MANY Filipinos remained satisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration exactly a year after he took office last year, setting a “new personal record-high” in the latest Social Weather Stations survey released Friday.
The Second Quarter 2017 survey, conducted through face-to-face interviews among 1,200 adult respondents, found 78 percent of respondents satisfied with Duterte’s performance, a three-point increase from 75 percent in March, with dissatisfaction unchanged at 12 percent. The undecided dropped two points from 12 to 10 percent.
Duterte got a “very good” net satisfaction rating of +66, which is three points above the very good +63 in December 2016 and March 2017, and is a new personal high, surpassing the previous record of +64 in September 2016.
The rise in Duterte’s overall net satisfaction was attributed to the “excellent” +73 (83 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied) rating he got in the Visayas, or an 11-point increase; and a “very good” +58 (73 percent satisfied, 15 percent dissatisfied) or 8-point increase in Balance Luzon,
Duterte registered a 12-point decline in his home turf of Mindanao with an “excellent” +75 (83 percent satisfied, 8 percent dissatisfied); and a point in Metro Manila with a “very good” +63 (77 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied, correctly rounded) in June.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella played up the results of the latest survey.
“The survey result, 3 percent higher from March 2017’s 75 percent, is a clear indication of the growing confidence in the Chief Executive and his performance as the country’s leader,” Abella said, noting the public’s “tacit support” to President Duterte’s action following the rebellion in Marawi.
“This positive acknowledgment of the Filipino people further motivates the administration to work for the restoration of normalcy in Marawi and to start its rehabilitation as well as bring a comfortable life for all Filipinos, including Muslim Filipinos,” he said.
The survey, conducted from June 23 to 26 has sampling error margins of ±3 points for national percentages.
Lawmakers on Friday said President Duterte’s strong political will to resolve terrorism in Mindanao, and the drugs menace, and pursue programs promoting transparency and well-being of Filipinos were among the primary considerations for his high satisfaction rating.
Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said the President’s high net satisfaction proved the broad and deep public support for his swift and decisive action in addressing the conflict in Marawi City, including the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
“We must take note that this high rating is his personal best since he took office a year ago. This strongly indicates that Filipinos support his strong-willed actions to prevent, by all legal means possible, the grim scenario of the terrorist group ISIS [Islamic State] setting up house in Mindanao and making it ground zero for its operations in Asia,” Villafuerte, House defense committee vice chairperson said.
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, majority leader of the House contingent’s Commission on Appointments, said President Duterte’s record-high perfomance rating after his first year in office as shown by the latest SWS poll “only proves that he is doing a great job.”
Deputy speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu said the new high net rating of President Duterte “is a reflection of the people’s approval of his strong resolve to address the drug menace to ensure peace and order in the country as he also champions good governance to eliminate corruption.”
“The people also agreed that the President was right in declaring martial law to end the Marawi City conflict. He is a very decisive leader who is always there for Filipinos,” Abu added.
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said the high net rating of Mr. Duterte with notably improved ratings in Visayas and Luzon, “validate the support for President Duterte’s policies.”
“I am expecting results to go higher once the Build Build Build [infrastructure program] is in full force,” said Nograles.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the survey results showed that the present passed his first major test with the siege in Marawi.
“The true character of a leader is often revealed during times of crisis, and the Filipino people have responded positively to the fearless devotion displayed by the Commander-in-Chief and our soldiers in their mission to bring the Marawi crisis to an end,” Gatchalian said.
Senator JV Ejercito said people understand that the intention of declaring martial law in Mindanao was to resolve the rebellion in Marawi.
“Majority of the People in Mindanao specially are in full support because they want the crisis to end as soon as possible,” he said.
But opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV noted that in discussing the SWS results, apparently, the Marawi seige is the overriding concern of the respondents.
He said those from Luzon and Visayas most likely appreciated the AFP’s effective response to the Maute group, hence the increase in satisfaction rating.
On the other hand, he said the 12 percent dip in Mindanao shows a totally different and alarming picture.