SWS: GMA satisfaction rating slips further to -38%

MANILA, Philippines – Six out of 10 Filipinos remained dissatisfied with the performance of President Arroyo in the past three months, bringing down her new net satisfaction rating to a “bad” -38 as discontent worsened outside the capital and across all economic classes, the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The Third Quarter 2009 SWS survey conducted from Sept. 18 to 21 found 23 percent satisfied and 62 percent dissatisfied with the President’s performance, rounding up to a net rating of -38, classified as “bad.” It fell seven percentage points from -31 (26 percent satisfied, 56 percent dissatisfied) in June 2009.

The non-commissioned survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,800 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila and Mindanao, and 600 each in Balance of Luzon and Visayas.

SWS defined net satisfaction ratings using the scale +50 and above, “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”; +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad”; -50 or lower, “very bad.”

It has sampling error margins of plus or minus 2.3 percent for national percentages, plus or minus six percent for Metro Manila and Mindanao, and plus or minus four percent for Balance of Luzon and Visayas.

SWS said the President’s overall satisfaction rating was pulled down by “worsening dissatisfaction” in Luzon outside of Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, and “continued high dissatisfaction” in Metro Manila.

Mrs. Arroyo’s third quarter satisfaction rating in Metro Manila remained at -46 (21 percent satisfied, 66 percent dissatisfied) in September, statistically the same at -46 (19 percent satisfied, 65 percent dissatisfied) in June.

Her satisfaction rating in Luzon outside Metro Manila went down 13 points to -45 (19 percent satisfied, 64 percent dissatisfied) in September, from -32 (23 percent satisfied, 55 percent dissatisfied) in June.

It declined four points in the Visayas, at -32 (26 percent satisfied, 58 percent dissatisfied) in September, from “poor” -28 (30 percent satisfied, 57 percent dissatisfied) in June.

It fell six points in Mindanao, to -27 (30 percent satisfied, 57 percent dissatisfied) in September, from -21 (31 percent satisfied, 53 percent dissatisfied) in June.

The President’s urban satisfaction rating went down seven points in September to -44 (21 percent satisfied, 61 percent dissatisfied) from -37 (23 percent satisfied, 61 percent dissatisfied) in June.

Her rural satisfaction rating went down 11 points to -34 (25 percent satisfied, 59 percent dissatisfied) in September from -23 (28 percent satisfied, 52 percent dissatisfied) in June.

Dissatisfaction intensifies in all classes

The President’s net satisfaction rating declined drastically by 26 points in classes ABC, at “very bad” -54 (17 percent satisfied, 70 percent dissatisfied) in the third quarter, from a “poor” -28 (27 percent satisfied, 55 percent dissatisfied) in the second quarter.

Dissatisfaction with her performance also went up in class E, with her rating worsening by 12 points to “bad” -34 (26 percent satisfied, 60 percent dissatisfied) in September, from “poor” -22 (30 percent satisfied, 52 percent dissatisfied) in June.

Her satisfaction rating among the masa, or those in class D, went down five points to -39 (23 percent satisfied, 62 percent dissatisfied) in September, from -34 (24 percent satisfied, 58 percent dissatisfied) in June.

The latest survey also showed that men and women are equally dissatisfied with the President’s performance.

Among women, her satisfaction rating fell 11 points to “bad” -37 (23 percent satisfied, 61 percent dissatisfied) in September from “poor” -26 (28 percent satisfied, 54 percent dissatisfied) in June. –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)