Satisfaction rating on Noy gov’t continues slide — SWS

The public satisfaction rating on the Aquino administration continued its downtrend based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that showed a net 44 rating, the lowest ever in the survey since President Aquino started his term in July 2010.

The survey was done last May 24 to 27 poll in which 63 percent of respondents said they were pleased with the administration’s general performance against 18 percent dissatisfied for a net 44 rating down from a net 46 in March.

According to SWS, it was the Aquino administration’s lowest net rating thus far from a record net 64 in September and November 2010.
Despite the plunge in Aquino’s ratings, Malacañang still considers the results of the survey as a manifestation of the efficiency of the administration.

In an emailed press statement, the Office of the Presidential Spokesman said the survey results remain comparatively high as compared with that of the previous administration even as Malacañang boasts of an even higher figure before Aquino delivered his third State of the Nation Address last Monday.

“The Aquino administration has enjoyed the longest period of public support since the survey began in February 1989. We note that the sustained, positive numbers are testament to the Filipino people’s enduring trust in our policies, initiatives, and reforms”, the statement read.

The SWS survey had the Aquino administration seen on its rapid decline amid “poor” public ratings on the government’s failure to control oil prices and inability to secure justice for the victims of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, which killed 58 people including 32 journalists, seen as the worst ever single attack both on politics and the media.

The poll results showed a negative12 rating for the Aquino administration over what has been regarded as wanton imposition of price hikes by the oil companies.

The Aquino administration was accorded an even poorer grade of negative 16 over its failure to address clamors against the culture of impunity, specifically that of the Maguindanao massacre case.

Despite being the lowest since 2010, Aquino’s scores were still ranked as “good.” The SWS survey said that the Aquino government’s results are still better than previous administrations.
Net satisfaction scores “hardly changed” in most demographics except in the Visayas and in the ABC class where these fell to “moderate” from “good.” Net satisfaction stayed “very good” in Mindanao from positive55to positive58.

The government scored “good” scores on promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, positive39 from positive49 in March this year; providing enough supply of electricity, positive37 from positive57 in March 2000(when the issue was last tested); defending the country’s territorial rights, positive35 from positive27 in December 2000; helping the poor, positive35 from positive44 in March this year; distributing land, positive34 from positive29 in September 2010; and foreign relations, positive33 from positive46 in the last survey.

Meanwhile, the administration scored “moderate” ratings in fighting terrorism, positive19 from positive33; fighting crimes, positive16 from positive31; reconciliation with Muslim rebels, positive14 from positive22; and eradicating graft and corruption, positive12 from positive17.
Aquino posted average ratings for the reconciliation with communist rebels, down to positive9 from positive25 in March this year; budget management, positive 2 from negative 2 in November 2001; ensuring that no family will be hungry, positive1 from positive10 last March; and fighting inflation, at negative6 from zero in the last poll.

The survey was conducted through interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. Error margins used were ±3% for national and ±6% for area percentages. –Fernan J. Angeles, Daily Tribune