Aquino gets high approval, trust ratings in surveys

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

Around seven in every 10 adult Filipinos approved of President Aquino’s performance last month, while more than three in every four trusted him, according to Pulse Asia.

The June 2013 Ulat ng Bayan survey also found that employment and inflation were the leading issues that Filipinos would like Aquino to discuss in his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), with 73 percent saying they were aware of the President’s previous Sona.

“Between March and June 2013, the public assessment of President Aquino’s performance and trustworthiness remains generally unchanged,” Pulse Asia said in a statement released Monday.

Seventy-three percent said they approved of the President’s performance, while 7 percent said they disapproved and 19 percent were undecided.

The survey, conducted from June 20 to July 4, used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults. It had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

Another survey, this time by Social Weather Stations (SWS), found that public satisfaction with Aquino’s performance rose 5 points from a “very good” net score of 59 in March to a still “very good” net score of 64 in June.

64% satisfied respondents

The survey, conducted from June 28 to 30, showed Aquino’s net expectation score rose three points from a net score of 24 in March to 27 last month.

SWS asked 1,200 adult Filipinos nationwide if they were “satisfied, somewhat satisfied, undecided if satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied” with the performance of the President.

Results of the poll showed 76 percent of respondents were satisfied with Aquino’s performance, while 12 percent were dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction rating (satisfied minus dissatisfied) of 64.

This is 3 points shy from his record rating of 67, registered in August last year. His lowest net satisfaction rating is 42, recorded in May last year.

SWS considers net satisfaction ratings 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.”

In the Pulse Asia survey, “sizeable to big majorities” across geographic areas and socioeconomic classes approved of the President’s performance: 82 percent in the Visayas, 78 percent in Mindanao, 68 percent in Luzon outside Metro Manila and 67 percent in Metro Manila approved—a sentiment shared by 75 percent among Class E, 74 percent among Class ABC and 72 percent among Class D.

Across areas, indecision about the President’s performance ranged from 16 percent in the Visayas to 22 percent in Metro Manila, and from 18 percent in Class E and Class ABC to 20 percent in Class D.

Disapproval ranged from 2 percent in the Visayas to 11 percent in Metro Manila. It was at 7 percent in Class D and Class E, and at 8 percent among Class ABC.

Big trust

Overall, 77 percent of Filipinos expressed “big trust” in the President, while 5 percent said they had “small or no trust” and 17 percent were undecided.

Majorities across areas and classes trusted the President—90 percent in the Visayas, 86 percent in Mindanao, 69 percent in Luzon outside Metro Manila and 68 percent in Metro Manila; and 82 percent in Class E, 76 percent in Class ABC and 75 percent in Class D.

Indecision about trusting the President ranged from 9 percent in the Visayas to 23 percent in Luzon outside Metro Manila and Metro Manila, and from 12 percent in Class E to 20 percent in Class D.

77% trust rating

Meanwhile, distrust in the President ranged from 1 percent in the Visayas to 9 percent in Metro Manila, and from 5 percent in Class D to 7 percent in Class ABC.

The President’s overall trust rating increased from 72 percent in March to 77 percent in June. However, the 5-percentage point increase was “marginal” in light of the survey’s margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points, Pulse Asia noted.—Inquirer Research

Originally posted at 10:14 p.m. | July 22, 2013