SWS: Satisfaction with govt dips, but most still pleased

The Aquino government’s overall satisfaction ratings went down to +46 during the first three months of the year from a record high of +64 in November last year, pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) said Tuesday. "This was down 18 points from the record 'very good' scores of ≠+64 in September and November last year," the SWS said. Declines were noted in terms of foreign relations (11 points), eradicating graft and corruption (eight), fighting inflation (seven), alleviating hunger (six), fighting crime (four), housing programs for the poor (three), fighting terrorism (three), and disaster preparedness (two). Despite the downward trend, the SWS said the Aquino government's latest ratings were higher than the ratings enjoyed by the previous four administrations. The SWS classifies net satisfaction scores of +70 and above as "excellent"; +50 to +69, "very good"; +30 to +49, "good"; +10 to +29, "moderate", +9 to -9, "neutral"; -10 to -29, "poor"; -30 to -49, "bad"; -50 to -69, "very bad"; -70 and below, "execrable." The survey was conducted on 1,200 adults nationwide last March 4 to 7.

The SWS survey showed that in 15 specific issues, the Aquino administration scored "good" on seven, "moderate" on six and "neutral" on two. Compared to the previous survey in November, satisfaction with the national government was "very good" in both Metro Manila and the Visayas, but fell to "good" in the rest of Luzon and Mindanao. The net score rose to +50 from +49 in Metro Manila, dipped by eight points to +51 in the Visayas, and fell by 20 and 27 points, respectively, to +47 and +42 in Mindanao and the rest of Luzon. By socioeconomic class, net satisfaction fell by 15 points but stayed "very good" at +50 among the class E, dropped 18 to a "good" +46 among the class D, and plunged 43 points to a "moderate" +19 among the ABC class. The government scored "good" net ratings on the issues of helping the poor (+47), foreign relations (+44), setting a good moral example (also +44), disaster preparedness (+43), reconciliation with both Muslim and communist (+32 and +31, respectively) and housing programs for the poor (+30). "Moderate " ratings were notched with respect to fighting terrorism (+29), suppressing private armies in Mindanao (+24), deciding quickly on important problems (+23), acting according to what the people want (+23), fighting crimes (+20) and eradicating graft and corruption (+14). "Neutral" scores were recorded on the issues of ensuring no hunger (+5) and fighting inflation (net zero). The Aquino administration’s net ratings on setting a good moral example (a 47-point increase), deciding quickly (a 29-point improvement), reconciliation with Muslim and communist rebels (gains of three and four points, respectively), and suppressing private armies in Mindanao (up seven points) were new highs. Rising 25 points, but not to a new peak, was acting on what the people want. The score for helping the poor, meanwhile, was unchanged. - with Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News