Some LGUs not backing admin
While he was being blamed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña for the drop in President Duterte’s ratings in the Visayas, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino said there are local government units that are undermining the government’s programs.
Dino did not identify the LGUs but said these entities are not actually helping the programs of the administration.
Yesterday, Osmeña blamed Dino for the drop in Duterte’s satisfaction and trust ratings from “very good” to “good.”
“It has not dropped in Mindanao. It has dropped in Visayas and Luzon. One of the reasons is Michael Dino… he has done a lousy job… nabulgar gyud ang iyahang performance sa Leyte. The disaster victims are still complaining. Iyang gibabag ang Bus Rapid Transit,” Osmeña told reporters yesterday.
“Of course it affects the popularity. It’s really because of Dino,” Osmeña added.
A survey of the Social Weather Stations showed 67 percent of Filipinos are satisfied with Duterte’s performance while 19 percent are dissatisfied. Fourteen percent are undecided.
This means the President’s satisfaction rating is only +48, much lower than his +66 rating in June 2017.
The survey also showed that Duterte’s satisfaction rating remains steady in Mindanao as it increased only by a point at +76 in September 2017.
As far as dissatisfaction is concerned, the highest dissatisfaction rate comes from the National Capital Region at 24 percent.
PRETENDING TO BE ALLIES
Dino did not answer Osmeña’s accusations directly but said there are local government units that pretend to be allies with the President but are actually undermining the administration’s programs.
"Cebu City is an urban area and the mayor, Tommy Osmena, pretends to be allied with the President and, at the same time, keeps on criticizing the Duterte administration’s policies and programs," Dino said.
For one, he said, Osmeña reportedly does not support Duterte’s drug war and even lectured the President about it. Cebu City has withheld cityowned firearms and incentives for cops, which has affected the performance of the city police.
Osmeña also criticized Duterte’s decision to postpone the barangay elections as part of his war on drugs.
"These have affected the perceptions of the people towards their government. Considering that Mayor Osmeña has a conflicting view that is tantamount to sabotage to the plans and programs of the President, so much that he is not supporting it," Dino said.
Dino also said his office is now looking into an organization that reportedly claims to be working for the President but is actually undermining Duterte’s programs in the Visayas at grassroots level.
"We are investigating reports about an organization that claims to be working for the President in the grassroots level in the Visayas," he said.
He said many congressmen and mayors have complained about the group that makes “false promises” to the public about the government’s pro-poor programs but never actually delivers.
"Worse, this organization is asking fees from the poor people whom they promised for pro-poor programs such as livelihood assistance. This is the economic class that is highly sensitive to government promises of improving their lives," Dino said.
He said most of those dissatisfied with the President in the SWS survey come from the poor, the economic class “E”, at 26 percent and highest in the urban area at 20 percent.
"My office will just work harder on the task the President mandated and see to it that government services is delivered to the people of Visayas," Dino further said.
COUNTRIBUTING
FACTOR
At the Capitol, Governor Hilario Davide III said the increasing vigilance and participation in social discussions is a contributing factor to the survey results.
“It could be many factors like the presence of concerned groups. Citizens are now voicing their sentiments sa mga nahitabo like extrajudicial killings,” the governor said, adding, “If people think he had lapses, he should listen and be sensitive in what the people are saying.”
Cebu City Councilor Sisinio Andales, meanwhile, said no politician can maintain his or her rating.
“I personally believe in the principle of gravity: what goes up will come down. One cannot always maintain a popularity rating, especially with extrajudicial killings every day, decrease in foreign investors, quarrel between executive and constitutional bodies, threats, profane languages etc…it’s time for Digong to be meek and humble in order to regain popularity rating,” he opined.
SUPPORT STILL
At the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7, Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, said they are unaffected by the drop in rating.
“The drop in rating of President Rodrigo Duterte has no effect on the present morale of PRO-7 personnel or mandate to fight crime, illegal drugs, terrorism and insurgency,” he said.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director, Senior Supt. Joel Doria, said the same.
“Survey is only figures and statistics. Ang importante, yung trabaho natin so hindi tayo maapektuhan diyan. Kung bumaba man o tumaas, ang sa atin lang, kahit ano pa ang resulta ng survey, trabaho tayo,” Doria said.
He said his men’s morale is high because of their accomplishments in the campaign against illegal drugs. He said criticisms are a challenge to improve and ensure that all operations are based on standard operating procedures.
“Kailangan yan because we take criticisms in a positive way para magimprove kami at matuto kami kung saan kami nagkulang. Kasi, kung lahat papuri, hindi namin makita kung ano pa ba ang kailangan i-improve, meron pa bang room for improvement,” Doria said.