Category: EON

Filipinos want a government that has an ear and heart for them: EON survey

Ellen Leave a comment

Pres. Aquino with LP candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo being prayed over at the Tarlac First Baptist Church. (Photo by Joseph Vidal, Malacanang)

Pres. Aquino with LP candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo being prayed over at the Tarlac First Baptist Church. (Photo by Joseph Vidal, Malacanang)


Candidates for the 2016 May elections, especially those running for president and vice-president, should read the findings of the EON’s 2015 Philippine Trust Survey which tells that Filipinos want from their leaders to listen to and feel for them.

The PTI, which EON started in 2011, is not an easy survey to do because unlike other surveys that ask who they would vote for in the next election, trust is an abstract thing. One has to give it to EON for coming up with a formula to measure the public’s insights and opinions.

In the PTI survey, respondents were asked to share their opinions on six key Philippine institutions – the Government, the Business Sector, the Media, Non-Governmental Organizations, the Church, and the Academe.

The nationwide survey interviewed 1,620 Filipinos from July to August 2015. They are referred to in the survey as “General Public.” EON said an additional 420 screened respondents were also added to come up with 600 respondents referred to in the survey as “Informed Public.”

The Informed Public respondents “are Filipinos who are at least college graduates and who access media for news at least thrice a week,” EON said.

In the survey results, the Informed Public is less approving of the institutions than the General Public.

Due to space limitation, I will focus on the findings on the trust level of the General Public.

This year’s findings showed the Church remains to be the most trusted institution in the country (73 %) followed by the Academe (51%).

Grace Poe declares 2016 presidential bid

Grace Poe declares 2016 presidential bid


Despite criticisms about the Church, Roman Catholic or other religious groups, it is still the sturdy anchor in troubled times for many Filipinos. The Church holds together families and communities.

It is not hard to imagine that the charismatic Pope Francis has helped strengthened the faith of many Catholics in the country.

Media is third most trusted institution ((32%), being the source of information. It’s one percent down from last year’s 33%.

The least trusted are Government (12%), business (9%), and NGOs (9%).

Mistrust towards business is understandable. The common impression of the public of businessmen are people whose only concern is the color of money and without compassion.

I imagine that the negative perception of the public on NGOs has been influenced by the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) and Janet Napoles scandal.

Vice President Jojo Binay at fish market.

Vice President Jojo Binay at fish market.


On Government, the PTI said, “For Filipinos, listening to feedback and opinion and genuine concern for people are the two most important qualities of government and business leaders.”

Another attribute that respondents look for in a government leader is “having a strong political will.”

EON said, “Only two out of ten Filipinos agree that government leaders today possess these top three important qualities.”

Is anybody surprised?

Junie del Mundo, CEO and Chairman of EON The Stakeholder Relations Group, said “Our findings on the most valued leadership qualities further underlines the importance of conversation and communication in building trust for public and private institutions.”

Filipinos want a government that has an ear and heart for them: EON survey

Ellen Leave a comment

Pres. Aquino with LP candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo being prayed over at the Tarlac First Baptist Church. (Photo by Joseph Vidal, Malacanang)

Pres. Aquino with LP candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo being prayed over at the Tarlac First Baptist Church. (Photo by Joseph Vidal, Malacanang)


Candidates for the 2016 May elections, especially those running for president and vice-president, should read the findings of the EON’s 2015 Philippine Trust Survey which tells that Filipinos want from their leaders to listen to and feel for them.

The PTI, which EON started in 2011, is not an easy survey to do because unlike other surveys that ask who they would vote for in the next election, trust is an abstract thing. One has to give it to EON for coming up with a formula to measure the public’s insights and opinions.

In the PTI survey, respondents were asked to share their opinions on six key Philippine institutions – the Government, the Business Sector, the Media, Non-Governmental Organizations, the Church, and the Academe.

The nationwide survey interviewed 1,620 Filipinos from July to August 2015. They are referred to in the survey as “General Public.” EON said an additional 420 screened respondents were also added to come up with 600 respondents referred to in the survey as “Informed Public.”

The Informed Public respondents “are Filipinos who are at least college graduates and who access media for news at least thrice a week,” EON said.

In the survey results, the Informed Public is less approving of the institutions than the General Public.

Due to space limitation, I will focus on the findings on the trust level of the General Public.

This year’s findings showed the Church remains to be the most trusted institution in the country (73 %) followed by the Academe (51%).

Grace Poe declares 2016 presidential bid

Grace Poe declares 2016 presidential bid


Despite criticisms about the Church, Roman Catholic or other religious groups, it is still the sturdy anchor in troubled times for many Filipinos. The Church holds together families and communities.

It is not hard to imagine that the charismatic Pope Francis has helped strengthened the faith of many Catholics in the country.

