President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating remained at a “very good” level of +60 six months before he steps down from office, based on the December 2021 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released Tuesday.
This was 8 percent higher than Duterte’s rating in September 2021 but 19 percent lower than in November 2020.
Linda Luz Guerrero, SWS president and chief executive officer, said Duterte is still in his “honeymoon phase” as the President’s lowest net satisfaction rating was in June 2018 at +45.
A honeymoon phase in terms of satisfaction rating refers to the period when net satisfaction is at least +30, corresponding to a “good” rating.
Guerrero said that three factors may have contributed to Duterte’s high satisfaction rating: a strong base of support, satisfaction with the administration’s governance and specific policy issues, and approval of his perceived decisiveness and diligence.
“Of the three types of factors, perception of his character appears to be the most important factor explaining satisfaction and dissatisfaction with President Duterte,” she said.
On Monday, President Duterte said he thinks he does not deserve his popularity, saying the real stars in the country’s COVID-19 response are his Cabinet members.
This, after Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Jacinto Paras bared that many local officials continue to have “full support” in the Duterte administration’s handling of the prevailing health crisis.
Political leaders, Paras said, wanted Duterte to continue serving as the country’s top official if not only constrained by the Constitution.
Duterte, however, said National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., Presidential
Adviser on COVID-19 response Vince Dizon, Defense Secretary Delfin
Lorenzana, and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año deserved more credit for leading the country’s fight against the pandemic.
“I am not taking any credit without bringing in the entire entourage who has helped me in my work as President,” Duterte said in a pre-recorded public address.
He said he is “lucky” to have a “good team” who are committed to their jobs, despite the fact that the Philippines lacked resources at the beginning of the pandemic and relied on other countries for assistance.
“Me, I do not think that I deserve that popularity. I would rather share it with all of the department secretaries and the directors doing the job promptly and as fast and the number one exhibit thanks to Secretary Dizon, Secretary Galvez, Secretary Año, Secretary
Lorenzana. We can see the result of their work. And to think that we had nothing at the start,” he added.
Meanwhile, the President’s net satisfaction on fighting corruption was at +9, while fighting inflation was at -5, both within the “neutral” rating.
On the other hand, the net satisfaction rating of other top officials dropped, the pollster said.
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s net satisfaction rating was at +1 after getting 41-percent satisfaction and 40-percent dissatisfaction rating, while House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco was at +5 and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo was at +7.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd’s net satisfaction rating was +52.
Duterte admitted his administration is not perfect, but he wanted to end his term having tried his best to ensure transparency, accountability, and good governance in government.
“I want us to be clean even if we committed faults. I’m hoping that we could at least not erase but bring into light to the people, so we won’t be hiding anything. We want to go out, it’s just a matter of months, on a clean bill of health,” he added.
Another survey conducted by Pulse Asia also in December 2021 showed Duterte’s approval rating increased to 72 percent.
His approval went up by eight percentage points from the 64 percent he got in the survey conducted in September of the same year.
