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Friday, March 29, 2024

Trust in Aquino still dropping, survey finds

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PUBLIC trust in President Benigno Aquino III continued to decline with only 15 percent of the general public expressing trust in his office, according to the latest Philippine Trust Index released on Thursday.

President Benigno Aquino III

According to the public relations firm Eon, which has been publishing the index since 2012, Aquino’s trust rating was a one-point decline from its 2014 level of 16 percent, but was also a 13-percentage point drop since the index was established in 2012.

“Because of this drop, the Office of the President has been overtaken by local government units as the most trusted government sub-institution,” said Eon managing director Malyn Molina at the unveiling of the index results at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

But Malacañang said the survey conducted by the Philippine Trust Index and released by EON was not consistent with the more popular surveys conducted by Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.

“We appreciate the feedback from opinion surveys such as the Philippine Trust Index released by EON, a public relations firm. These surveys assist government in improving its services to our bosses—the Filipino people,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

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“We note, however, that EON’s findings differ significantly from other recognized research firms.”

Molina said the index covered 1,620 Filipinos from July to August 2015, but did not specify the demographics of the respondents or the questions asked.

Of the total respondents, Molina said, 1,200  were classified as general public to represent “the country as a whole,” while 600 were deemed informed public or those who were “at least college graduates and who access media for news at least thrice a week.”

This year, ensuring national peace and security emerged as the top driver of trust in government, followed by helping the poor address their basic needs, improving the Philippine economy, and putting in jail corrupt politicians.

“Filipinos largely believe that the government is unable to succeed in meeting these different criteria for trust. Only 23 percent of the general public strongly agree that the government is able to ensure peace and security, while only 22 percent agree that the government helps the poor address their basic needs,” the report says.

“Preparedness in times of calamity and disasters is a trust driver that is increasingly at the forefront of the people’s minds. Regardless of socioeconomic status, this criterion remains among the top 6 trust drivers in government.”

It was the first time LGUs surpassed the Office of the President, but the survey showed that the government remains the least trusted sector in Philippine society.

Filipinos continued to repose their trust in the Church, which remained the most trusted institution in the country with a 73-percent trust rating from the general public and 68 percent from the so-called “informed” public. 

Among the least trusted institutions were the government (12 percent and 7 percent), businesses (9 percent and 9 percent), and non-government organizations (9 percent and 8 percent). 

It was followed by the academe at a close second (51 percent and 46 percent), and the media at third place (32 percent and 23 percent). Macon Ramos-Araneta

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