PUBLIC SATISFACTION with the Aquino administration has hit a new high, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) yesterday reported, with improvements also seen in terms of its handling of specific issues.
An end-June survey had 75% of adults satisfied, 16% ambivalent and 9% dissatisfied with the government’s general performance, resulting in a “very good” net score of +66 (% satisfied minus % dissatisfied). This was 13 points higher than the “very good” +53 (68% satisfied, 15% dissatisfied) recorded three months earlier and topped the previous peak of +64 — also “very good” — seen in September and November 2010.The 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.”
The Aquino government’s satisfaction scores remain substantially higher than its predecessors, with the previous peak for another administration a “good’ +36, hit in November 1998 during the presidency of Joseph E. Estrada (now Manila mayor).
Palace spokesmen were not immediately available for comment but a political analyst pointed to the booming economy. The government, he added, could also still be benefiting from its strong showing during the May elections.
The Aquino administration saw its satisfaction scores rise across all regions, with the Visayas returning an “excellent” +76 from +45 (“very good”) three months earlier. It improved by 10 and 14 points, respectively, in Metro Manila (+53) and Balance Luzon (+68) but stayed in “very good” territory. Mindanao’s rating, meanwhile, was unchanged at a “very good” +63.
By socioeconomic class, the government improved to an “excellent” +71, from a “very good” +60 previously, among the class E. A 15-point gain to a still “very good” +65 was seen among the class D or masa. The ABC class returned a lower score of +61, down seven points from the first quarter but still “very good.”
The survey, meanwhile, also recorded improved scores for the government in terms of specific, albeit fewer, issues. The SWS tested just 14 issues, down from 16 in the first quarter, and dropped an item where “poor” scores were previously seen due to what it said was “lack of space.”
The government scored a “very good” +58 in terms of providing basic elementary and high school education — an issue new to the survey. It also scored a “very good” +57 in terms of helping the poor, up a point from March.
“Good” scores, meanwhile, were recorded for the following:
• defending the country’s territorial rights, +45 and up from March’s +37;
• promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, +41 from the “very good” +50 previously;
• providing jobs, +38 from +30;
• foreign relations, +37 from +47;
• fighting terrorism, +36 from +33; and
• fighting crimes, +31 from a “moderate” +17.
“Moderate” ratings were seen for:
• reconciliation with Muslim rebels, +29 from a “good” +31 in March;
• reconciliation with communist rebels, +24 from +28;
• ensuring that no family will be hungry, +19 from a “neutral” +7;
• fighting inflation, +18 from a “neutral” +4;
• eradicating graft and corruption, +18 from +19; and
• ensuring that oil firms don’t take advantage of oil prices, +10 from a “neutral” +4.
Not tested this time was the issue of “resolving the Maguindanao massacre with justice,” on which the government was rated “poor” three months earlier.
Political analyst Ramon C. Casiple said the “very good” education score could be due to the signing in May of a law adding two more years to basic education, and a higher budget allocation.
Overall, Mr. Casiple said the ratings improvement was likely the result of “momentum” from the May elections and “expectations from economic gains.”
The SWS interviewed 1,200 adults nationwide for the June 28-30 survey. The error margins used were +/-3% for national and +/-6% for area percentages. — KMPT
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