Latest report from Social Weather Stations (SWS), said President Benigno Aquino’s administration dropped by 10 percentage points in the third quarter of this year and that was based on the satisfaction of the government performance.
In the SWS nationwide poll fielded from September 20 to 23, the government obtained a net score of +56 (71 percent satisfied and 15 percent dissatisfied), but they added that the government latest score remained in “very good” territory.
Last June, the government garnered a rating of +66 which was considered very good.
However, the latest survey that was conducted prior to the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda last November 8, wherein the government gathered a lot of criticisms due for its slow response to the disaster.
Due to that matter, SWS said the administration’s satisfaction ratings also fell in all areas which dropped from +68 to +59 in balance Luzon, from +63 to +53 in Mindanao, from +76 to +60 in the Visayas, and from +53 to +45 in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile in the socio-economic cl(–foul word(s) removed–), the administration scored +62 (from +61) among the ABC group, +56 (from +65) among the cl(–foul word(s) removed–) D or “masa” and +54 (from +71) among the cl(–foul word(s) removed–) E.
The SWS cl(–foul word(s) removed–)ifies net ratings of +70 and above as “excellent”; +50 to +69, “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”, +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad”; -50 to -69, “very bad”; and -70 and below, “execrable.”
Aquino administration received a rating of “very good” in helping victims of disasters (+68 from +73), providing basic elementary and high school education (+67 from +58), helping the poor (+54 from +57), and transparency (+51 from +38).
In defending the country’s territorial rights, it scored “good” (+49 from +45), promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (+48 from +41), foreign relations (+41 from +37), providing jobs (+36 from +38), fighting crimes (+35 from +31), and fighting terrorism (+35 from +36).
“Moderate” ratings were obtained for reconciliation with communist rebels (+27 from +24), reconciliation with Muslim rebels (+25 from +29), and eradicating graft and corruption (+23 from +18).
In ensuring that no family goes hungry, the administration received “neutral” (+9 from +19), fighting inflation (+8 from +18) and ensuring that oil firms do not take advantage of oil prices (zero from +10).
This SWS survey was published in the newspaper of BusinessWorld yesterday, and it also involved face-to-face interview of 1,200 adults.
In regard with this, Malacañang Palace said that uthe administration remains focused on reaching its targets amid the decline of President Aquino’s ratings.
Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in an official statement, “The administration is focused on attaining the targets of the Philippine Development Plan. We will work harder to get the job done even if there is a decline in the ratings.”
President Aquino said last December 3, that he is not bothered at all by the ups and downs of his approval and trust ratings for as long as he is doing his job well, even if doing so is unpopular.
During the Christmas party of a group of journalist at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City, Aquino said “You know, at the end of the day, the only criteria I have is: Did I do right? And sometimes the right decision may be unpopular. Sometimes, it seems that conversely the wrong decision is immensely popular.”
“I really have to stick with doing what I believe is right. So our people, I believe, are fair judges and… they have been a constant source of support all throughout when we had nothing.
“I expect that the numbers will rebound, in case they do go down, but that is not the important thing… The important thing is: Will our people see me as doing that which is right? And that is what is important to me,” Aquino added.