Noy, Binay ratings dip

MANILA, Philippines - The approval and trust ratings of the top five government officials have shown significant declines in the latest Pulse Asia survey released yesterday.

President Aquino remains the most approved government official with 49 percent, according to the results of the survey conducted from Jan. 24 to 28.

But his approval rating suffered a six-point decline from the 55 percent that he obtained in a similar survey conducted in December.

Eighteen percent of the 1,800 respondents said they disapprove of the President, up from last survey’s 15 percent.

The number of those undecided also increased, from 30 percent in December to 33 percent in January.

The President’s trust rating also dropped eight points, from 53 percent in December to 45 percent in January.

More people distrust him, from 15 percent in December to 21 percent in January.

Undecided respondents in terms of trustworthiness directed toward the President also increased from 31 percent to 33 percent.

Aquino’s approval and trust ratings suffered a decline across all geographic areas. In terms of socio-economic distribution, the President suffered most of the decline in his ratings from Class E respondents.

Binay’s ratings also drop

Meanwhile, the approval and trust ratings of Vice President Jejomar Binay – who is running for president under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance – also suffered a decline in the latest Pulse Asia survey.

He obtained an approval rating of 47 percent, down five points from December.

But unlike Aquino, his disapproval rating decreased by two points from 23 percent to 21 percent, while the number of undecided respondents significantly increased from 25 percent in December to 33 percent in January.

Binay’s trust rating dropped four points to 45 percent, putting him at par with the trust rating of the President.

His distrust rating increased by one point to 25 percent, while those who said they are undecided increased by three points to 30 percent.

Binay’s approval and trust ratings declined in all geographic areas except in Metro Manila. His ratings also dropped significantly among Class E respondents.

Meanwhile, the approval rating of Senate President Franklin Drilon dropped seven points to 44 percent, from 51 percent in December.

His trust rating also dropped five points, from 47 percent in December to 42 percent in January.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. obtained 24 percent approval ratings in the latest Pulse Asia survey, down five points from 29 percent in December.

Belmonte’s trust ratings also dropped three points, from 24 percent to 21 percent.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s approval ratings dropped four points from 29 percent to 25 percent, while her trust ratings dropped two points from 25 percent to 23 percent.

The survey was conducted a few weeks after the official start of the election period on Jan. 10.

Other issues at the time include the re-opening of the Mamasapano investigation at the Senate and the wrapping up of the Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on the corruption allegations against Binay.

The survey has a plus or minus two percent margin of error at a confidence level of 95 percent, according to Pulse Asia.

Proof of good governance

Malacañang yesterday said the high approval and trust ratings of President Aquino mirror the positive sentiments and outlook of the people.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the ratings indicate that programs to institutionalize good governance and transparency have resonated well among the leaders of the professional and business communities. – Janvic Mateo, Delon Porcalla, Helen Flores