Press Secretary blames himself for President's unpopularity

The Philippines’ Press Secretary blamed himself for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s poor ratings in a latest survey. “Maybe, I have failed as press secretary for ten months now to do my job of effectively communicating the achievements of our very hardworking president," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in a statement released to reporters. Despite “good things" and “sacrifices" done by Arroyo for the country, Remonde said he was sad about the Chief Executive’s negative popularity. President Arroyo’s net satisfaction rating remained at -38 in the last quarter, unchanged from the last survey conducted in September this year. Undertaken by the Social Weather Station, the latest survey taken during the December 5 to 10 period also indicated that three out of five Filipinos are unhappy with the President’s performance. Only 23 percent of the population was satisfied with the President’s performance while a bigger 61 percent was dissatisfied, the same poll said. The survey also noted President Arroyo’s ratings went up in Luzon but went down in the Visayas and Mindanao areas. “We consider this as a challenge to work harder so that the Filipino people can better appreciate what a great president this country has in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo," Remonde added. - with Pauline Nikka Corsino, RJAB, Jr./GMANews.TV