Palace elated over survey ranking the Philippines as 8th friendliest country

0 comments
Malacanang expressed elation over the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey result, which ranked the Philippines as the eighth friendliest country in the world.

Earlier, the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, published by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation gave the Philippines a 57.1 score for economic freedom, making its economy the 107th freest in the 2012 Index. The score is 0.9 point higher than last year.

“We’re also happy to note that in one of the surveys conducted by HSBC, the Philippines ranked as one of the… the eighth friendliest country out of most of the countries rated in the world. And this is why we believe na talagang it really is more fun in the Philippines,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

“The administration will always promote what is good… what is good with the economy and people,” Valte said countering the criticisms being leveled against the Aquino administration.

According to HSBC’s Expat Explorer Survey released last year, the Philippines is the eighth friendliest country in the world for expatriates. HSBC surveyed 3,385 expats in 100 countries between May and July 2011.

The countries were ranked based on four categories: ability to befriend locals, success in learning the local language, capacity for integrating themselves into the community, and ease in which they fit into the new culture.
Forbes.com, citing the results of the HSBC survey, said the Philippines is a country “friendly on wallets,” with large number of expatriates saying they have an increased access to luxuries, including domestic staff, swimming pools and owning properties.

Leave a Reply