Fast car slows down Aquino rating–SWS

MANILA, Philippines—His fast car has somehow slowed down his performance rating.

The fallout from buying a Porsche has apparently dragged down President Benigno Aquino III’s rating, results of a survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

His net satisfaction rating took a steep drop from +64 in November last year to +51 in early March.

The survey, conducted on March 4 to 7 and first published in BusinessWorld, found that out of 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, 69 percent said they were satisfied.

Eighteen percent said they were dissatisfied with the President, resulting in a “very good” net satisfaction rating (satisfied minus dissatisfied) of +51.

This is down 13 points from Mr. Aquino’s net satisfaction of +64 (74 percent satisfied and 10 percent dissatisfied) in November 2010.

SWS also asked respondents for their opinion on the statement, “President Aquino’s purchase of an expensive car such as a Porsche, even if through his own money, is not a good example for a President of a country like the Philippines.”

Mr. Aquino bought a used white 2007 Porsche for P4.5 million last Christmas, sparking criticism and a spoof on YouTube by Juana Change.

He explained that he sold his old BMW and took out a personal loan to buy the Porsche.

Not good example

Nearly half of the respondents or 48 percent agreed that the President was not setting a good example with his purchase. Thirty-three percent disagreed, and 19 percent were undecided on the matter.

The drop in the President’s performance rating indicated the need for the Aquino administration to ensure that its reforms would show results “sooner than later,” Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said.

Decline expected

Carandang said the decline was “natural” because the rating of a leader would “normally” drop at around this time after the euphoria of an election.

“We note that there is still a significant number of the public that supports the President. But … we will take this as an opportunity to remind ourselves that the public wants to see the results of our reforms sooner rather than later,” he said.

Asked about public sentiments on the President’s purchase of a Porsche, Carandang said the survey showed that “half of those surveyed thought it was an issue, half of them thought it was not.”

‘Empty rhetoric’

The son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the dip in the President’s rating reflected the public’s disappointment.

“They are now starting to realize that P-Noy is just a creation of a well-funded media campaign and the ‘straight path idea’ of governance is nothing but empty rhetoric with no solid program to stand on,” Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo said in a text message.

He said Mr. Aquino’s case was not yet “hopeless” as long as he “tones down his politics of vendetta” and starts working to address the country’s problems.

San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said it was still too early to judge the Aquino administration since it was still less than one year in power.

“The Aquino administration inherited tons of problems from GMA’s (Arroyo’s) rule. Although there have been many less desirable moves by the Aquino administration, I would still give it until its first year to judge,” said Ejercito, a son of former President Joseph Estrada.

Down in all classes

The President’s net satisfaction rating was down in all areas except in the Visayas. His scores also declined among all socioeconomic classes and genders.

His net satisfaction rating dropped 21 points in Luzon outside Metro Manila, from a “very good” +69 in November to a “good” +48 in March.

It declined 18 points in Metro Manila from a “very good” +59 to a “good” +41, and decreased by 12 points in Mindanao from +65 to +53, both classified as “very good.”

Gains only in Visayas

Mr. Aquino posted gains in his net satisfaction rating only in the Visayas from +56 to +60, both “very good” ratings.

Net satisfaction in urban areas slid by 14 points from a “very good” +61 to a “good” +47. It also declined by 12 points in rural areas from +67 to +55, both “very good.”

By socioeconomic class, the President’s net rating declined by 26 points among Class ABC, from an “excellent” +75 to a “good” +49.

Mr. Aquino’s net rating also decreased by 14 points among Class E, from +64 to +50, and by 12 points among Class D, from +63 to +51.

Gender

By gender, satisfaction among men dropped by 18 points from a “very good” +65 to a “good” +47. It declined by eight points among women from +63 to +55, both “very good” ratings.

SWS rates scores of +70 and above as “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.”

SWS noted objections to the President’s purchase of a Porsche among pluralities in the Visayas (52 percent) and Mindanao (51 percent), as well as among Class D (50 percent) and class E (45 percent).

It noted mixed results in Metro Manila (44 percent agree, 44 percent disagree and 13 percent undecided) and among Class ABC (48 percent agree, 46 percent disagree, 6 percent undecided).

The survey had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

The results of the SWS survey came out a week after Pulse Asia reported that a Feb. 24 to March 6 poll had found Mr. Aquino’s performance and trust ratings “basically unchanged” from October last year.

It said 74 percent approved of his performance, down from 79 percent, while his trust rating slipped to 75 percent from 80 percent. Reports from Inquirer Research, Christine O. Avendaño and Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.