2014 First Quarter Naga City Poverty and Governance Public Opinion Poll
Metro Naga Water District, Naga City Hospital, and Naga City Health Office, and Mayor Bongat,
“very good” according to Nagueños
Three local agencies and Mayor Bongat rated “very good” by Nagueños
The results of the 2014 First Quarter Naga City Poverty and Governance Public Opinion Poll shows a net satisfaction rating of “good” to “very good” for 7 out of 10 local agencies included in the survey. Those that received a “very good” net satisfaction rating* were Metro Naga Water District (+57.3%), Naga City Hospital (+56.2%), and Naga City Health Office (+56.0%). On the other hand, COMELEC-Naga (+41.7%), Naga City Public Safety Office (+41.6%), LGU-Naga (+40.4%), and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (+34.8%) received a net satisfaction rating of “good.” Two agencies—Naga City Solid Waste Management Office (+31.0%) and Naga City Philippine National Police (+23.0%)—received a “moderate” net satisfaction rating while CASURECO II registered a “neutral” net satisfaction rating of -8.0%.
Although only Mayor Bongat received a net satisfaction rating of +59.5% or “very good,” other Naga City officials were rated “good” by Nagueños. These were Vice Mayor Legacion (+49.3%), and Councilors de Asis (+51.8%), Sergio (+49.1%), Bordado (+47.6%), Raquid-Arroyo (+44.2%), Tuason (+42.5%), Baldemoro (+41.2%), Lavadia (+40.5%), Abonal (+39.7%), Rentoy (+38.5%), Castillo (+37.9%), and Perez (+36.4%).
Around 2 out of 5 Nagueño households “Pobre,” but are Still Optimists
The percentage of Nagueño households who considered themselves poor is 42%, decreasing by 6 percentage points from last year`s self-rated poverty incidence of 48%. Generally, trend in self-rated poverty in Naga has been decreasing from 62% in 2007 [Chart 1].
Median poverty threshold or the amount of monthly income that an average Nagueño household needs in order to become “not poor” is P20,000. The median poverty threshold among Nagueños has increased by P10,000 over the past 7 years [Chart 2].
Quality of life in the past 6 months, according to 36.3% of Nagueños, has improved while 23.5% said it has become worse. Majority (53%) of Nagueños, however, are optimistic that life will become better in the next 6 months; only 6% expects it will become worse.
Theft, Leading Crime Against Property
About 12% of Nagueño households were victims of theft in the past 6 months. Others were also victims of break-in (4%), pickpocketing (3.8%), snatching (2.3%), robbery (2.3%), and hold-up (1.8%). Except for those victimized by hold-up and snatching, less than half of the victims reported the incident to the PNP.
Although corruption in PNP-Naga is perceived to be “somewhat high” by 34.8% of Nagueños, majority (54%) of them still “somewhat trust” the PNP`s capability to resolve crimes. However, Nagueños also perceive that PNP-Naga is incapable of resolving certain cases of violence against women and children (VAWC), specifically prostitution (-11.3%), sexual assault (-3.5%), and intimate partner violence (-0.3%).
Nagueños recommended that, in order to maintain peace and order, PNP-Naga should improve police visibility (51%), response time (26%), community relations (6%), and its public image (6%).
Water Quality of Naga River, Worse; NRRP, Forgotten?
Generally, Nagueños perceive that water quality in the Naga River has become worse. Most of them agree that water from the Naga River can no longer be used for cooking (98%), bathing (84%), and laundry (84%). It can no longer be drunk by animals (67%); smells unpleasant (70%); and that fish caught in the river is no longer fit for human consumption (50%). It can still be used, though, for watering plants (72%).
When asked about the possible uses and benefits of the Naga River, Nagueños said that it can still be used for livelihood such fishing, recovering scrap materials for sale, and making handicrafts from water hyacinths found in the river (37%). It can also be used for transportation (14%), house cleaning chores (14%), tourism (8%), and irrigation (7%).
A great majority (90%) of Nagueños perceive that improper garbage disposal is the main cause of water pollution in the Naga River. Others also said that commercial wastes (5%), sewers and septic tanks (1%), farm inputs (1%), and decomposing animals (0.7%) likewise cause pollution in the river.
Public awareness of the Naga River Revitalization Project (NRRP) dropped sharply from 73% in 2011 to 45% this year. But nonetheless, a great majority of Nagueños agree that the NRRP has the support of the public (79%), that LGU-Naga has the capability to implement the NRRP (86%), and that the project will be successful in revitalizing the Naga River (83%). Majority (55%) of Nagueños, however, disagree with paying “higher taxes” as a means of funding the NRRP.
Survey Background
The 2014 First Quarter Naga City Poverty and Governance Public Opinion Poll used face-to-face interviews among a representative sample of 400 randomly selected voting-age population of Naga City. The error margin is ± 4.9%. This survey was conducted from February 12 to March 6, 2014 by the Ateneo Student Researchers Pool, which consists of 21 students of Ateneo de Naga University.
The Naga City Poverty and Governance Public Opinion Poll is initiated by ASSRC as part of its contribution in promoting good governance in the city. This survey is funded by the University Research Council of the Ateneo de Naga University and is conducted twice a year as part of ASSRC`s training program for its student scholars.
