SWS: Binay approval rating slides further

Public satisfaction with Vice President Jejomar Binay declined further in the Social Weather Stations (SWS) first quarter survey amid continuing political attacks against him.

The SWS poll, conducted from March 20 to 23, found 58 percent of 1,200 respondents saying they were satisfied with Binay’s performance while 28 percent were dissatisfied, for a net satisfaction score of 31.

This was down 13 points from 44 in December and his fourth straight quarterly drop since March 2014’s 73 percent, the SWS noted.

Binay said his declining rating will not distract him from continuing his work for the benefit of the Filipino people.

Meanwhile, the satisfaction ratings of other top national government officials either improved or steadied in a new SWS poll, results of which were published in the newspaper Business World yesterday.

Senate President Franklin Drilon’s net satisfaction rating improved by seven points to

a “good” 35 in March from a “moderate” 28 in December as those satisfied with his work increased four points to 57 percent and the dissatisfied down three points to 22 percent.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s March ratings were steady from December, the pollster said.

Satisfaction with Belmonte stayed “moderate” at 12 in March, up a point from Decemas ber’s 11. Those satisfied with his performance increased by two points to 38 percent while those dissatisfied was up a point to 26 percent.

On the other hand, Sereno’s rating barely moved in the past quarter, slipping a mere point to 10 in March from 11 in December. Those satisfied and dissatisfied with her increased both by two points to 38 percent and to 28 percent, respectively.

The survey also showed that the satisfaction ratings of three top government institutions slightly improved in the March survey.

The Supreme Court obtained a “good” 34 net rating from a “moderate” 26 in December.

Satisfaction with the Cabinet increased by four points to a “moderate” 13 from “neutral” 9.

The Senate’s rating also improved by five points to a “good” 31 from a “moderate” 26.

Satisfaction with the House of Representatives, however, stayed at a “moderate” 20 in the first quarter survey.

Still grateful

In a statement, Binay’s spokesman for political affairs Rico Quicho said the Vice President is grateful for the continued unwavering support of the people to his kind of public service that directly and immediately addresses the growing demands of the people.

Quicho said the accomplishments of the Vice President are still solid despite the intensified and vicious attacks against him in the last few months.

He said the demolition job being waged by Binay’s political opponents would not stop him from delivering the services the people deserve.