SWS: Tomas trust rating ‘very good’

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña gained a “very good” trust rating from his constituents based on a recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey commissioned by a resident of Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

The survey, which polled 300 validated voters from the city’s north and south districts from April 29 to May 1, revealed that 75 percent of respondents who were aware of Osmeña had “much trust” in him while 14 percent had “little trust.”

This means his net trust rating (% much trust minus % little trust) was +61 percent, a rating SWS described as “very good.”

SWS said Osmeña’s net trust ratings were “very good” in most socio-demographics, except among classes ABC, class E, aged 35-44, and those with up to some elementary education.

His ratings ranged from a “very good” +54 among males and those aged 45-54 to an “excellent” +100 among classes ABC.

On the other hand, 30 percent of those aware of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino said they had “much trust” in him, while 21 percent had “little trust” in him or a net trust rating of +9, which is considered “neutral.”

Osmeña and Dino often clashed on the issue of which mass transport system would be best for Cebu City. Osmeña has been pushing for the Bus Rapid Transit, something Dino is against with because of the city’s “narrow” roads.

For Dino, a Light Rail Transit (LRT) would work best for the metro.

The FREEMAN tried to get comments from both officials last night but to no avail.

Lawyer Paul Nejudne said he commissioned the survey to determine the pulse of Cebu City residents on the BRT debate (see separate story on Page 1).

Meanwhile, Cebu City north district Representative Raul del Mar got a net trust rating of +66, which is also “very good.”

About 72 percent of the respondents who knew del Mar said they had “much trust” in him while only about six percent had “little trust.”

Del Mar’s trust ratings were either “excellent” or “very good” across socio-demographics, except in the south district and among those aged 18-24. His ratings ranged from good +42 in the south district to an excellent +93 in the first district.

Regional Development Council-7 chairman Kenneth Cobonpue, meanwhile, got a negative net trust rating of 18 – 19 percent had “much trust” in him while 37 percent had “little trust.”

If Cobonpue were to run for Congress, the survey showed that he would be the least preferred candidate by Cebu City’s voters with one percent, trailing behind Alvin Garcia (nine percent), and del Mar (89 percent). — JMD (FREEMAN)