DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 23 February) – Majority of Dabawenyos are uncertain about the city’s future in the next five years, according to a study conducted by the University of Mindanao-Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO).

Dr. John Vianne Murcia, director of UM-IPO, said during Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency-Davao on Friday that only 46.7 percent of the respondents believe that the city will significantly improve in the next five years.

The survey on “Dabawenyos’s Economic Outlook and Quality of Life Expectations” was conducted from January 25 to February 10 and administered on 1,200 respondents across the three districts of the city.[]

He said 30.4 percent of the respondents anticipate “slight improvements” in terms of the city’s development.

He added that a portion of the population or at least 12.

6 percent are cautious about the city’s future, expecting the same economic conditions while others foresee potential declines.

“These findings paint a picture of a community that, while navigating uncertainties and mixed economic signals, holds a cautiously optimistic view of the future,” he said.

Murcia added the results reflect a “complex interplay of factors influencing residents’ perceptions,” which suggest the “importance of continued investment in public services, job creation, and infrastructure development to bolster the city’s economic and social well-being.

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He said approximately 48 percent of the respondents expect an “average quality of life” this year.

He said economic perspectives among “Dabawenyos are mixed, reflecting a blend of optimism, neutrality, and uncertainty about the year ahead,” with 40.9 percent of the respondents expressing uncertainty about the economic improvement this year.

He said the Dabawenyos’ ratings of essential public services such as healthcare, education, and transportation predominantly range from “adequate to good,” reflecting a cautious yet hopeful view of the city’s infrastructure and support systems.

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