Discontent with Aquino among the well-off – SWS

MANILA, Philippines – Public satisfaction with the performance of President Benigno Aquino III remained at a “good” level in March, though he suffered a drop in his scores among well-off Filipinos, and those in Luzon (excluding Metro Manila).

Based on the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey during the first quarter of the year, 66% or nearly 7 in 10 Filipinos expressed satisfaction with Aquino’s performance, while 21% said they were not, for a net rating of +45.

In an announcement posted on its website on Monday, April 14, the SWS said it classifies net satisfaction scores of +70 and above as “excellent,” +50 to +69 as “very good,” +30 to +49 as “good,” +10 to +29 as “moderate,” +9 to -9 as “neutral,” -10 to -29 as “poor,” -30 to -49 as “bad,” -50 to -69 as “very bad,” and  -70 and below, “execrable.” SWS released the survey results after publication in its media partner, BusinessWorld.

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The survey was conducted March 27-30 among 1,200 adults nationwide. It has a sampling error margin of ±3% for national percentages and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 

Respondents were asked: “Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you are in the performance of Benigno Aquino III 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 Benigno Aquino III?”

Significant drop among Class ABC

The President’s March net satisfaction rating is 4 points lower than in December 2013, when he scored a +49, and is his second lowest net score since May 2012, when he obtained a net rating of  +42. The figures fall within the “good” score range.

Based on the survey results, the most significant drop in Aquino’s approval rating was among the well-off Class ABC – plummeting 29 points to a “good” +39 (60% satisfied, 22% dissatisfied) in March from a “very good” +68 (80% satisfied, 12% dissatisfied) in December 2013.

Among social classes, Class ABC had given Aquino an all-time high satisfaction rating of +78 in August 2012.

The President’s net satisfaction rating also eroded among the poorest Class E from a “very good” +57 (72% satisfied, 15% satisfied) in December to a “good” +44 (65% satisfied, 20% dissatisfied)  in March  – a 13-point drop – but maintained his net rating among Class D at a “good” +45 (66% satisfied, 21% dissatisfied), the same level as December.

Among geographical areas, while Aquino obtained the lowest score among Metro Manila residents at +33 (59% satisfied, 26% dissatisfied) this is an 11-point improvement over his December net rating of +22 (53% satisfied, 31% dissatisfied).

The President had a 13-point dip in public satisfaction in Balance Luzon, where he had a net rating of +41 (63% satisfied, 22% dissatisfied) in March from +54 (72% satisfied, 18% dissatisfied) in December – a shift in satisfaction category from “very good” to “good.”

Aquino got the highest satisfaction rating from residents in Mindanao at +55 (72% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied), 2 points higher than in March; followed by the Visayas, where the President got a net satisfaction rating of +49 (70% satisfied, 20% dissatisfied), just 1 point lower than in December.

Satisfaction down in rural areas

The survey results also showed that Aquino continues to be better appreciated in rural areas than in urban areas, though the latest net figures were lower in the first quarter of the year over December last year.

While he obtained +49 net satisfaction from those living in rural Philippines in March, this is 9 points less than in December, lowering the category of satisfaction in the President from “very good” to “good.”  

Residents in urban areas maintained their net satisfaction rating in the President at a “good” +41 (64% satisfied, 23% dissatisfied), 1 point lower than in December and his lowest from the group since SWS conducted the survey on his presidential performance in September 2010.

Men and women gave the President statistically similar satisfaction ratings at +46 (66% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied) and +43 (66% satisfied, 23% dissatisfied), respectively – both “good” scores. Aquino’s satisfaction rating among women declined by 7 points, and 1 point among men.

Based on surveys conducted by SWS, Aquino’s highest net satisfaction rating, so far,  is +64, which he obtained early in his presidency in November 2010, and again in June 2013.

Pulse Asia Research Incorporated earlier released the results of nationwide survey on presidential performance and trust ratings, also conducted in March, showing some similar findings. (READ: Aquino’s trust, approval ratings ‘drop’ among rich and poorest) – Rappler.com