Duterte’s ‘anti-poor policies’ caused slump in net satisfaction among poor — Tinio

The decline in President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction among the poor was caused by his “anti-poor policies,” an opposition lawmaker said on Thursday.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) 2018 first quarter poll, conducted from March 23 to 27, showed a “very good” net satisfaction rating for Duterte’s performance.

But the survey also showed that the President’s satisfaction rating in Balance Luzon fell by one grade from “very good” to “good,” at +39 in March. This was down by 11 points from December 2017’s +50.

Duterte’s satisfaction rating among the Class E also fell by one grade from “very good” to “good,” at +48. It was down by 17 points from December 2017’s +65.

READ: Duterte retains ‘very good’ satisfaction rating in early 2018 poll / Duterte’s trust rating back to ‘excellent’ – SWS

“Naintindihan natin ito (decline) dahil noon pa man sinasabi na natin na ang pinaka-mabigat na tatamaan ng mga patakarang pinatutupad ni Pangulong Duterte ay yung maralita. Anti poor yung kanyang administrasyon,” ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said during a media briefing.

“Mula sa tokhang, hanggang sa TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law) at sa pagtaas ng mga presyo ng bilihin,” he added. “Nakikita natin na hindi nya patuloy na mapapanatlii ang kanyang popularidad sa mga maralita.”

Tinio said Duterte was able to maintain his popularity in general because he continued to focus on building his reputation even if this means letting go of his trusted men.

“Hindi kataka-taka yan na nananatili ang mataas na net satisfaction rating ni Pangulong Duterte dahil ang isang natutunan natin sa presidency ni Digong ay talagang nakatutok sya sa pag-alaga sa kanyang popularidad,” he said.

“Very sensitive sya sa mga pakiramdam ng publiko, so halimbawa kung masyado mainit issue o kung may ginawa ang kanyang administrasyon at naging unpopular ito nakita natin mabilis na pumipihit o bumabawi,” he added. “Kung may unpopular action ididistansya nya ang kanyang sarili or isasakripisyo nya ang kanyang mga tao sa kanyang admin kaya napapanatili nya ang popularity nya.”

Tinio cited the exoneration of suspected drug lords by the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the planned construction of a mega resort-casino in Boracay amid its closure for rehabilitation, as among the issues.

“Kamakailan lang dahil merong public outcry dahil dito sa pagsasara ng Boracay, pero yun pala magtatayo ng casino, sasabihin ni Pangulong Duterte, wala akong alam dyan, di ako sang-ayon sa pag tatayo ng casino,” Tinio said.

“Sa kaso ng pag abswelto sa drug lords, nakita natin na para madistansya ang kanyang sarili sa mga maling ginagawa ng kanyang administrasyon, dito sinakripisyo pa nya, handa syang isakripisyo yung isa sa mga pinaka-malalapit na tinyente nya, in this case si former Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II,” he added.

In a statement Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque assured the public that the Duterte administration would “work double” time to bring “sustained and inclusive growth” to Filipinos as it welcomed the “very good” net satisfaction rating of the President in the recent SWS poll.

READ: Result of SWS survey inspires Palace to work double time for Filipinos   /muf