LOWER RATINGS. The President's approval ratings dip despite economic gains. Photo by Malacañang Photo Bureau

MANILA, Philippines - The net satisfaction rating of President Benigno Aquino dipped 12 points in December, representing drops in all areas, socioeconomic classes, and gender, according to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations and reported Friday, December 28.

The survey, conducted Dec. 8-11 and made exclusively available to BusinessWorld, showed the President's net satisfaction of 55% (72% satisfied minus the 17% dissatisfied) was down 12 percentage points from the 67% (77% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied) recorded in August.

The newspaper said that in Luzon, the Visayas, Balance Luzon, rural areas and among the ABC class, the President saw his net ratings dip to "very good" from "excellent."

In the geo-political areas, net satisfaction in the President had the biggest drop in Luzon and Metro Manila -- both by 16 percentage points. It went to 54% in Luzon and to 43% in Metro Manila. It went down by 12 percentage points to 64% in the Visayas and by 4 percentage points to 57% in Mindanao.

The survey was conducted at the height of debates on the divisive Reproductive Health bill that both chambers of Congress eventually passed on December 19.

Among socio-economic classes, the biggest drop registered in class ABC and D. The net satisfaction rating in those classes -- 64% and 54%, respectively -- represent decreases of 14 percentage points, according to the BusinessWorld report quoting SWS. The rating in class E fell by 6 points to 56%.

Men were less satisfied in the President, their net score of 56% representing a drop of 11 percentage points from August. Among women, his satisfaction rating remained "very good" at 55%, although it was 12 points lower than in August.

The SWS polled 1,200 adults nationwide for the survey. The poll had a margin of error of ±3% for the national sample and ±6% for area percentages. - Rappler.com