Aquino gov’t ratings rebound from record low

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Aquino administration’s public satisfaction ratings rebounded in September from a record low, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest survey results released Monday, November 17.

From a “moderate” +29 net score from the previous quarter, the current government’s satisfaction rating rose to a “good” +35, the SWS added.

The survey, conducted from September 26 to 29, showed that 59% of respondents said they were satisfied with the government’s general performance, compared to 16% ambivalent and 24% dissatisfied, SWS said.

Results of the survey, first published by Business World, showed that the net satisfaction of the national government rose in Metro Manila (+36 from +16), Visayas (+45 from +41), and Mindanao (+46 from +34), while it dropped in Balance Luzon (+24 from +26).

Across socioeconomic classes, the Aquino government also got a bump in satisfaction ratings: net satisfaction scores are now at +47 (from +27) for class ABC, +33 (from +27) for class D. The rating from class E, meanwhile, remained at +38.

Rebound

The results are an improvement from June 2014, when satisfaction with the Aquino administration’s performance showed a steep decline, even registering negative net ratings on 4 issues.

The SWS noted that the current ratings are parallel to the President’s own rebound in satisfaction ratings noted in September. (READ: How Aquino fared in past surveys)

Helping disaster victims

On a per-issue basis, the Aquino government was rated “very good” in only one issue, which was helping disaster victims (+52).

It got “good” net ratings for 8 other issues (helping the poor, +44; foreign relations, +43; defending territorial rights, +42; developing science and technology, +42; climate change preparation, +41; providing enough electric supply, +41; promoting welfare of OFWs, +39; and transport, +36).

The government got “moderate” ratings for 6 issues (reconciliation with communist rebels, +28; reconciliation with Moro rebels, +27; terrorism, +23; jobs, +21; crime, +14; and eradicating graft and corruption, +14); and got a “neutral” rating for 3 issues (hunger, -5; inflation, -7; and ensuring oil firms don’t take advantage of oil prices, -7).

A “poor” rating was reached on the administration’s failure to resolve the Maguindanao massacre issue (-36).

SWS ranks net ratings as “excellent” if they are +70 and above; “very good,” +50 to +69; “good,” +30 to +49; “moderate,” +10 to +29; “neutral,” +9 to -9; “poor,” -10 to -29; “bad,” -30 to -49; “very bad,” -50 to -69; and “execrable,” -70 and below.

The survey covered 1,200 representative adults nationwide, SWS said, with a sampling error of +/-3% for the national results and +/-6% for area percentages.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the current survey results “remain historically high compared to other post-EDSA administrations,” showing “continued confidence” in the government.

“Despite negative comments made from some quarters, this survey demonstrates the people’s voice – that this administration is responsive to their needs and has been at work in the continued reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts to build back better those areas devastated by typhoons,” Lacierda said. – Rappler.com