/ AFP / Noel Celis/
(Eagle News) — The Palace on Tuesday welcomed results of an international survey placing the Philippines third among the happiest countries in the world.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Philippines also welcomes 2018 with other “good news” it was “the fifth most optimistic about the country’s economic prosperity, and the ninth most optimistic about the prospects for 2018.”
Roque attributed the results of the poll to the good qualities of Filipinos, and President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership.
He noted the “palpable change” felt by Filipinos because of this.
“Our people have, indeed, appreciated these changes as reflected in the survey numbers. The challenge, therefore, is for us in the government to sustain the pace and momentum of our economic growth and bring it to the greatest number of our people,” Roque said.
American polling firm Gallup International ranked the Philippines third in the happiest countries list in its 41st annual global poll.
The Philippines ranked next to Fiji and Colombia.
The survey also showed the Asian country was the fifth most optimistic about the country’s economic future and the ninth most hopeful for what 2018 will bring.