Duterte administration gets highest satisfaction rating so far

THE administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has so far received its highest net satisfaction score since it assumed in June 2016, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed in its latest poll conducted in December 2017.

According to SWS’ December 8 to 16 survey, around 79 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the current administration’s performance, nine percent were dissatisfied, and 12 percent were undecided.

The poll results yielded a new “recordhigh” for the Duterte government after it posted an “excellent” + 70 net satisfaction rating of + 70, up by 12 percentage points from September’s “very good” + 58.

SWS said the Duterte administration exceeded the previous highest record of its predecessor, the Aquino administration, which was only at “good” + 66 in June 2013.

It was also the highest since the SWS conducted the same poll during the watch of the late president Corazon Aquino in February 1989.

The pollster noted that the net satisfaction scores in Mindanao (“excellent” + 87), Manila (“excellent” +71), Balance Luzon (“very good” + 67), and Visayas (“very good” + 57), contributed to the 12-percentagepoints increase.

The national administration’s net satisfaction ratings were also high in classes ABC (“very good” + 62), D (“excellent + 71), and E (“verygood”+66).

In a press conference in Albay, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. welcomed the poll results, which showed “the highest net satisfaction rating received by any administration in the last 28 year s.”

Roque said the public’s appreciation on the national government’s performance would motivate the President’s constituents to double their efforts to improve the Filipi n os’ l i ves.

“This excellent public confidence will continue to motivate the President and his team to continue working hard to lay down the foundation of a peaceful and prosperous nation,” he said.

SWS also found that the Duterte government registered a “very good” net satisfaction scores when it comes to fighting terrorism (+67); helping the poor (+ 66); building and maintenance of public works like roads and bridges (+ 59); improving foreign relations (+ 55); and providing job (+ 50).

The national government registered “good” net satisfaction ratings, in terms of reconciling with Muslim rebels (+ 48); defending the country’s territorial rights (+ 46); protecting human rights (+45); and reconciling with communist rebels and fighting crimes, both at + 43.

It also earned a “good” + 42 in its efforts to eradicate graft and corruption, as well as to ensure an efficient public transportation system; “good” + 33 in ensuring that no family will ever be hungry; and “good” + 30 in solving the problem of extrajudicial killings and in making sure that no oil companies take advantage of oil pr i ces.

SWS said the Duterte administration’s net satisfaction rating was “moderate” on fighting inflation (+ 24), and resolving the traffic problem (+ 23).

SWS interviewed some 1,200 adult respondents, using sampling error margins of ± 3 percentage points for national percentages and ± 6 percentage points each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. (Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)