Hopeful Narratives, Grim Realities: A Phenomenological Study on The Satisfaction of Duterte Supporters in Tondo, Manila regarding the Train Law and Anti-Endo Bill

Created on 28th June 2021

Conference: The Asian Undergraduate Research Symposium (AURS2021)
Title: Hopeful Narratives, Grim Realities: A Phenomenological Study on The Satisfaction of Duterte Supporters in Tondo, Manila regarding the Train Law and Anti-Endo Bill
Stream: Political Science: Administration, Governance and Finance
Presentation Type: Virtual Poster Presentation
Authors:
Kyle Arguelles, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Eugene Beltran, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

Abstract:

In the 2016 presidential race, Rodrigo Roa Duterte highlighted the need to put a halt to contractual employment and reform the tax system. Key socio-economic policy promises made by Duterte had taken a “pro-worker” and “pro-poor” approach, much to the delight of the animated supporters of the former mayor. Presently, the working conditions of contractual employees remain problematic as contractualization persists while the implemented TRAIN Law ensures clear but conditional benefits. By employing the Met Expectations theory (Claassen & et.al, 2013; Banks, 2005), this phenomenological study aims to explore the expectations of the electorate towards a potential Duterte-led government, experiences under the socio-economic policy outcomes under the current administration, and overall satisfaction with the performance of Duterte in addressing the aforementioned socio-economic issues. Taxpayers and contractual workers residing in Tondo, Manila engage in one-on-one interviews wherein basic and categorical themes are constructed. Through narrative and thematic methods of analysis, the researchers were able to come up with the following themes: (a) poor socio-economic conditions for taxpayers and contractual workers prior to the 2016 presidential race, (b) positive perceptions and high expectations towards a potential Duterte-led national government, (c) negative experiences for both taxpayers and contractual workers under the implemented TRAIN Law and vetoed Anti-Endo Bill, and (d) low levels of satisfaction for taxpayers and contractual workers that yielded negative experiences. This study examines the lived experiences of the electorate, providing an in-depth view of the challenges faced under the socio-economic landscape of the Duterte administration.