SWS survey: Duterte regains public trust

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has regained the people's trust as indicated by the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which showed his net trust rating bouncing back to "excellent."

The SWS survey from December 8 to 16, 2017 found that eight out of 10, or 83 percent, of adult Filipinos had "much trust" in Duterte while only seven percent had "little trust" in him. Around 10 percent were ambivalent on the matter.

The survey results yielded an "excellent" +75 net trust rating, up by 15 percentage points from +60 (very high) in September 2017.

"(Duterte's latest net satisfaction rating is) up by one grade from the 'very high' +60 in September 2017, and a rebound after the 15-percentagepoint decline from +75 in June 2017," SWS noted.

Duterte has sustained an "excellent" net trust score since he became president, except in September last year.

Duterte enjoyed improved net scores across Balance Luzon ("very good"

+66 from "very good" +52), Metro Manila ("very good" +73 from "very good" +54), Visayas ("excellent" +76 from "very good" +57), and Mindanao ("excellent" +94 from "excellent" +82). Balance Luzon refers to areas in Luzon outside Metro Manila.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., in a press conference in Bukidnon, welcomed the poll results and gave assurance that the President's determination and hard work to improve the lives of the Filipino people will continue.

"While we are elated with the survey results, we leave no room for complacency. We therefore assure everyone that the Chief Executive, together with his team, will remain undistracted in improving the lives of the poor and marginalized; fighting criminality and enforcing the law; and curbing graft and corruption in government," he said.