Bohol poll 2006 results

NGOV. Erico Aumentado has done well over the past year, and his working style and ethics have rubbed off to employees in the Governor's Office. These are among the findings of Bohol Poll 2006, the Holy Name University Research Center 's (HNU-RC) 13th round of getting the Boholanos' opinion and sentiments on brewing issues. Mangar Mangahas of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) fame trained HNU-RC and supervised the preparation and conduct of the first two rounds of the Bohol Polls. Conducted on April 1-21 this year, the survey revealed that Aumentado's net performance rating (NPR) as governor improved by nine points. It jumped from +62 last year to +71 this year. District 2 gave him the highest NPR at +81, followed by District 1 with +68 and District 3 at +66.

On the other hand, of the 23% of the Boholanos who visited government offices in the past six months, 11% said they were most satisfied with the services of the Governor's Office; followed by 5% each of the mayor's offices of Duero and Tubigon; 3% each of the City Engineer's Office and the Social Security System both in Tagbilaran City; and 2% each of the Municipal Treasurer's Office of San Miguel, Municipal Registrar's Office of Calape and the City Hall. The Boholanos now are aware of the province's development direction, and gave the highest NPR to efforts in promoting tourism at +41, followed by the protection of the environment at +40. The survey also showed improved NPRs in protecting lives and property from +14 to +31; assurance of adequate food supply from +5 to +23; and the provision of livelihood opportunities and employment from +9 to +19. The NPR in promoting investments however slightly declined from +13 to +8.

The Bohol provincial government still rated negative in its effort to control graft and corruption but the -16 NPR however is already a-10-point-improvement over last year's -26. “While we still have a long way to go in curbing graft and corruption, the survey showed a very low incidence of bribery in government offices at only one percent, with no office under the provincial government involved,” Aumentado stressed. The survey revealed that government offices where Boholanos experienced bribery are the Municipal Office and the tanod outpost both in Ubay that got a uniform 0.34%, and the Land Transportation Office and the barangay hall in Poblacion 3 both in Tagbilaran City , 0.24% and 0.08%, respectively.

Economic issues

At 62%, more Boholano household heads think they are poor compared to last year's 54%. Those who rated themselves poor need only P5,000 more a month to surpass poverty. Those who rated themselves not poor need P6,000 more monthly. At 60%, more Boholanos think that life today is worse than it was a year ago. Only 15% said it is better. Similarly, 33% think their lives will turn for the worse a year hence, compared to the 17% who think it will be better. In Bohol , the adult unemployment rate or those who are not working but are looking for work is 14%. District 3 has the highest unemployment rate at 19%. The survey also revealed that 67% of the Boholanos think their most important problem is economic in nature. Top concerns are the lack of livelihood, 28% and unemployment, 16%.

Political issues

While 98% of the Boholanos are aware that Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the President, her NPR declined from +26 last year to +12 this year. On the other hand, Vice President Noli de Castro sustained his NPR at +45. At 65%, majority of the Boholanos think it is appropriate for President Arroyo to continue her term of office until 2010. At 13%, only few agree that she should be made to vacate her post by any means while 20% agree that it is appropriate that she voluntarily vacate her post. Asked if government employees are competent and capable of providing quick service, the Boholanos think that “most” and “some” of them are. Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera also enjoys an improved NPR at +54 compared to the +41 last year. He is tops in District 1 at +59 while District 2 gave him only +48.

Social issues

The survey found out that around half or 47% of the Boholanos think that the illegal drug situation is “not a problem at all.” A few or 13% think it is “somewhat serious” while very few at 7% think it is “very serious.” These opinions on the drug scene are the same as last year's. Meanwhile, 62% of the Boholanos think that women are good only for the management and care of the family and other church activities. However, 36% think that women should now get involved in politics and other male-dominated activities. Ninety-two percent of the Boholanos said they no longer saw armed men or rebels in their places. Of the 7% who said they still do, 11% are from District 2. On domestic violence, wife battery emerged with the highest incidence at 30%; physical violence, 20%; incestuous rape, 17% and husband battery, 15%.

Hope

With all the crises besetting the nation, the Boholanos still think that Bohol is not a basket case. Asked if they agreed that there is no more hope for the province, 62% disagreed. For purposes of brevity, Bohol Poll 2006 Project Manager Maria Paz Espiritu said they skipped asking on illegal gambling and the NPRs of city officials and the congressmen this year.

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