Aquino satisfaction rating falls to its lowest since 2010

Public satisfaction with President Benigno Aquino III fell 20 points in the second quarter of 2014 to a “moderate” +25 rating, its lowest since he assumed the presidency in 2010, a poll conducted by Social Weather Stations showed.

The SWS survey found that 55 percent of respondents were satisfied with Aquino’s performance, while 30 percent were not, for a “moderate” +25.

Last March, Aquino scored 20 points higher, a “good” +45, with 66 percent of respondents satisfied with Aquino’s performance, and 21 percent were dissatisfied.

Aquino’s previous net scores dipped below +50 only six times in 15 quarterly surveys. Prior to this recent +25, Aquino’s lowest score was a “good” +42 in May 2012.

The net expectation of Aquino successfully ending his term was at +8, 19 points down from +27 recorded last year.

SWS considers net satisfaction scores 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”; -70 and below, “execrable.”

The second quarter 2014 SWS poll, posted on the Business World website, was taken from June 27 to 30 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. Sampling error margins of ±3% for national and ±6% for area percentages applied to the survey.

Geographically

Aquino’s personal scores fell to record lows in all parts of the country.

It was still at “good” in the Visayas, despite a 10 point drop to +39.

Public satisfaction with Aquino fell to a “good” +40 (15 points down) in Mindanao and to a “moderate” +16 (25 points down) in Balance Luzon.

The score fell to a “neutral” +6 in Metro Manila, where his score fell by 27 points.

In rural areas, though net satisfaction remained in “good” territory, it fell 14 points to +35.

In urban areas, Aquino’s score fell 26 points to a “moderate” +15.

Socioeconomic classes, gender

Aquino’s score fell seven points to +32 among the ABC classes, but stayed in “good” territory.

His score also remained at “good” among the Class E but fell 13 points to +31.

Among the Class D, it fell 23 points to a “good” at +22.

Aquino also experienced personal record lows among both men and women. Among women, it fell 15 points to +28. Among men, it fell 25 points to +21.

End of term

The poll found that 29 percent of respondents believed Aquino would end his term on a “successful” note, with 21 percent disagreeing.

About 50 percent said it was too early to tell.

In Metro Manila, respondents who believe Aquino would be a successful president fell to a new low to -7, a 21-point decline from last year.

In Balance Luzon, it fell 24 points to +3. In the Visayas, it fell 22 points to +12. In Mindanao, it fell by eight points to +22.

Except for Mindanao, these scores were new personal record lows.

Of those who said Aquino would be a successful president, those satisfied with his performance fell to 82 percent from 91 percent. The dissatisfied rose to 10 percent from 4 percent.

With this, his net satisfaction rating in this category fell by 16 points to a still “excellent” +71.

Among those who said it was “too early to tell” if Aquino will be a successful president, satisfaction fell to 49 percent from 71 percent.

Dissatisfaction among this group rose to 31 percent from 14 percent, bringing down Aquino’s net score by 39 points to a “moderate” +18 compared to a “very good” +57 last year.

As for those who believed Aquino will be an unsuccessful president, satisfaction fell to 30 percent from 49 percent, while dissatisfaction rose to 56 percent from 30 percent.

This brought down his net score by 46 points to a “poor” -26 from the “moderate” +20 last year. — Joel Locsin/DVM/KG, GMA News