MANILA, Philippines — Net satisfaction with the general performance of the Duterte administration rose to a record-high “excellent” +72 in the first quarter of 2019, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
The survey, conducted from March 28 to 31, found that 81 percent of 1,440 adult respondents nationwide were satisfied with the Duterte administration, while 9 percent were dissatisfied and 10 percent undecided.
The latest figures yielded an “excellent” net satisfaction rating (satisfied minus dissatisfied) of +72, or 6 points higher from the “very good” +66 (76-percent satisfied minus 9-percent dissatisfied) score in December 2018.
The current rating is also 2 points higher than the previous record of “excellent” +70 in December 2017.
SWS considers a rating of +70 and above 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.
Increased in all areas
By area, net satisfaction scores of the administration increased in all areas. It rose by 11 points in the Visayas (+74 from +63), 6 points in Mindanao (+81 from +75), 5 points in Metro Manila (+65 from +60) and 3 points in the rest of Luzon (+68 from +65).
By class, it remained barely unchanged among class ABC (+73 from +72) and rose among class D (+72 from +65) but declined 2 points among D (+68 from +70).
In addressing specific national issues, compared to the previous quarter, the national administration posted higher net satisfaction ratings on helping the poor (+72 from +68), fighting terrorism (+58 from +55), fighting crimes (+48 from +44), reconciling communist rebels (+45 from +39), foreign relations (+41 from +38), ensuring that no family will ever be hungry (+37 from +28), and fighting inflation (+22 from +14).
It barely changed in reconciling with Muslim rebels (+44 from +43), reconstructing Marawi (+58 from +60) and eradicating graft and corruption (+41 from +42), and remain unchanged in defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippines Sea (+40).
The survey had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2.6 percentage points.
‘A hard slap on detractors’
Reacting to the survey findings, Malacañang said on Saturday that the high rating was a “hard slap” on the face of its detractors who do nothing but downplay its achievements.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Malacañang was pleased with the administration’s +72 net satisfaction rating in the first quarter of the year, as shown by the SWS survey.
It was the highest rating received by any administration since 1989, Panelo noted.
“The efforts of this administration in serving the nation and the Filipinos are starting to bear fruit,” Panelo said in a statement.
“Our countrymen’s towering satisfaction in favor of our hardships and attainments is a hard slap on the face of the opposition and our detractors who, from day one, never gave the leadership of President Duterte a chance to show them his competence in administering the nation’s affairs,” he added.
According to Panelo, Malacañang would keep on addressing poverty and fighting terrorism.
“We are also glad that our people appreciate the current government’s efforts in fighting poverty as this specific issue got the highest rating, along with other issues like reconstructing Marawi City as well as fighting terrorism,” he said.
According to him, fighting poverty and terrorism go hand in hand as areas with high poverty incidence tend to be spawning grounds for terrorist activities.
“In combating terrorism, therefore, the executive likewise pays attention to addressing the socioeconomic causes of the problem.
A whole-of-the-nation approach centered on peace and development is laid out and we are gratified that the public acknowledges it,” he said. —Reports from Inquirer Research and Leila B. Salaverria