Trust ratings of top gov’t officials drop

MANILA, Philippines – The net satisfaction ratings of the top three government officials next in line to President Aquino slightly declined in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The SWS poll, taken from Sept. 4 to 7, showed Vice President Jejomar Binay dropped by six points but stayed in “very good” territory at +63 (72 percent satisfied minus nine percent dissatisfied), from +69 in June (78 percent satisfied, nine percent dissatisfied).

Satisfaction with the performance of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile stayed “good” but fell by four points to a net +35 (52 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) from +39 (56 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) four months ago.

Enrile’s score has been consistently at good levels since June 2010, the SWS pointed out.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s score also dropped by six points to “neutral” +9 (33 percent satisfied and 24 percent dissatisfied), from a “moderate” +15 (37 percent satisfied, 22 percent dissatisfied) previously.

Chief Justice Renato Corona’s net rating, however, stayed at “neutral” zero (28 percent satisfied and another 28 percent dissatisfied, compared to the previous 27 percent dissatisfied and 27 percent satisfied).

Binay, on the other hand, said he is satisfied with the latest trust rating survey although his rating has decreased.

“I’m still number one in terms of trust rating based on performance. It’s all right because the decrease came from the undecided that were included in the survey. Meaning those who do not want had increased,” Binay said.

Binay said he respects the surveys because they reflect the people’s sentiment.

“The undecided are neutral. It’s all right. I will continue working because, as I have said, I have plenty of work to do,” he said. Binay said the survey also reflects the people’s high expectations of government officials.

The same SWS survey, which was reported earlier, found the President’s ratings improving by 10 points to a “very good” net +56 (70 percent satisfied, 14 percent dissatisfied), from a “good” +46 (64 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied).

Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan conducted from Aug. 20 to Sept. 2 showed improvement in approval ratings for all five officials: Aquino, by six points; Binay, two points; Enrile, eight points; Belmonte, six points; and Corona, nine points.

The SWS poll, which was published in BusinessWorld yesterday, also noted minimal changes to net satisfaction ratings for state institutions.

The Senate’s net score rose by three points to a “very good” +50 (63 percent satisfied, 14 percent dissatisfied) from a “good” +47 (64 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied) previously.

Satisfaction with the performance of the House of Representatives stayed at a “good” net +31 (49 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied).

The Supreme Court obtained a three-point gain to +29 (49 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied), still “moderate,” from +26 (50 percent satisfied, 24 percent dissatisfied) previously.

The Cabinet also stayed “moderate” as a whole at +24 (44 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied), barely changed from +25 (45 percent satisfied, 21 percent dissatisfied) last June.

SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of +70 and above as “excellent”; +50 to +69, “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”, +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad”; -50 to -69, “very bad”; and -70 and below, “execrable.”–-Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) with Jose Rodel Clapano