SWS: Duterte gets ‘excellent’ trust rating

President Duterte obtained an “excellent” trust rating which was reflected across regions, economic classes and age groups, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

Less than a week before he formally assumed office, SWS found that 84 percent of 1,200 adult respondents nationwide had “much trust” in Mr. Duterte, while only 5 percent had “little trust,” to yield an excellent net trust score (much trust minus little trust) of +79.

The latest figure  is 53 points higher from the “moderate” +26 net trust score (54 percent much trust, 28 percent little trust) he obtained less than a week before the May 9 elections, which he later won with over 16 million votes.

The Palace on Wednesday hailed the people’s trust in the administration of President Duterte as shown by the SWS survey results, and said the administration would continue what it has been doing.

“It’s a positive sign and very encouraging to know that the people trust the judgment, decision and actions of the President,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a text message to reporters.

The President’s high trust ratings come amid criticism and concern over the rising body count of the administration’s war against illegal drugs.

In a statement, Andanar also said the President’s team would work harder on the campaign against crime and corruption given the public’s trust in him.

“Everyone, from the President down to his official family, will therefore work double time and channel their energies to transform the lives of our people. Our people deserve no less,” he said.

He said the Duterte administration’s mandate for change was “clear and unequivocal.”

“It is mandate for change, and government cannot be stopped from its promise of reforming society by getting rid of drugs, criminality and corruption,” he said.

The non-commissioned survey conducted from June 24 to 27, results of which were first published in BusinessWorld, had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

In the six previous polls conducted by SWS before the May polls, Duterte’s net trust ratings slightly declined from +16 (47 percent much trust, 31 percent little trust) in December to +13 (46 percent much trust, 32 percent little trust) in January, then climbed to +30 (56 percent much trust, 26 percent little trust) in April.

The latest poll also found that Duterte registered excellent trust net ratings across regions, highest of which was in Mindanao (+90), followed by Metro Manila (+78), the rest of Luzon (+75) and Visayas (+74).

He also posted excellent trust scores across socioeconomic groups, topping among classes ABC (+82), D and E (+79), as well as those living in urban (+83) and rural (+75) areas.

The President obtained excellent net trust ratings across age groups, highest of which was among ages 18-24 (+88), followed by those ages 25-34 (+84), 35-44 and 45-54 (+78) and 55 and above (+70).

Mr. Duterte also obtained excellent trust scores among men (+82) and women (+75).

By educational attainment, Duterte received excellent net trust scores among college graduates (+87), college undergraduates (+81), and those who reached elementary (+76) and high school (+74) levels. Inquirer Research with a report from  Leila B. Salaverria