Governance News

Ratings decline for top officials

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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