Manila - A majority of Filipinos believed the Philippine economy worsened over the past three years despite government data of record growth in 2007, a survey showed Wednesday.

"Despite claims of economic growth by the national administration, 86 per cent say the national economy has worsened in the last three years," according to survey firm Pulse Asia Inc.

Pulse Asia said its nationwide survey on July 1-14 also showed that 81 per cent of 1,200 respondents said they personally felt the worsening of the economy.

The survey was a direct contradiction to the statement of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her annual speech before the Congress two days ago that the country's strong economic growth has softened the adverse impact on Filipinos of the world food and oil crisis.

Sixty-four per cent of the respondents expressed pessimism over prospects of improving their lives in the next 12 months, according to the survey.

"About two in three Filipinos express pessimism about their personal circumstances in the next 12 months, while an even bigger percentage, 71 per cent, is pessimistic about the national situation," Pulse Asia said.

Asked to describe their lives now compared to the same period last year, 75 per cent said they were "worse now," 17 per cent said they were "the same as then," and 7 per cent said they were "better now."

Last year, the Philippine economy grew 7.2 per cent, the highest in 31 years.

Economists, however, said the benefits of the economic growth have not trickled down to the majority of the country's 88 million people, a third of whom are living in poverty. (dpa)