MANILA, Philippines – With only a month before President Benigno Aquino III delivers his last State of the Nation Address, his net satisfaction rating steeply increased from an all-time low rating in March.

The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS)  survey showed that the president’s net satisfaction rating increased by 173% to a “good” +30 in June from a “moderate” +11 in March, when the Aquino administration was still reeling from the backlash of the Mamasapano incident. (READ: Satisfaction with Aquino lowest after Mamasapano – SWS) 

 According to the SWS survey results, first reported in BusinessWorld,  57% of respondents expressed satisfaction with Aquino’s performance, up from 47% in March; public dissatisfaction dropped to  27% from 36%; and indecision to 15% from 17%.

Aquino’s net satisfaction rating rose across all socio-economic classes. In class ABC, his rating went up to a “good” +44 from a “neutral” +6 recorded in March.

Among Class D, Aquino’s net satisfaction rating remained “moderate” at +27, an increase of 17 points from March. In the poorest Class E, the President’s rating rose to +34 from +18 in March.

The survey also showed that public satisfaction in presidential performance  was strongest in Mindanao with +39, up by 14 points;  and weakest in Metro Manila, which remained at a “neutral” +8, which hardly changed from last quarter’s +7.

The survey was conducted from June 5 to June 8 among 1,200 adults nationwide – with sampling error margins of ±3 points for national percentages and ±6 points each for provincial ratings. Some of the issues during the time of survey were the South China Sea and Aquino’s state visit to Japan.

Big help for 2016 admin bets?

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the June survey results proved that Aquino is not a lame duck president and that “the people continue to respond to his call to continue to tread Daang Matuwid.”

When asked on the possible effect of this on the 2016 elections, Lacierda believes the positive survey results will greatly support the candidates of the President.

“If you are speaking of his endorsement, then his playing front and center, his high numbers will certainly bode well for the candidate the President will endorse,” Lacierda said in a text message to Rappler.

The President is set to announce his anointed presidential candidate after his last SONA on July 27. 

Malacañang said that the President’s approval ratings remain “historically high” compared to that of his predecessors during the same period, or 5 years into his term. – Rappler.com