Aquino’s satisfaction rating highest in 18 months – SWS

MANILA, Philippines – Public satisfaction with the performance of President Benigno Aquino III in September climbed to its highest since March 2014, the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed.

The SWS released the results of its Third Quarter 2015 Social Weather Survey, first published in BusinessWorld, on Thursday, September 17.

The survey results showed that Aquino’s net satisfaction rating increased to a  “good” +41 in September, from a “good” +30 in June.

This is Aquino’s highest net satisfaction rating since he obtained +45 in March 2014, and a nearly 4-fold increase over his lowest-ever net satisfaction rating of +11 in March. At the time, his administration was still reeling from public outrage over the January 25 Mamasapano incident.

Based on the September survey results, 6 in 10 Filipinos are satisfied with Aquino’s performance in September or 64%, from 57% in June. Those dissatisfied dipped to 22% from 27%, and those undecided statistically unchanged at 15% from 14%, for a net rating of +41.

Highest in Visayas, Class ABC

In terms of geographical locations, the President’s net rating was highest in the Visayas – a “very good” +50 (67% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied) from a “good” +35 in June.

In the Balance of Luzon, the President obtained a “good” +46 net rating (67% satisfied, 21% dissatisfied) from +30 in June; Mindanao, a “good” +39 (61% satisfied, 22% dissatisfied), the same level in June; and the National Capital Region, a “moderate” +18 (53% satisfied,  35% dissatisfied) from +8.

Among social classes, the well-off class ABC gave the President the highest net satisfaction rating – a “good” +44 (69% satisfied, 25% dissatisfied), the same level as in June.

Class D gave Aquino a “good” +39 (63% satisfied, 23% dissatisfied) from +34 in June; and class E, a “good” +49 (67% satisfied, 18% dissatisfied) from +34 in June, the highest jump among social classes.

In Malacañang, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the latest survey results not only affirmed Aquino’s leadership but reflected”the public’s confidence in Daang Matuwid (Straight Path).”

“This latest vote of confidence from the public confirms the significance of our strides toward inclusivity,” Coloma said.

Among the major issues around the time of the survey period was the Iglesia ni Cristo protest against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for allegedly meddling in its affairs. It stemmed from an illegal detention complaint against INC leaders filed before the DOJ by expelled INC minister Isaias Samson.

The survey was conducted from September 2-5, 2015, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide – 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Sampling error margins are ±3% for national percentages, and  ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The SWS said the area estimates were weighted by National Statistics Office medium-population projections for 2015 to obtain the national estimates. – Rappler.com