty in buying enough food in the past three months, while 53% had difficulty in buying medicine or paying for medical treatment. Meanwhile, 43.6% respondents said that they had difficulty meeting transportation expenses from the third to the fourth quarter of 2014.
The group earlier announced its survey results showing that 7 out of 10 Filipinos or have trouble paying for electricity.
The survey also asked respondents to describe their livelihood today compared to a year ago. Majority (56.1%) answered that it is the same while 25.5% said that it is worse. Only 16.1% said that their livelihood today is better than it was last year.
The latest IBON nationwide survey was conducted from January 16 to 24 among 1,500 respondents aged 18 years and above. It employed a multi-stage probability sampling scheme and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percent. The January 2014 round is a non-commissioned survey conducted across various sectors in 16 regions.
Below is a tabulation of results of people’s perception on meeting their basic expenses and their livelihood:
1. In the past three (3) months, how did your family meet the following expenses?
1.1. Buying enough food[table]
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Had difficulty | 54.8% |
| Didn’t have difficulty | 41.1% |
| Don’t know | 2.2% |
| Not applicable | 1.7% |
| No answer | 0.1% |
| Total | 100.0% |
[/table]
1.2. Paying for transportation
[table]
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Had difficulty | 43.6% |
| Didn’t have difficulty | 44.9% |
| Don’t know | 1.4% |
| Not applicable | 9.9% |
| No answer | 0.3% |
| Total | 100.0% |
[/table]
1.3. Paying for water
[table]
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Had difficulty | 36.1% |
| Didn’t have difficulty | 38.3% |
| Don’t know | 1.2% |
| Not applicable | 24.2% |
| No answer | 0.2% |
| Total | 100.0% |
[/table]
1.4. Paying for electricity
[table]
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Had difficulty | 66.5% |
| Didn’t have difficulty | 25.8% |
| Don’t know | 1.1% |
| Not applicable | 5.9% |
| No answer | 0.7% |
| Total | 100.0% |
[/table]
1.5. Buying medicines/paying for medical treatment
[table]
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Had difficulty | 53.0% |
| Didn’t have difficulty | 30.6% |
| Don’t know | 2.1% |
| Not applicable | 13.6% |
| No answer | 0.7% |
| Total | 100.0% |
[/table]
2. How is your livelihood today compared to a year ago?
[table]
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Better | 16.1% |
| Same | 56.1% |
| Worse | 25.5% |
| Don’t know | 2.3% |
| No answer | 0.1% |
| Total | 100.0% |
[/table]
[table]
| For details on the January 2015 survey, please email databank@ibon.org or call IBON at tel. 9276986 or 9277060 loc. 421. |
[/table]
