US trust rating among Filipinos drops, China’s improves – SWS

Filipinos’ trust in the country’s longtime ally, the United States, has declined in the fourth quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.

The fourth quarter nationwide survey conducted last Dec. 3-6, 2016 among 1,500 respondents found 70 percent of Filipinos having “much trust” in the United States, 19 percent were undecided whether they have much trust or little trust, and 11 percent having “little trust” in the country.

This translates to a net trust rating of “very good” +59, which is lower than the +66 (76 percent much trust, 11 percent little trust), registered during the third quarter SWS survey fielded in September, 2016.

Net trust ratings of +70 and above is classified by SWS 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.”

SWS noted that the net trust rating of the United States has been positive since it was first surveyed in December, 1994.

The respondents were particularly asked, “For the following, please indicate if your trust/faith in (name of country) is “very much,” “somewhat much,” “undecided” if much or little, “somewhat little,” “very little,” or you have not heard or read anything about the (country) ever?”

Meanwhile, China’s net trust rating significantly improved to +9 (39 percent much trust, 30 percent little trust), from -33 (22 percent much trust, 55 percent little trust) in the previous quarter.

SWS noted that China’s net trust rating has been positive in only eight out of 40 surveys since public trust on selected countries was included in August 1994.