Government satisfaction rating at 73%

MANILA, Philippines – Public satisfaction with the government hit a record high during the first three months of the Aquino administration, according to the latest survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The survey found 73 percent of Filipinos satisfied with the government’s performance while only nine percent were dissatisfied, giving the new administration a “very good” net satisfaction rating of 64.

This was the highest satisfaction rating ever received by the government since the SWS started rating the national administration’s general performance in 1989.

SWS said that the Aquino administration’s score surpassed the previous record of a “good” +36 obtained in November 1998 during the term of former President Joseph Estrada.

Satisfaction with the government improved in all areas and classes from “bad/very bad” to “very good,” according to the results of the SWS poll published in the newspaper BusinessWorld yesterday.

It rose to +68 from -57 in Metro Manila, +66 from -45 in the rest of Luzon, +61 from -44 in Mindanao and +60 from -39 in Visayas.

The government received a net satisfaction rating of +66 from -47 among the class D or masses, +65 from -47 in class ABC, and +57 from -41 in class E.

The new administration got “very good” net scores, both +52, in two key issues, foreign relations and helping the poor, while it obtained “good” ratings in promoting human rights (+42) and fighting terrorism (+30).

The public gave the administration “moderate” scores in land distribution (+29), reconciliation with communist rebels (+24), eradication of graft and corruption (+22), reconciliation with Muslim rebels (+22), fighting crime (+21), ensuring no hunger (+19) and fighting inflation (+19).

It received “neutral” ratings in suppressing private armies in Mindanao (+4) and resolving the August hostage-taking incident in Manila (-5).

The government, meanwhile, got a “poor” score of -12 in handling the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 24 to 27, used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults.

It used sampling error margins of plus or minus three percentage points for national and plus or minus six percentage points for area percentages.

President Aquino expressed elation over his administration’s net approval rating as shown by the latest SWS survey, saying the people seemed to be dropping their cynicism and hopelessness now.

“For a long time, the people, before we assumed (office), they are jaded, cynical. It’s like, whatever happens, we can’t do anything, so why should we bother protesting? There was the exhaustion of people power. Now, the people power that put us into position has led us to the changes that the people are feeling and experiencing at this time,” Aquino said.

“Nakakagalak (exhilarating). So where do they see that (change)? Maybe I can explain it best this way: I was given this text message from one of our allies, who had a classmate based in Singapore. The classmate who is based in Singapore packed his bags and returned to the Philippines even without the expectation of a sure job   here. But the sense of optimism, the sense that he wants to contribute, overwhelmed this person, so much so that he decided to come back home,” Aquino told reporters.

“I understand we already have reverse migration to a certain degree. People who are, shall we say, comfortable already in other countries have decided to come back. So where can you see that? Isn’t it from day one, we were saying there would be no street sirens, no privileged sector, everyone will be equal, and our push for programs like conditional cash transfer because you don’t depend on trickle down (effect) but directed assistance,” Aquino said.

The President also said that his focus was really on peace and order and the issues involving the police and the military.

He said he was trying to find solutions to every issue and incident reaching his attention, like the explosion during the Bar exams.

Malacañang is grateful that most Filipinos remain firm in their belief that President Aquino’s administration will bring about significant changes in the way the government is being run, and that these will eventually bear fruit sooner than later.

“We are very pleased with the latest approval ratings of the President. It shows the people’s confidence in the Aquino administration,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters in a briefing.

“We have, in only the first few months of the administration, harnessed the trust and optimism of the people to provide results. There is high confidence and the people see the steps we’re making to improve their welfare,” he said.

“The President himself has said that this is only the beginning,” Lacierda added.

Aquino said his administration “will continue to establish the daylight of transparency and accountability on all fronts, despite vigorous opposition from those who want to return to the old ways of deceit and dishonesty for personal gain.” –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) with Aurea Calica, Delon Porcalla