Satisfaction with Duterte government drops to ‘very good’

MANILA, Philippines — Public satisfaction with the Duterte administration dropped from “excellent” to “very good” in the first quarter of the year, according to the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The poll, conducted from March 23 to 27, found 69 percent of Filipino adults expressing satisfaction with the work of the administration and 11 percent who were dissatisfied, for a net satisfaction score of +58, classified as very good.

The remaining 18 percent of respondents could not say whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied with the government of President Duterte, according to SWS.

The latest satisfaction rating of the administration was 12 points below and one grade down from its December 2017 rating of record-high excellent +70 (79 percent satisfied, nine percent dissatisfied).

It stayed excellent in Mindanao at +72 in March despite dropping by 15 points from the record-high +87 last December.

The administration’s net satisfaction rating also remained very good in balance Luzon at +50 in March, although down by 17 points from the record-high +67 in December 2017.

It fell by one grade from excellent to very good in Metro Manila at +58 in March 2018, down by 13 points from the record-high +71 in December.

In the Visayas, it has been at very good +57 for the past three quarters, from September 2017 to March 2018.

The administration’s net satisfaction stayed very good in class E at +54 in March 2018, although lower by 12 points from +66 in December 2017. 

But it fell by one grade from excellent to very good in class D at +58 in March 2018 from the record-high +71 in December 2017.

The administration also obtained excellent rating on “helping victims of disasters” at +75.

It was very good on: helping the poor (+68), reconstructing Marawi City (+63), building and maintenance of public works (+62), promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (+59), fighting terrorism(+58) and protecting human rights (+54).

It received good scores on: eradicating graft and corruption (+46), ensuring an efficient public transportation system (+41), telling the truth to the people (+41), reconciling with Muslim rebels (+41), fulfilling commitments in international treaties (+40), fighting crimes (+40), having good relations with the United Nations and other important international organizations (+37), reconciling with communist rebels (+37), foreign relations (+36), defending the country’s territorial rights (+36) and defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (+34).

The government obtained moderate rating on ensuring that no family will ever be hungry (+22) and neutral grade on fighting inflation (+6).

The administration’s net rating rose by two grades to a new record-high excellent +75 on helping victims of disasters, up by 33 points from the good +42 in March 2017.

This surpassed the previous record of excellent +73 in August 2012.

It rose by one grade to very good +54 on protecting human rights, up nine points from good +45 in December 2017.

However, the government’s grading on promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers dropped by three points to +59 from +62 in September 2016 when the government was last rated on this area.

Its rating on fighting terrorism also fell to very good +58 from the very good +67 in December 2017.

It also declined by one grade to very good +63 on reconstructing Marawi City, down by seven points from the excellent +70 in September 2017.

Duterte not affected

Malacañang said President Duterte will not be affected by the sudden drop in his net satisfaction ratings.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. yesterday noted that the President has still garnered remarkable ratings in specific areas.

“We remain grateful to our people for giving the Duterte administration a very good +58 net satisfaction rating. It is noteworthy to mention that the current government’s rating remains excellent in Mindanao, the President’s bailiwick, and stays very good in balance Luzon and the Visayas,” he said. – With Christina Mendez