SWS: Duterte admin hits record-high ‘excellent’ in Q4 poll

MANILA, Philippines — The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte obtained an all-time high “excellent” rating during the last quarter of 2017, surpassing the record set by his predecessor.

According to the latest survey of Social Weather Stations, 79 percent of Filipino adults expressed satisfaction on the general performance of the current administration.

Only nine percent were dissatisfied, while the remaining 12 percent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.

This yielded a record-high net satisfaction rating of "excellent" +70, up by 12 points and by one grade from the "very good" +58 in September 2017.

This also exceeded the record of "very good" +66 achieved in June 2013 by the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III.

The polling firm noted that the 12-point increase can be attributed to record-high net satisfaction scores achieved in Mindanao, National Capital Region and Balance Luzon, combined with a steady score in the Visayas.

It was “excellent” in Mindanao (+87) and NCR (+71), while it was “very good” in Balance Luzon (+67) and Visayas (+57).

The administration’s net satisfaction rating rose to “excellent” +68 from “very good” among class D or the masa and “very good” +66 from “good” among class E. It stayed “very good” in classes ABC at +62.

“Double-digit increases in the national administration’s net satisfaction rating occurred among men, among the 35 year olds and above, and among non-elementary school graduates, elementary school graduates, and college graduates,” SWS said.

Very good on combating terrorism, helping the poor

The net satisfaction ratings of the Duterte administration were “very good” on fighting terrorism (+67), helping the poor (+66), building and maintenance of public works like roads and bridges (+59), foreign relations (+55) and providing jobs (+50).

These were good on reconciling with Muslim rebels (+48), telling the truth to the people (+47), defending the country's territorial rights (+46), protecting human rights (+45), reconciling with communist rebels (+43), fighting crimes (+43), eradicating graft and corruption (+42), ensuring an efficient public transportation system (+42), ensuring that no family will be hungry (+33), solving the problem of extrajudicial killings (+30), and ensuring that oil companies do not take advantage of oil prices (+30).

Meanwhile, the net satisfaction ratings of the current administration were “moderate” on fighting inflation (+24) and resolving the traffic problem (+23).

According to Mon Casiple, head of the Institute for Electoral and Political Reforms, the latest SWS survey only validated Duterte’s popularity in other surveys conducted before.

“They matter insofar as the public appreciate that he is following up on his promises,” he said, referring to the Duterte administration’s actions during the last quarter of 2017.

READ: Duterte’s trust ratings recover in December 2017 — SWS | Pulse Asia: 8 of 10 Filipinos approve of, trust Duterte

But for activist leader Renato Reyes, the highest rating of the Duterte administration was because the full effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, as well as the moves for charter change and term extension “have not been reflected in the surveys.”

The survey was conducted from December 8 to 16 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults. It has a ± 3% error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.  

Among the news items when SWS conducted its survey was the approval of martial law extension in Mindanao, return of the Philippine National Police to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs and impeachment hearings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.