Duterte bounces back in latest performance poll

From a record-low net public satisfaction rating three months ago, President Duterte’s performance rating has bounced back from “good” to “very good,” in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.

The SWS survey conducted last Sept. 15-23 among 1,200 respondents found 70 percent of Filipinos satisfied, 14 percent undecided, and 16 percent dissatisfied with the performance of President Duterte.

Compared to June 2018, gross satisfaction with the President rose by five points from 65 percent, gross undecided fell by one point from 15 percent, and gross dissatisfaction fell by four points from 20 percent.

This translates to a net satisfaction rating of +54 (percent satisfied minus percent dissatisfied), classified by SWS as “very good.”

It is a nine-point increase, and one grade up, from his personal record-low of good +45 (65 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) in June.

SWS terminology for net satisfaction ratings are translated as follows: +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;” and –70 and below “execrable.”

Net satisfaction rating up, particularly in the rest of Luzon

SWS attributed the nine-point rise in President Duterte's net satisfaction rating from June 2018 to September 2018 to increases of 16 points in the rest of Luzon, two points in Visayas, one point in Metro Manila, and one point in Mindanao.

President Duterte’s net satisfaction rating stayed good in the rest of Luzon, at +49 (67 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) in September, up by 16 points from +33 (57 percent satisfied, 24 percent dissatisfied) in June.

It also stayed good in Visayas, at +49 (69 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) in September, up by two points from +47 (67 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) in June.

It remained good in Metro Manila, at +36 (61 percent satisfied, 25 percent dissatisfied) in September, up by a point from +34 (59 percent satisfied, 25 percent dissatisfied) in June.

It stayed excellent in Mindanao, at +77 (82 percent satisfied, 5 percent dissatisfied) in September, up by one point from +76 (84 percent satisfied, 8 percent dissatisfied) in June.

Rural high

Rural net satisfaction with the President stayed very good, at +62 (74 percent satisfied, 12 percent dissatisfied) in September 2018, up by 10 points from +52 (69 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied) in June 2018.

Meanwhile, urban net satisfaction stayed good, at +42 (65 percent satisfied, 23 percent dissatisfied) in September, up by four points from +38 (61 percent satisfied, 23 percent dissatisfied) in June. Higher in class D or “masa” but down in upper-to-middle classes ABC and “poorest” E

The President's net satisfaction rating rose from good to very good in class D at +56 (71 percent satisfied, 15 percent dissatisfied) in September 2018, up by 13 points from +43 (63 percent satisfied, 21 percent dissatisfied) in June 2018.

However, it fell from very good to good in class ABC, at +41 (64 percent satisfied, 23 percent dissatisfied) in September, down by 25 points from +66 (79 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied) in June.

It also fell from very good to good in class E, at +45 (64 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) in September, down by seven points from +52 (69 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied) in June.

President Duterte’s net satisfaction rating rose from good to very good among men, +55 (70 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied) in September 2018, up by nine points from +46 (66 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied) in June 2018.

It also rose from good to very good among women, at +53 (69% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied, correctly rounded) in September, up by 8 points from +45 (65% satisfied, 20% dissatisfied) in June.

The President's net satisfaction rating rose from good to very good among 25-34 year olds, at +59 (72 percent satisfied, 14 percent dissatisfied) in September 2018, up by 16 points from +43 (65 percent satisfied, 22 percent dissatisfied) in June 2018.

It rose from good to very good among 35-44 year olds, +54 (70 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied) in September, up by eight points from +46 (65 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied) in June.

It also increased from good to very good among 45-54 year olds, at +56 (71 percent satisfied, 15 percent dissatisfied) in September, up by nine points from +47 (64 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied) in June.

It improved from good to very good among those 55 years old and older, at +50 (68 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) in September, up by six points from +44 (65 percent satisfied, 22 percent dissatisfied) in June.

However, it fell from very good to good among 18-24 year olds, at +49 (68 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied) in September, down by a point from +50 (68 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) in June.

Vulgar or not

In the September survey, SWS also asked the respondents, “Here are some pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte. Please tell me how you feel about these pronouncements. Was this (pronouncement) of his vulgar or not vulgar?”

The survey questionnaire used the Filipino term “bastos,” which in English means “vulgar.” Two specific pronouncements, presented to the respondents in random order, were tested.

On President Duterte’s pronouncement that “God is stupid,” 83 percent said it was vulgar, and 14 percent said it was not vulgar. The remaining 3 percent did not know what to answer.

Meanwhile, on his pronouncement that there are many rape cases in Davao City because there are many beautiful women who live there, 63 percent said it was vulgar, 33 percent said it was not vulgar, and 5 percent did not know.