SWS: Satisfaction with top officials, institutions down

MANILA, Philippines – The satisfaction ratings of top government officials and institutions dropped in the last quarter of 2013, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s net satisfaction rating declined by seven points from +69 in September last year to +62 in December.

The survey showed that 75 percent of the respondents were satisfied with Binay’s performance, while 13 percent were dissatisfied.

His score, however, is still classified as “very good,” the SWS said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon suffered the biggest drop from a “good” +37 in September to a “moderate” +25 (52 percent satisfied, 26 percent dissatisfied).

The net satisfaction rating of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. fell by two points to +16 (41 percent satisfied, 25 percent dissatisfied) but stayed at “moderate” territory.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno’s net score stayed at “moderate” but was down by a point to +16 (40 percent satisfied, 25 percent dissatisfied).

In a statement, Binay thanked the Filipinos for their support.

“I thank everyone for appreciating the service I have rendered as Vice President, as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns and as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council,” Binay said.

This is the seventh “very good” rating for the Vice President since 2010, with SWS also noting that he scored seven excellent ratings since assuming office.

Binay said the Filipinos are his inspiration.

“Your confidence and faith in what I do inspire me more to give my best for our people,” he added.

The Office of the Vice President noted that among the top government officials, Binay remains to have the highest satisfaction rating.

The SWS survey was conducted from Dec. 11 to 16, using face-to-face interviews of 1,550 Filipinos nationwide.

Results of the poll were published in BusinessWorld yesterday.

The SWS classifies net satisfaction scores of +70 and up 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.”

Meanwhile, top government institutions received lower ratings in the last quarter of 2013, the SWS said.

The House of Representatives got a net score of +26, down by a point from September’s +27.

The Senate’s net satisfaction rating, on the other hand, was down by three points from +33 to +30 but stayed in “good” territory.

The performance rating of the Supreme Court fell by five points to +36 in the fourth quarter survey of the SWS.

The Cabinet, meanwhile, obtained a net satisfaction score of +20, classified as “moderate.” Its December score, however, was lower by seven points from its September rating, the SWS noted. –Helen Flores, The Philippine Star