Aquino approval marks at record low in 2014

MANILA, Philippines–President Aquino’s full-year net satisfaction rating average plunged to a record low in 2014 despite an improved net score in December, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The Fourth Quarter 2014 Social Weather Report found that 63 percent of 1,800 respondents were satisfied with the President and 24 percent dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction rating (satisfied minus dissatisfied) of “good” plus 39.

The latest score—his third-lowest so far—is 5 percentage points up from the plus 34 rating (59 percent satisfied and 25 percent dissatisfied) in September, which SWS also rated as “good.”

However, it yielded a full-year net satisfaction average of “good” plus 36 in 2014, drastically lower compared with the previous averages recorded in 2010 (plus 62), 2011 and 2012 (plus 53), and 2013 (plus 55)—all of which were rated as “very good” by SWS.

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Malacañang welcomed what it said were improved satisfaction ratings of Aquino.

“Perhaps it’s the good work that continues to show the efforts that the administration puts in to push for programs that would directly benefit the people,” Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, said in a press briefing.

“We note that from the last decline in June for the second quarter, so far the numbers have consistently been going up, and we extend our appreciation to the people for their continued support for President Aquino and his administration,” Valte said.

Valte said Malacañang was prepared for what its critics would say anew.

“I’m sure they have a lot more to say … It’s the same rating that the President received in May 2012, that’s 63 (percent). The highest that he ever received, at least for this particular survey firm, is at 77 (percent)—that was August 2012. I will leave that to them, whatever they still have to say. But, again, this will just encourage the administration to push further with the reforms,” Valte said.

SWS considers a rating of +70 and above as “excellent”; +50 to +69 as “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”; -70 and below, “execrable.”

SWS asked respondents: “Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you are in the performance of Benigno Aquino III as President of the Philippines. Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, undecided if satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, very dissatisfied, or you have not ever heard or read anything about Benigno Aquino III?”

SWS noted that the President got a “very good” plus 60 rating three months into his administration and reached the record high of “very good” plus 67 in August 2012.

Aquino, who has 18 months remaining before his term ends, recorded his lowest net score of “moderate” plus 25 in June.

In the 17 quarterly surveys SWS conducted before December, Aquino’s net scores were under plus 50 only eight times, it said.

Across geographic areas, the President’s net satisfaction ratings went 10 ticks up in the rest of Luzon (from plus 29 to plus 39) and slightly moved in Mindanao (from plus 43 to plus 46), Metro Manila (from plus 22 to plus 23) and Visayas (from plus 43 to plus 42).

Aquino’s net score improved in urban areas as it climbed by 10 points from “moderate” plus 27 to “good” plus 37, while it remained “good” in rural areas, moving from plus 40 to plus 41.

The President’s net satisfaction rating went up among socioeconomic groups, posting double-digit increase among Class ABC (from plus 27 to plus 49), while it slightly improved among Class D (from plus 34 to plus 37) and Class E (from plus 38 to plus 45).

Aquino’s net satisfaction rating climbed 5 points both among men (from plus 31 to plus 36) and women (from plus 37 to plus 42).

The survey, conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, involved face-to-face interviews with 1,800 adults and had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.–Inquirer Research with a report from Nikko Dizon