OFFICIALS in the line of succession to the presidency saw slight declines in their net satisfaction ratings in the third quarter, in contrast with a marked increase for President Benigno S. C. Aquino III, based on a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) report.
In a Sept. 4-7 survey, consistently top-ranked Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay lost six points but stayed in “very good” territory with a net +63 (72% satisfied minus 9% dissatisfied), from +69 in June (78% satisfied, 9% dissatisfied).
Public satisfaction over the performance of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile stayed “good” but fell by four points to a net +35 (52% satisfied, 18% dissatisfied) from +39 (56% satisfied, 18% dissatisfied) four months ago. His score has been consistently at good levels since June 2010.
House Speaker Belmonte tumbled six points to “neutral” +9 (33% satisfied and 24% dissatisfied), from a “moderate” +15 (37% satisfied, 22% dissatisfied) previously.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona’s latest score stayed at “neutral” zero (28% satisfied and another 28% dissatisfied, compared to the previous 27% dissatisfied and 27% satisfied.
In an earlier report, the SWS said the same September survey saw Mr. Aquino’s ratings jump by 10 points to a “very good” net +56 (70% satisfied, 14% dissatisfied), from a “good” +46 (64% satisfied, 18% dissatisfied).
SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of +70 and above as “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.”
Its third quarter poll results contrast with Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan conducted from Aug. 20-Sept. 2, which showed approval ratings hikes for all five officials: Mr. Aquino, by six points; Mr. Binay, two points; Mr. Enrile, eight points; Mr. Belmonte, six points; and Mr. Corona, nine points.
In the same survey, the SWS noted minimal changes to net satisfaction ratings for state institutions.
The Senate rose by three points to a “very good” +50 (63% satisfied, 14% dissatisfied) from a “good” +47 (64% satisfied, 16% dissatisfied) previously.
For the House of Representatives, satisfaction stayed at a “good” net +31 (49% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied).
The Supreme Court saw a three-point gain to +29 (49% satisfied, 20% dissatisfied), still “moderate”, from +26 (50% satisfied, 24% dissatisfied) previously.
It also stayed “moderate” for the Cabinet as a whole at +24 (44% satisfied, 20% dissatisfied), barely changed from +25 (45% satisfied, 21% dissatisfied) last June.
A spokesman for Mr. Binay said the latest scores were still good but could also be viewed as a “challenge to work harder…”
Mr. Enrile said he was “okay” with the latest scores, while Mr. Belmonte took the dip as a challenge to “do better, of course, [and] be more visible also.”
Supreme Court spokesman Midas P. Marquez reiterated the position that the Chief Justice and his court do not fall into the political sphere.
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By: Johanna Paola D. Poblete
Source: Business World, Oct. 12, 2011
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