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Residents receive cash assistance as part of the government's Social Amelioration Program in Malibay in Pasay City on May 1, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Filipinos divided on acceptability of ‘ayuda’ distribution during campaigns– survey

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174123881162220200501-covid19-lockdown-amelioration-pasay-jc-4631.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Residents receive cash assistance as part of the government&#x27;s Social Amelioration Program in Malibay in Pasay City on May 1, 2020. File/Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News MANILA — Filipinos are divided on whether aid distribution during the campaign season is acceptable, a poll conducted by WR Numero Research showed Thursday. </div>In the non-commissioned survey, the respondents were asked, “Sa iyong palagay, gaano katanggap-tanggap ang pamimigay ng ayuda sa panahon ng kampanya ng mga politikong kandidato o tumatakbo sa eleksyon?” (In your opinion, how acceptable is aid distribution by a candidate during the campaign season?)Of respondents, 43 percent said this was not acceptable, 38 percent said it was acceptable, and 19.9 percent were unsure.“Magkalapit, given yung margin of error natin, slightly ahead lang yung nagsabi na hindi katanggap-tanggap but the nation is divided on the acceptability of ayuda distribution during campaign season,” said Cleve Arguelles, WR Numero Research president and CEO.(They are close together, given the margin of error. Those who say it is unacceptable are slightly ahead but the nation is divided)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/10/most-filipinos-find-ayuda-helpful-survey-2330">Most Filipinos find ‘ayuda’ helpful – survey</a></div>Looking at the income group, the opposition in Class ABC was at the highest at 58.8 percent while only 32.3 percent said ayuda distribution was acceptable, based on the survey.It also showed that 39.8 percent of the respondents from Class E agreed that ayuda distribution was acceptable, while 37.7 percent opposed this. A total of 22.5 percent were unsure.“What is striking here is yung mga kababayan natin sa Class E ay doon may pinakakakaunti na hindi ito katanggap-tanggap at doon din natin makikita ang mga Filipino na nagsasabi na ito ay katanggap-tanggap,” Arguelles said.(What is striking is that Class E has the fewest saying it is not acceptable. That is also the segment where we see Filipinos say it is acceptable)Arguelles noted however that Class E had many respondents who said aid distribution during the campaign period is unacceptable)<div>NEARLY HALF AGREE WITH COMELEC BAN ON &#x27;AYUDA&#x27;</div>Meanwhile, almost half or 48 percent of the respondents agreed on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution disallowing the distribution of “ayuda” days before the midterm elections. Thirty-six percent did not agree, while 16 percent were unsure.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/5/comelec-assures-no-ayuda-will-be-politicized-2138">Comelec assures no ‘ayuda’ will be politicized</a></div>Arguelles explained that the issue on aid given to Filipinos might be related to the higher prices of food, an issue that greatly affects the public.“Taon-taon lumalaki ang budget ng pamahalaan na nilalaan sa ayuda. On the day-to-day basis, marami sa mga kababayan natin, kalahati sa kababayan natin na tumatanggap sila ng ayuda,” he said.(The budget for financial aid is increased yearly. On the day-to-day basis, half of our people receive some form of aid) The public, according to the political analyst, was also aware that financial aid could influence the elections and are not naive about its effects.“I think Comelec is aware na ito ay nagiging dahilan at source of influence sa panahon ng election at it compromises the playing field sa ating mga candidates kasi ang may kakayahan na magbigay ng ayuda ay yung mga incumbent,” he said.(I think Comelec is aware that this becomes a reason and a source of influence during the election season and that it compromises the playing field because only the incumbents can facilitate government aid)The pollster conducted the non-commissioned survey using face-to-face computer assisted personal interviews. This had a total of 1,814 respondents across the Philippines.It had a ± 2 percent margin of error at the national level.Comelec earlier said it was studying the guidelines of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on giving financial assistance to the beneficiaries of its AKAP program. The poll body said it wanted to make sure that no financial assistance from the government will be spent to give favors to any politicians or running candidates for the 2025 midterm polls.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/23/comelec-can-t-block-political-candidates-from-distributing-ayuda-for-now-says-garcia-2111">COMELEC can&#x27;t block political candidates from distributing &#x27;ayuda&#x27; for now, says Garcia</a></div>

Filipinos were divided on the acceptability of aid distribution during the campaign season for the 2025 midterm polls, a poll conducted by WR Numero Research showed Thursday.

Filipinos were divided on the acceptability of aid distribution during the campaign season for the 2025 midterm polls, a poll conducted by WR Numero Research showed Thursday.

Filipinos divided on whether 'ayuda' distribution during campaign is OK — poll

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Filipinos divided on whether 'ayuda' distribution during campaign is OK — poll

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 06, 2025 02:24 PM PHT

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