Noy ratings dip in last quarter; Binay still tops

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino’s approval and trust ratings slightly dropped in the last quarter of 2013, Pulse Asia reported yesterday.

The number of Filipinos who said they were satisfied with Aquino’s performance fell to 73 percent in December from 79 percent in September.

Seventy-four percent of respondents also said they trusted the President, down by two points from 76 percent in September, Pulse Asia said.

The survey was conducted from Dec. 8 to 15, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 representative adults aged 18 and above.

Vice President Jejomar Binay received majority approval and trust ratings in the same poll.

Binay’s approval rating rose to 80 percent from 77 percent, while his trust rating increased to 77 percent from 74 percent.

Senate President Franklin Drilon received an approval rating of 43 percent, lower than the 50 percent he obtained in the September poll. His trust rating also dropped from 46 percent to 40 percent.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. received approval and trust rating of 43 percent and 38 percent, respectively. Belmonte’s new approval and trust ratings were higher than his September scores, 37 percent and 34 percent, respectively.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno also saw improvement in her approval and trust ratings. Forty-four percent of Filipinos approved of Sereno’s work, slightly up from 42 percent recorded three months earlier. Her trust rating improved from 40 percent to 41 percent.

“With few exceptions, public assessment of these officials’ performance and trustworthiness remains generally unchanged between September and December 2013,” Pulse Asia said.

Pulse Asia said the only significant changes during the period September to December 2013 were the decline in the approval score of Drilon and the increase in his disapproval and distrust ratings and the movements in the approval rating of Aquino (-6 percentage points).

As for Filipinos’ views regarding these officials’ trustworthiness, there are only a few changes across geographic areas while figures remain virtually constant across socio-economic classes between September and December 2013, Pulse Asia said.

Of the three key government institutions rated in December 2013, the Supreme Court registered a majority approval rating of 52 percent, down by a point from September. Its trust rating also dropped from 50 percent to 46 percent.

The Senate obtained approval and trust scores of 45 percent (from 39 percent) and 42 percent (from 36 percent), respectively.

The House of Representatives, on the other hand, registered approval and trust ratings of 42 percent and 39 percent, respectively. These were higher than its September scores of 37 percent (approval) and 34 percent (trust).

“Between September and December 2013, the only significant movement in these institutions’ national performance and trust ratings is the decline in the level of indecision toward the work done by the Senate (-7 percentage points); few notable changes occur across geographic areas and socio-economic classes,” Pulse Asia said.

Malacañang yesterday urged the 95 million Filipinos to make their opinions known by giving feedback and providing suggestions on how government can help improve the delivery of basic services to the grassroots level more effectively.

Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. issued the statement following the release of the latest Pulse Asia survey regarding the continued high trust ratings obtained by President Aquino despite the series of calamities that hit the country.

“We seek our people’s feedback and suggestions on how government can deliver services more effectively,“ he said, elated by the fact that Aquino still enjoys the trust of three out of four Filipinos, as shown in the December 2013 public opinion survey.

Coloma, who heads the state media under the Presidential Communications Operations Office, also promised that all Cabinet members will do more this year as the remaining two years of the Aquino administration approach, to achieve the government’s objectives.

“The President and the members of his Cabinet have rolled up their sleeves and are determined to vigorously implement in 2014 the major programs of the Philippine Development Plan with a renewed sense of urgency and determination,” he said. “We call on our people to join government’s reconstruction efforts and, in the spirit of bayanihan, build back better and disaster-resilient communities,” Coloma added, as government continues to undertake rehabilitation efforts in devastated areas.

Binay thanked the Filipino people yesterday for their sustained trust and appreciation of his work.

In a statement, Binay said the result of the Pulse Asia recent survey has inspired him more to do better.

“As we start the year, the result of the recent Pulse Asia survey is definitely a source of inspiration. Rest assured that we will continue to work hard to improve the lives of our people and provide them the service they deserve,” Binay said.

Drilon expressed confidence yesterday that he and the Senate can rise above the challenges of 2013 despite a drop in his Pulse Asia approval and trust ratings.

“We realize and accept that the controversies that hounded Congress last year cost us the trust and approval of our people. We have therefore committed ourselves to tedious but necessary actions that will enable us to regain public trust and approval,” Drilon said.

Malacañang also taunted the detractors of the President following the consistent strong showing of his trust and popularity ratings, which in effect vindicated government and proved critics wrong.

“As we move past the midterm, these approval numbers continue to be unprecedented, despite the concerted attempts of a few to sow distrust of the President among the public,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

This only goes to show that the “Filipino people witnessed how the President stood by them and displayed the firm and resolute leadership necessary for our country to overcome, to date, even the toughest hardships.

“As we enter the final stretch of the President’s term, the people can rest assured that the faith they have continually expressed will encourage his administration to work with greater zeal, to move us further along our nation’s path to progress; and there is no doubt, with the support of the Filipino people, we shall not fail,” Lacierda said.

In a statement, Drilon said he takes the result of the latest Pulse Asia survey “as a challenge to improve our performance.”

“We at the Senate are even more inspired and invigorated to heed the people’s call for genuine and lasting reforms and in passing legislation that will better serve the interests of the Filipino people, sustain economic growth, enhance government transparency, and eliminate corruption,” he said. With Delon Porcalla, Aurea Calica, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez