Public satisfaction ratings of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Supreme Court and President’s Cabinet continued to drop in the second quarter of the year, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.
The SWS June 2018 survey showed the House net satisfaction rating dropping 10 points from +35 in March to +25 in June, falling one grade from “good” to “moderate.” It was the House’s lowest rating since December 2015.
The Senate saw a four-point drop in its rating from +45 in March to +41 in June, but still maintained its “good” standing.
Satisfaction ratings for both the Supreme Court and the Cabinet stayed “moderate” at +19 and +25, respectively.
The Court’s rating dipped only slightly, from +20 in March to +19 in June. This was the Court’s lowest rating in six years, however.
The satisfaction rating of the Cabinet dropped three points from +28 in March to +25 in June.
The second quarter SWS survey was conducted from June 27 to 30, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide.
It has a ±3 percent margin of error for national percentages.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said despite the decline in the second quarter, the Senate was the only government institution that scored a “good” satisfaction rating.
He attributed the drop in the Senate ratings to delays in the debates on the Bangsamoro Organic Law and other pending issues that were not acted upon.
“But the standing is still good,” Sotto pointed out.
Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri said the Senate’s “good” rating shows its importance in terms of performance and accountability, as well as independence in seeking the truth on many issues.
“We performed our mandate as lawmakers very well by leading the passage of the strengthened Anti-Hazing Law, Free Tertiary Education Law, Ease of Doing Business Act and the landmark Bangsamoro Organic Law to name a few,” he said.
He also cited the Senate’s stand against corruption and crime through the different committee hearings.
Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said Cabinet members were “clueless” on the lower ratings, but vowed to work harder.
“We will strive to improve the delivery of services,” Roque said in a press briefing Monday.
“I note also that in the SWS virtually everyone in government got lower scores. But we will try better in the coming days,” he said.
Roque also added that the Cabinet will discuss the factors affecting their satisfaction ratings as they resume their meeting on Aug. 6.