President’s satisfaction rating back to ‘very good’

MANILA, Philippines—Across regions, classes and genders, President Benigno Aquino III has bounced back in popularity as shown by his “very good” net satisfaction rating of plus 67, 25 points more than his “good” plus 42 rating last quarter, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) indicated.

“The President’s satisfaction rating registered a double-digit improvement across the board except for Mindanao, (where his rating) is already high at plus 61,” said Leo Laroza, Survey Research and Communication Specialist at SWS. This could be attributed to “improving trends” on hunger and self-rated poverty based on SWS surveys in previous quarters, he added.

The recent survey, conducted between Aug. 24 and 27, asked 1,200 respondents nationwide “how satisfied or dissatisfied” they were with “the performance” of Mr. Aquino as President of the Philippines.

The SWS asked further: “Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, undecided if satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, very dissatisfied?”

Results of the survey showed that 77 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with Mr. Aquino’s performance, up from 63 percent in May. Those who said they were dissatisfied dipped from 21 percent to 10 percent this quarter, survey results showed.

Biggest gain in Metro

SWS considers net satisfaction ratings of plus 70 and above as “excellent;” plus 50 to plus 69, “very good;” plus 30 to plus 49, “good;” plus 10 to plus 29, “moderate;” plus 9 to minus 9, “neutral;” minus 10 to minus 29, “poor;” minus 30 to minus 49, “bad;” minus 50 to minus 69, “very bad,” and minus 70 and below, “execrable.”

The latest survey used face-to-face interviews and had an error margin of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

By location, Mr. Aquino posted his biggest gain in Metro Manila, from the previous quarter’s “good” net satisfaction rating of plus 18 (48 percent satisfied, 30 percent dissatisfied), to a “very good” net satisfaction rating of plus 59 (73 percent satisfied, 14 percent dissatisfied).

The President also posted improved ratings in the Balance of Luzon (from plus 41 to plus 70), and in the Visayas (from plus 41 to plus 76). He maintained his “very good” rating of plus 61 in Mindanao.

In rural areas, Mr. Aquino similarly showed improved ratings of plus 70 in August (79 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied, correctly rounded), from a rating of plus 51 in May (69 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied).  His net satisfaction rating almost doubled in urban areas, from plus 35 in May (59 percent satisfied, 24 percent dissatisfied) to plus 65 in August (75 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied).

The President also obtained “very good” scores across all socioeconomic classes.  Among the more affluent ABC class, Mr. Aquino’s net satisfaction rating rose by 53 points from plus 25 (54 percent satisfied, 29 percent dissatisfied) to plus 78 (84 percent satisfied, 6 percent dissatisfied).

Among respondents from class D, his net satisfaction rating rose by 27 points, from plus 41 (63 percent satisfied, 22 percent dissatisfied) to plus 68 (77 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied, correctly rounded).  It rose by 12 points among those from Class E, from plus 50 (67 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied, correctly rounded), to plus 62 (74 percent satisfied, 12 percent dissatisfied).

Among male respondents, Mr. Aquino’s net rating rose from plus 43 (64 percent satisfied, 21 percent dissatisfied) to plus 67 (77 percent satisfied, 9 percent dissatisfied).  He similarly gained plus points among the women, from plus 41 (62 percent satisfied, 21 percent dissatisfied) to plus 67 (78 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied, correctly rounded).

Hunger incidence dips

SWS figures showed that hunger incidence dipped from 23.8 percent or 4.8 million households, in March, to 18.4 percent or an estimated 3.8 million households, in May.  The proportion of families who rated themselves as “poor” also dipped from 55 percent or 11.1 million households, in March, to 51 percent or 10.3 million households in May. Inquirer Research

Public satisfaction with President Aquino (March to August 2012)

Satisfied                               Dissatisfied                         Net

March May August          March May August          March May August

Philippines          68%        63%        77%        19%        21%        10%        +49         +42         +67

NCR                       72           48           73           20           30           14           +52         +18         +59

Bal Luzon             67           64           78           21           23           8              +45         +41         +70

Visayas                 67           61           83           17           20           7              +50         +41         +76

Mindanao           69           73           74           16           12           13           +53         +61         +61

Total Urban        68           59           75           23           24           10           +45         +35         +65

Total Rural           68           69           79           16           17           10           +52         +51         +70

ABC                        79           54           84           16           29           6              +62         +25         +78

D                             67           63           77           20           22           10           +46         +41         +68

E                              68           67           74           16           16           12           +52         +50         +62

Male                      68           64           77           20           21           9              +48         +43         +67

Female                 68           62           78           18           21           10           +50         +41         +67