Noy approval mark slips to 79%

MANILA, Philippines – Eight in 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay, the latest survey by Pulse Asia showed.

Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan Survey conducted from Oct. 20 to 29 showed that three of the country’s top officials obtained the approval of the majority of Filipinos.

The survey results showed that 79 percent of the 1,200 adult respondents are satisfied with Aquino’s performance; only three percent are dissatisfied while 18 percent are undecided.

The present approval rating was nine points down from the previous quarter’s survey.

Binay, on the other hand, received an approval rating of 78 percent and a disapproval rating of three percent; 20 percent of the respondents are undecided on his performance.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, meanwhile, received the approval of 61 percent of respondents; eight percent are dissatisfied while 31 percent are undecided.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., however, received mixed response from the respondents: 45 percent approve of his performance while 11 percent disapprove of him. A large percentage – 43 percent – are undecided about his performance.

“In the case of House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., nearly the same percentages of Filipinos express either approval for or indecision toward his performance,” Pulse Asia said in the explanatory note.

Chief Justice Renato Corona received the highest rate for disapproval at 18 percent and the highest rate of responses under undecided at 45 percent; 35 percent of the respondents approve of his performance.

“Public ambivalence is the plurality sentiment toward Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona,” Pulse Asia said.

In terms of awareness, almost all Filipinos have heard or read something about Aquino and Binay as shown by the 100 percent awareness rate they received.

Ninety nine percent of respondents are aware of Enrile, while 88 percent have heard of Belmonte. Seventy-nine percent are aware of Corona.

The survey also showed that only four Cabinet members gained a majority approval from respondents.                Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman got the highest satisfaction rating (65 percent), followed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (60 percent), Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim (55 percent) and Health Secretary Enrique Ona (52 percent).

Education Secretary Armin Luistro gained a public approval rating of 49 percent, still a “plurality sentiment” according to the polling firm.

Other Cabinet members received approval ratings in the range of 40 percent to 42 percent and indecision ratings ranging from 38 percent to 45 percent. These are: Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Ricardo David.

Receiving high indecision ratings of 44 percent to 52 percent are Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ramon Carandang, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma, National Food Authority head Lito Banayo, and Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

The respondents, however, are most critical of the performance of Puno, who received a disapproval rating of 21 percent, and Gutierrez with 23 percent.

In contrast, Soliman obtained a disapproval rating of only seven percent, De Lima eight percent, and Ona nine percent.

In terms of public awareness of the Cabinet members, at least 66 percent of the respondents have heard of or read something about them.

More respondents are aware of Lim (99 percent), Puno (89 percent), Soliman (87 percent) and De Lima (86 percent).

Less are aware of Coloma (66 percent), Baldoz (68 percent), Ochoa (68 percent) and Alcala (69 percent).

The survey has an error margin of plus or minus three percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

Elated

Malacañang yesterday welcomed Aquino’s strong performance in the survey.

“The survey shows that the President and his team continue to enjoy the trust of the people,” palace spokesman Lacierda said.

Lacierda noted that the heads of agencies that deal directly with people – such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Health – traditionally enjoy high survey ratings.

While at it, he defended the poor performance of members of the Palace communications group.

“If the communications group does not really do as well as the others is because we do not deal directly with the people and that’s understandable,” Lacierda said.

He said the administration is more surprised that the Department of Justice rated high in the survey.

“I understand this is the first time that they rated this high. So basically it shows that people’s confidence towards this government is there,” Lacierda said.

During the same interview, he also refuted rumors that Aquino presided over a so-called “hangover Cabinet” because he would sometimes work late and with a hangover.

“President does not drink, that’s for sure. So there is no such thing. We are not aware of any midnight Cabinet, neither is there a hangover Cabinet,” Lacierda said.

Binay’s office also welcomed the results of the survey. “Vice President Binay gratefully acknowledges the people’s support. He sees it as an expression of optimism and confidence that life will be better in the years to come,” said its media relations officer Joey Salgado. – Helen Flores, Aurea Calica, Jose Rodel Clapano –(The Philippine Star)