MANILA, Philippines – While maintaining that it has no effect on political alliances of the ruling party, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday, October 11, questioned the methodologies of a September 2017 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed a drop in President Rodrigo Duterte’s trust and satisfaction ratings.

“We have to look at [the trust and satisfaction ratings] properly. First of all, what were the questions asked? Second, which areas were surveyed… Let’s look at it properly, we should know from the SWS where these areas are and what questions were used,” Alvarez, who represents Davao del Norte’ 1st District, said in a press conference.

Alvarez also questioned why the SWS would say that the “love was still there,” although he was later told that it was the Palace, and not the survey firm, which made that statement.

The Speaker was also told that the questions asked during the September 2017 survey were actually similar to the ones asked in previous iterations of the survey. SWS began tracking Duterte’s trust and satisfaction numbers in September 2016. Prior to that, they checked on Duterte’s awareness and trust ratings.

Alvarez quipped that he might have missed the newspapers when the questions in the survey were disclosed. (READ: Duterte ratings ‘falling a little faster than average’ – SWS president)

According to the SWS itself, they surveyed 1,500 Filipinos – 600 from Balance Luzon and 300 each from Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao. Respondents were asked the following questions:

“Maaari po bang pakisabi ninyo kung gaano kayo nasisiyahan o hindi nasisiyahan sa pagganap ng tungkulin ni RODRIGO DUTERTE bilang Presidente ng Pilipinas. Kayo ba ay lubos na nasisiyahan, medyo nasisiyahan, hindi tiyak kung nasisiyahan o hindi, medyo hindi nasisiyahan, lubos na hindi nasisiyahan, o wala pa kayong narinig o nabasa kahit na kailan tungkol kay RODRIGO DUTERTE?”

(“Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with the performance of RODRIGO DUTERTE as President of the Philippines. Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, undecided if satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, very dissatisfied, or you have not ever heard or read anything about RODRIGO DUTERTE?”)

“Maaari po bang sabihin ninyo kung ang pagtitiwala ninyo kay RODRIGO DUTERTE ay napakalaki, medyo malaki, hindi tiyak kung malaki o maliit, medyo maliit, napakaliit, o wala pa kayong narinig o nabasa kahit na kailan tungkol kay RODRIGO DUTERTE? Pakisabi ang sagot ninyo sa pamamagitan ng paglagay ng mga kard sa naaangkop na lugar sa rating board na ito.”

(“Please indicate if your trust/faith in RODRIGO DUTERTE is very much, somewhat much, undecided if much or little, somewhat little, very little, or you have not heard or read anything about RODRIGO DUTERTE ever? You may indicate your answers by placing each card on the appropriate box on this rating board.”)

Duterte’s numbers dropped in almost all regions, classes, and areas save for Mindanao and Class ABC or the nation’s richest. His drop was most noticeable among the country’s poorest or Class D and E. (READ: Understanding the big drop in President Duterte’s ratings)

Still, Alvarez, who is also secretary general of the ruling PDP-Laban, said the survey would not affect any existing political alliances and affiliation. He heads a PDP-Laban ruled House “supermajority.” – Rappler.com