MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is starting his presidency on a high note with 85% of Filipinos expressing trust in him, the highest trust rating ever recorded by any individual included in Pulse Asia’s trust probes since 1999.
The Pulse Asia survey, conducted last July 1 to 11, had only 2% of Filipinos saying they distrust the new President while 13% are unable to say if they trust or distrust him.
Aquino’s high trust ratings are the same across the country’s geographic areas and socio-economic groupings. He scored 83% trust in Metro Manila, 84% in the rest of Luzon, 89% in the Visayas and 84% in Mindanao.
He also enjoyed 86% trust from Class ABC respondents, 84% trust from Class D respondents and 88% from Class E.
President Aquino’s overall trust rating has risen by +18 percentage points from April to July 2010 and his overall indecision and distrust ratings declined by -8 and -9 percentage points, respectively.
The new survey findings matched those from an earlier survey conducted by Social Weather Stations last June 25-28, 2010.
The survey was done when Aquino had already been proclaimed by Congress but had not yet assumed the presidency, which was on June 30.
The June 25-28, 2010 SWS survey found that 88% of adult Filipinos had much trust compared to 4% who had little trust in Aquino, who was then still president-elect, for a “very good” net trust rating of +83.
In an interview with ANC’s Dateline Philippines, SWS President Mahar Mangahas noted Aquino may have gotten the best grade compared to previous leaders.
“I don’t remember anything higher than that. I want to confirm it…but it’s [trust rating] really very, very high…I will have to look at our archives,” he said.
He added that the country is probably having a “honeymoon” period with its new chief.
A spokesman of President Aquino, meanwhile, credited Aquino’s high trust rating to people’s belief in the new President’s credibility.
“Our people see that he is a leader that speaks the truth. Here is a leader that will not tell lies. Hindi lang hindi magnananakaw, hindi rin magsisinungaling,” Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, a member of Aquino’s Communications Group, said.
New Cabinet also enjoys high approval
The same survey showed that most Filipinos are aware of presidential appointments to selected government posts.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman had the highest approval rating among the new Cabinet, with 72% approval; followed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima with 69%.
Other Cabinet secretaries that enjoyed high approval ratings are: Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo (67%), Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad (62%), Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro (58%), Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima (55%) and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa (55%).
The new Armed Forces chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Ric David, also had a high approval rating of 64%, while the National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa had 67% approval rating.
The survey interviewed 1,200 adults. It has a ± 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. –abs-cbnNEWS.com
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