MANILA, Philippines — Except in Metro Manila, public satisfaction with the Aquino administration fell sharply in the rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, according to the latest survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS).
Among socioeconomic groups, the drop in net satisfaction rating was highest in the upper and middle class (ABC). (Net satisfaction is the difference between the percentage of satisfied and those dissatisfied.)
The nationwide survey was conducted from Mar. 4 to 7 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults. It had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points for national percentages.
Results of the survey were first published in BusinessWorld on Tuesday.
Compared with the survey in November, the administration’s net satisfaction rating fell by 8 points in the Visayas from 59 to 51; by 20 points in Mindanao from 67 to 47; and by 27 points in Luzon (excluding Metro Manila) from 69 to 42.
In Metro Manila, however, the administration’s net satisfaction rating was up by a point (from 49 to 50).
Nationwide, net public satisfaction with the administration’s performance dropped 18 points to 46 in March from 64 in September and November last year.
Sixty-five percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with the administration’s performance. Sixteen percent were ambivalent and 18 percent were dissatisfied.
SWS considers a rating of 70 and above “excellent”; 50 to 69, “very good”; 30 to 49, “good”; 10 to 29, “moderate”; 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.”
Reacting to the survey, presidential spokesperson Edwin Laierda said it showed that the people recognized the administration’s efforts on many “fronts,” including curbing criminality and addressing national problems.
“We are confident that as the President’s programs for keeping transport costs down, improving the efficiency of agriculture, attracting investments and providing jobs further expand, the public will be reassured,” Lacierda said in a statement.
“As it stands, it is important to note that satisfaction with the administration remains at near-record levels,” he said.
By socioeconomic class, the administration’s net satisfaction rating plunged 43 points among the upper and middle class (ABC). It dropped by 18 points among the working class D and by 15 points among the poorest class E.
SWS also asked respondents if they were satisfied with the administration’s performance on specific issues.
Of the 15 issues tested, the administration scored “good” on 7, “moderate” on 6 and “neutral” on 2.
The administration garnered “good” ratings in helping the poor (47), foreign relations (44), setting a good example of morality (44), being prepared for natural disasters (43); Reconciliation with Muslim rebels (32); reconciliation with communist rebels (31); and implementing housing programs for the poor (30).
The administration obtained “moderate” scores for fighting terrorism (29), suppressing politicians with private armies in Mindanao (24), deciding quickly on important problems (23), acting according to what people want (23), fighting crimes (20) and eradicating graft and corruption (14).
The Aquino administration recorded “neutral” scores on ensuring no hunger (5) and fighting inflation (0).
It scored notable gains in setting a good moral example (up 47 points from the last time it was surveyed in March 2008).
It also made gains in deciding quickly on important problems (up 29 points compared with the level in December 2000), reconciliation with Muslim rebels (up 3 points), reconciliation with communist rebels (up 4 points), and suppressing private armies in Mindanao (up 7 points).
The Aquino administration rating on acting on what people wanted was 25 points higher than the level in September 2006. The score on helping the poor was unchanged.
Its ratings dropped when it came to disaster preparedness (down 2 points), housing programs for the poor (down 3 points), fighting terrorism (down 3 points), fighting crime (down 4 points), eradicating graft and corruption (down 8 points), fighting inflation (down 7 points), foreign relations (down 11 points), and ensuring no hunger (down by 6 points).
Reports from Inquirer Research and Christine O. Avendaño