Media is third most trusted institution ((32%), being the source of information. It’s one percent down from last year’s 33%.

The least trusted are Government (12%), business (9%), and NGOs (9%).

Mistrust towards business is understandable. The common impression of the public of businessmen are people whose only concern is the color of money and without compassion.

I imagine that the negative perception of the public on NGOs has been influenced by the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) and Janet Napoles scandal.

Vice President Jojo Binay at fish market.

Vice President Jojo Binay at fish market.


On Government, the PTI said, “For Filipinos, listening to feedback and opinion and genuine concern for people are the two most important qualities of government and business leaders.”

Another attribute that respondents look for in a government leader is “having a strong political will.”

EON said, “Only two out of ten Filipinos agree that government leaders today possess these top three important qualities.”

Is anybody surprised?

Junie del Mundo, CEO and Chairman of EON The Stakeholder Relations Group, said “Our findings on the most valued leadership qualities further underlines the importance of conversation and communication in building trust for public and private institutions.”

Filipinos want a government that has an ear and heart for them: EON survey

Ellen Leave a comment

Pres. Aquino with LP candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo being prayed over at the Tarlac First Baptist Church. (Photo by Joseph Vidal, Malacanang)

Pres. Aquino with LP candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo being prayed over at the Tarlac First Baptist Church. (Photo by Joseph Vidal, Malacanang)


Candidates for the 2016 May elections, especially those running for president and vice-president, should read the findings of the EON’s 2015 Philippine Trust Survey which tells that Filipinos want from their leaders to listen to and feel for them.

The PTI, which EON started in 2011, is not an easy survey to do because unlike other surveys that ask who they would vote for in the next election, trust is an abstract thing. One has to give it to EON for coming up with a formula to measure the public’s insights and opinions.

In the PTI survey, respondents were asked to share their opinions on six key Philippine institutions – the Government, the Business Sector, the Media, Non-Governmental Organizations, the Church, and the Academe.

The nationwide survey interviewed 1,620 Filipinos from July to August 2015. They are referred to in the survey as “General Public.” EON said an additional 420 screened respondents were also added to come up with 600 respondents referred to in the survey as “Informed Public.”

The Informed Public respondents “are Filipinos who are at least college graduates and who access media for news at least thrice a week,” EON said.

In the survey results, the Informed Public is less approving of the institutions than the General Public.

Due to space limitation, I will focus on the findings on the trust level of the General Public.

This year’s findings showed the Church remains to be the most trusted institution in the country (73 %) followed by the Academe (51%).

Grace Poe declares 2016 presidential bid

Grace Poe declares 2016 presidential bid


Despite criticisms about the Church, Roman Catholic or other religious groups, it is still the sturdy anchor in troubled times for many Filipinos. The Church holds together families and communities.

It is not hard to imagine that the charismatic Pope Francis has helped strengthened the faith of many Catholics in the country.

Media is third most trusted institution ((32%), being the source of information. It’s one percent down from last year’s 33%.

The least trusted are Government (12%), business (9%), and NGOs (9%).

Mistrust towards business is understandable. The common impression of the public of businessmen are people whose only concern is the color of money and without compassion.

I imagine that the negative perception of the public on NGOs has been influenced by the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) and Janet Napoles scandal.

Vice President Jojo Binay at fish market.

Vice President Jojo Binay at fish market.


On Government, the PTI said, “For Filipinos, listening to feedback and opinion and genuine concern for people are the two most important qualities of government and business leaders.”

Another attribute that respondents look for in a government leader is “having a strong political will.”

EON said, “Only two out of ten Filipinos agree that government leaders today possess these top three important qualities.”

Is anybody surprised?

Junie del Mundo, CEO and Chairman of EON The Stakeholder Relations Group, said “Our findings on the most valued leadership qualities further underlines the importance of conversation and communication in building trust for public and private institutions.”

Always be responsible: challenge to media of increased public trust

Ellen Leave a comment

Media
The PDAF and DAP scandals have a lot to do with the increase in the trust of the people on media, the decline of the same for the government and continued distrust for non-government organizations.

The 2014 Philippine Trust Index conducted by EON showed that media is third most trusted institution with 33 percent, up from 32 per cent last year. First is the Church, which includes not only Catholic Church but also other denominations, with 75 percent, up from last year’s 68 percent.

Academe comes second with 53 percent, up from last year’s 45 percent.

The least trusted institution is the government with 11 percent, down from 15 per cent last year, followed by NGO with 12 percent, the same as last year’s.

EON conducted the survey from June through August this year when the media’s headlines were on anomalous operations of pork barrel queen Janet Lim Napoles in connivance with senators and other elected officials.

The pork barrel expose was not triggered by a government investigation. In fact, government only took up the issue because of public outrage generated by the media expose.

