The survey, conducted from March 30 to April 2, indicated that the ability of Filipinos to write English recovered from 48 percent in March, 2006 to 61 percent in April, 2008, while their proficiency in spoken English improved from 32 percent to 46 percent for the same comparative years.

The 2008 SWS result for written English is also slightly higher compared to the 59 percent of respondents who can write English in December, 1993.

Respondents who said they understand spoken English also improved from 65 percent in 2006 to 76 percent in 2008, read English from 65 percent to 75 percent, and thinks English from 27 percent to 38 percent.

About eight percent of Filipino adults claimed they made full use of the English language, 39 percent said they made fair use of the English language, 29 percent said they made partial use of the English language, and 17 percent claimed they made almost no use of the English language.

"The improvement in Filipinos’ English proficiency shows a greater awareness to improve their skills in written and spoken English," SWS president Mahar Mangahas told a news conference at the Philam Life Building in Makati City.

"The most important finding is that there is an improvement in all the expected properties. This is all age groups, of different classes and sectors. These are the people actively thinking of improving themselves. They are drawing from their own foundation and improving themselves first," he added.

Mangahas said that Filipinos’ increasing dependence on the Internet is also a factor that encouraged them to improve their English skills.

The study dubbed "Survey on Self-Assessed English Competence and Personal Usage of the English Language," included 1, 200 voting-age adults (18 years old and above) nationwide as respondents.

The survey was conducted for the Promoting English Proficiency Project of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in the Philippines and the Makati Business Club (MBC).