Satisfaction with government institutions dips, but still good

MANILA, Philippines — Public satisfaction with the country’s top government institutions as well as President Duterte’s Cabinet dropped in the third quarter of the year but remained in “good” territory, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest survey.

The Sept. 23-27 poll found 62 percent satisfied and 17 percent dissatisfied with the performance of the Senate, resulting in a net satisfaction score of “good” +45.

The Senate’s latest net satisfaction score, however, was four points below its +49, also “good,” in June.

SWS attributed the decline in the net satisfaction rating of the Senate to drops of 13 points in Mindanao, six points in Metro Manila and two points in the Visayas, combined with a three-point increase in balance Luzon.

It stayed “very good” in the Visayas, at +52 in September from +54 in June.

It also remained good in balance Luzon, at +44 in September from +41 in June.

In Metro Manila, it stayed good at +43 in September, despite dropping by six points from +49 in June.

However, it fell by one grade from very good to good in Mindanao at +44 from +57.

The Senate also suffered double-digit decline from June to September 2017 among the poorer class E.

The net satisfaction rating of the House of Representatives likewise stayed in good category, at +34 in September, unchanged from June.

The House retained its good score despite drops recorded in balance Luzon, Metro Manila and Mindanao, and a steady score in the Visayas.

It stayed good in the Visayas, at +46 in September, similar to +46 in June.

It also stayed good in Mindanao, at +39 in September, down two points from +41 in June.

It stayed moderate in balance Luzon, at +28 in September, up by four points from +24 in June.

However, it fell by one grade from good to moderate in Metro Manila, at +29 in September from +34 in June.

Like the Senate, double-digit declines in the House of Representatives’ net satisfaction rating also occurred from June to September among the poorer class E, and among 18 to 24 year olds.

Supreme Court

Meanwhile, the net satisfaction rating of the Supreme Court (SC) stayed good, despite dropping by seven points from +38 to +31 in September.

The seven-point decline in the overall net satisfaction rating of the SC was due to decreases of 22 points in Mindanao, 21 points in Metro Manila and three points in the Visayas, combined with a five-point increase in balance Luzon.

The high court’s net rating stayed good in the Visayas, at +45, although down by three points from +48 in June.

It stayed moderate in balance Luzon, at +29 in September, five points above the +24 posted in June.

However, it fell by one grade from very good to good in Mindanao, at +33, down 22 points from +55 in June.

It fell by one grade from good to moderate in Metro Manila, at +18 in September, down 21 points from +39 in June.

The net satisfaction rating of the SC from June to September saw double-digit declines among classes E and ABC, among men, in all age groups except 25 to 44 year olds and among non-elementary school graduates and elementary school graduates, the SWS said.

The Cabinet also retained its good net satisfaction rating of+32 in September 2017, although two points lower than its +34 score in June.

The decline in the overall net satisfaction rating of the Cabinet was due to decreases of eight points in Metro Manila, and eight points in Mindanao, combined with a two-point increase in balance Luzon, and a steady score in the Visayas.

It stayed good in the Visayas, at +39 in September, similar to +39 in June.

It stayed moderate in balance Luzon, at +27 in September from +25 in June.

It also remained good in Mindanao, at +37 in September, although down by eight points from +45 in June.

However, it fell by one grade from good to moderate in Metro Manila, at +28 in September, down by eight points from +36 in June.

The Cabinet’s net satisfaction rating from June to September 2017 had double-digit declines among the poorer class E, among men and among non-elementary school graduates and elementary school graduates, the pollster said.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults 18 years old and above nationwide. 

Malacañang welcomed the “good” rating of the Duterte Cabinet and assured the public of better government services. – With Alexis Romero