P-Noy satisfaction, trust ratings up – Pulse Asia

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino’s satisfaction and trust ratings went up by six and four percentage points, respectively, in the past three months, according to the latest poll by Pulse Asia.

“Amidst the different problems facing his administration, President Aquino continues to enjoy big majority approval and trust ratings (77 percent and 75 percent, respectively),” Pulse Asia said in its latest “Ulat ng Bayan Survey,” conducted from Aug. 20 to Sept. 2.

It said less than one in 10 Filipinos (four percent) disapproves of presidential performance and distrusts the President (five percent).

Indecision toward the work done by Aquino in the past three months is expressed by 18 percent of Filipinos while essentially the same percentage (19 percent) cannot say if they trust or distrust him, Pulse Asia said.

“In general, these figures do not vary significantly from the national ratings obtained by the President in Pulse Asia’s May 2011 survey,” the research firm said.

“While President Aquino’s overall approval and trust ratings go up by 6 and 4 percentage points, respectively, between May and August 2011, these changes fall short of being significant given the survey’s overall error margin of +/– 3 percentage points,” it said.

Malacañang expressed gratitude over the sustained increases in the approval and trust ratings of the President, more than a year after he was elected into office, saying it showed the faith of Filipinos in his leadership.

“It is an affirmation that more than a year into the current administration, the people’s faith in their leadership has not wavered, and has in fact become stronger,” according to presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

“The message is getting across to the vast majority of Filipinos: President Aquino’s ratings are proof that his efforts toward curbing corruption and reducing poverty are truly being felt by Filipinos across all geographic and demographic strata,” he said.

“It is expected that survey numbers will fluctuate, and while we in government appreciate this development, we continue to raise the bar higher for ourselves so that every aspect of the President’s social contract with the Filipino people will be fulfilled,” he added.

Positive indication

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said the Pulse Asia survey showed that Filipinos “are very much satisfied with the leadership of President Aquino.”

He said traditionally “the popularity of a leader diminishes as he stays longer in office because of some unpopular but needed policies and decisions.”

“But in the latest survey, President Aquino was able to maintain his high ratings which means that the people support the reforms that President Aquino has been implementing,” Evardone said.

Almost the same

Pulse Asia said Aquino obtained basically the same majority approval and trust ratings across geographic areas (72 percent to 81 percent and 73 percent to 82 percent, respectively).

However, by socio-economic class, those in the poorest Class E grant higher approval and trust scores to the President (86 percent and 82 percent, respectively) than their counterparts in the best-off Class ABC (68 percent and 64 percent, respectively).

Single-digit disapproval and distrust ratings are registered across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, with the only exception being the 11 percent distrust rating given to the President by those in Class ABC, Pulse Asia said.

Meanwhile, levels of indecision toward presidential performance and trustworthiness are generally constant across geographic areas and socio-economic groupings, the pollster said.

It said double-digit gains in Aquino’s approval ratings occurred between May and August in the Visayas (12 percentage points) and Metro Manila (15 percentage points).

During this period, there is also an improvement in the President’s trust rating in Metro Manila (18 percentage points), it said.

On the other hand, criticism of presidential performance and distrust in Aquino eased somewhat between May and August 2011 among Metro Manilans (-10 percentage points).

“The other figures remain practically unchanged during this period,” Pulse Asia said.

The Pulse Asia survey also showed that Aquino obtained passing marks on selected key national issues.

“The President receives virtually the same grades on 11 national issues on which his first year performance is evaluated by respondents to Pulse Asia’s August 2011 survey,” it said.

On a scale of zero to 100, with 75 as the passing grade, Aquino’s average or mean grades range from 75 (or “barely passing”) on poverty reduction to 80 (or “good”) on delivery of basic services to those in need, it said. –-Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) with Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero