MALACAÑANG said on Monday the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing improved personal optimism and economic prospects among Filipinos is a “recognition” of the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda cited the results of the SWS survey on trends in personal quality of life and optimism with the Philippine economy conducted in June among 1,200 respondents nationwide.

“The administration believes that its commitment to transparency and accountability to policies that are geared toward efficiency and inclusiveness is being not only recognized, but actively supported, by our countrymen,” Lacierda said.

He said, “The naysaying, apathy and discouraged attitudes of the past are giving way to a can-do attitude in the public and private sectors, as we continue to unite to make our country more competitive, and achieve growth, stability and peace despite the many turbulent events in the global economy.”

“This is a recognition by domestic public opinion that parallels the recognition of improvements in governance and the economy by foreign institutions,” Lacierda said.

He said optimists outnumber pessimists in the country at a ratio of 4:1, a proof that “the Filipino people remain overwhelmingly bullish on their personal prospects for the coming 12 months.”

Lacierda noted the surge in optimism in Luzon of 10 points and among the ABC sectors which improved by 18 points.

He said the slight drop in the numbers in the Visayas and Mindanao “suggests that once increased public spending and the opening of new investments take place, public opinion will become even more strongly positive.”

At the House of Representatives, a legislator said contrary to Malacañang’s claim about public optimism based on a recent survey by the SWS, Filipinos should expect for the worst under the Aquino administration.

Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis said Lacierda is obviously “daydreaming.”

“The grim reality can speak for itself. Majority of Filipinos—including vulnerable sectors and even the middle class—are extremely disappointed with the government’s imposition of additional taxes, higher fees and inaction on price hikes,” said Mariano.

“There is no doubt, the Aquino [administration] is making the lives of Filipinos more burdensome,” he added.

The militant legislator said Malacañang has not lifted a finger to stop the weekly oil-price hikes imposed by oil companies and now it is bent on increasing government revenues through taxes on toll fees and MRT-LRT fare hikes.

Starting October 1, toll rates will again increase due to the 12-percent additional expanded value-added tax (E-VAT).

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) estimates to collect P1.3 billion to P2 billion in additional revenues from the E-VAT on toll rates.

And despite strong public opposition, President Aquino recently expressed approval of the MRT-LRT fare hikes that will raise fares to as much as 56 percent, or an average of P25 to P30 per trip, affecting almost a million riders of the LRT Line 1 and 2 and Metro Rail Transit Line 3, most are employees, students and blue-collar workers.

“The government will bleed the public dry with these new fees and additional collections,” Mariano said.

As far as social sectors are concerned, Mariano said Mr. Aquino’s so-called priorities in his Social Contract with the People, particularly the administration’s thrust on poverty reduction and empowerment of the poor and vulnerable, are all “empty talk.”

“The poor people continue to endure economic hardship. The Aquino administration is saying something different than what it is doing,” Mariano said.

He warned of heightened public unrest and opposition in the coming days, especially with these onerous impositions.

Makabayan’s spokesman former Party-list Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela said the pronouncement from the Palace about public optimism only serves to cover up the growing pessimism over the Aquino administration’s inaction over the surge of oil prices.

“The prevailing public perception is that [Mr.] Aquino is just covering up for the Big Three Oil Cartel composed of foreign oil monopolies to the detriment of consumers, business and the nation’s interest,” said Maza.

“If the Malacañang spokesman can only see through the SWS survey, public optimism may be up since March but only for the ABC sectors and limited to Luzon. For the poorer sectors [D and E] and in the Visayas and Mindanao, where oil prices are much higher, the perceived direction of our quality of life has really not improved [unchanged for D and E] and actually gone down [5 and 3 points for the Visayas and Mindanao],” she added.