The Napoles PDAF scandal gave a bad name to NGO which is unfortunate because there are NGOs that provide efficient service in areas where government service is inadequate.

The increase trust in media is a confidence booster much so because a few years ago a survey revealed that the public’s trust on media was on the same level as they give members of Congress.

These days media is regarded by many as court of last resort, someone they run to when they become frustrated with government officials. This is unfortunate and unfair because media’s role is to give information. It is not in a position to substitute government service.

The 2014 PTI showed that TV is the most common source of information for over 99 percent of the 1,626 respondents nationwide, followed by radio (60 percent). The internet-based media which includes social media and blogs have overtaken print media as source of information (over 40 percent).

The rise of online media as source of information for the public is both good and a matter of concern. Good because of the accessibility of information. Being informed is being empowered.

But empowerment comes only with being correctly informed.

How accurate are information sourced from social media, where speed, instead of accuracy, is the primary element? Where there is no standard discipline for verification of information?

The challenge of the increased public trust on media is to be more responsible. It is important for media to realize the importance of deserving that trust the public bestows on them.

As Junie del Mundo, EON chairman and CEO, said “The 3rd Philippine Trust Index clearly shows that trust-building is a never-ending process and commitment that all institutions should take seriously. “

2 out of 10 strongly agree that Aquino government isn’t corrupt- survey

Ellen Leave a comment

Most important to Filipinos
Filipinos do not ask much from the government, results of EON’s Philippines Trust Index survey this year showed.

All they want is that their government “not be corrupt.”

Cora P. Guidote,SM Investment Corporation senior vice president for Investor Relations, one of the panelists in the presentation of EON PTI survey results last Monday, took note of that saying that normally, one says he wants an honest leader.

“The consciousness is about corruption,“Guidote said adding,” How can we aspire for an honest leader when we don’t even articulate what we want for a leader. “

An honest person is more than just not corrupt. It involves a higher sense of morality and integrity. One can be “not corrupt” but not totally an honest person.

For the Filipino people what they ask most from government officials is not to steal their money. That simple.

The sad thing about it is that “only less than 2 of 10 Filipinos ‘strongly agree’ that the government isn’t,” the survey showed.

EON’s 2014 PTI survey, conducted March and June this year, had 1,646 respondents nationwide both urban and rural areas.

EON, a business communications consultancy, had two sets of respondents: General Public(at least 18 years old, majority have not reached higher than 2nd year college, belong to Economic Class A to E, active use of different forms of media –broadcast, print, online) and Informed Public (adult Filipinos aged 25 years and above, with educational attainment of at least 3rd year college, belong to economic class A to C, and extensive access to print, online and broadcast media.)

This is the third PTI and is described by EON’s chairman and chief executive officer Junie del Mundo as “more robust as ever.”

It’s a deeper look into “an ever dynamic environment, where technology and changing social norms converge with our deep secret beliefs and traditions as a people, “ Del Mundo said.

It focused on six institutions: government, church, academe, media, business, and non-government organizations.

It is noteworthy that the Informed Public generally gave lower scores than the General Public.
2014 Philippine Trust Index
The government got the lowest trust rating (GP, 11 percent, IP 7 percent) with the Church as the most trusted (GP 75 percent, IP 66 percent).

Second most trusted is Academe (GP53, IP45 percent ); Media (GP 33, IP32 percent), Business (GP13, IP 10 percent) , and a little higher than the government is NGOs (GP12, IP9 percent).

In the government sector, the Office of the President suffered the biggest drop, 12 points among the GP (from 28 percent in the 2013 PTI to this year’s 16 percent) and nine percent among the IP (from 24 to 15 percent).
The Senate was pushed down to the least trusted among government agencies (GP, from 15 to 7 percent; IP from 13 to four percent).

The Senate shares the cellar with the House of Representatives (GP, 9 percent, IP six percent).

For the General Public, the Cabinet got the highest trust rating with 17 percent, down from last year’s 19 percent.

Could it be that the President’s practice of taking the bullet for members of his cabinet involved in controversies took its toll on the people’s trust on him?

For the Informed public, it’s the Local Government Units that are the most trusted.

While 40.3 percent of the General Public said the most important driver for them to trust the government is “not corrupt,” only 11.7 percent said “competent leaders.” The number said, “provides basic needs of the poor.”

There are more interesting aspects of EON’s PTI survey which we hope to discuss in future columns.

“The results show that trust is dynamic and that it can be built and eroded. It also highlighted that for Filipinos, trust can break communication barriers and is a tool that grounds relationships, which is why it will always be worthwhile to invest in building trust,” shared Malyn Molina, EON Assistant Vice President for Business Development and Strategic Planning.

The 2014 PTI Executive Summary: