SWS: Foreign relations pulls down govt ratings the most

Suffering a 28-percent dip in net satisfaction ratings, the Aquino administration plunged the lowest in the area of foreign relations in the first quarter of the year, pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) said Tuesday. The SWS survey, which covered the first three months of 2011, showed that the Aquino administration declined by 11 points in the area of foreign relations to 44 points from 55 points in the last survey in November 2010. Overall, the survey recorded an 18-point dip in the Aquino administration’s satisfaction ratings, to 46 points from an all-time high of 64 points in the November survey.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV During the survey period, the government faced international events that put the lives of overseas Filipinos at stake. These events included the political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, the earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan, and the imposition of the death penalty on three Filipino drug mules in China. DFA ‘not surprised’ “We’re not surprised," said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ed Malaya in an interview with GMA News Online. “We ourselves heard and saw the anxiety of the families of OFWs who were earlier trapped in Egypt, Libya, Japan, and other places around the world," Malaya added. In the heat of the political turmoil in Libya in February, for example, legislators at the House of Representatives criticized the “delayed" evacuation plans for OFWs in the North African country. Meanwhile, at the peak of the global response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a group of Filipino students in the northeastern city of Sendai were enraged by what they claimed was the Philippine Embassy’s inefficient evacuation of Filipinos from the disaster-stricken country in March. “The DFA addressed an unprecedented confluence of crises," Malaya explained. “Many have said that we could have prepared better and repatriated faster, but we think that we did our best under extremely difficult circumstances." In succeeding surveys, Malaya said the government hopes to perform better in the area of foreign relations. “What is most important is how we will adjust and retool ourselves as an institution," he said. Malaya noted efforts by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to visit OFWs in countries like Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Japan. He also said the DFA keeps a stable of “competent, pro-active, and professional" staff. ‘Good’ rating Despite the 11-point dip, however, the SWS classified the rating on foreign relations as “good." The rating also turned out to be the third highest performance in the area of foreign relations since 1992. The highest was in November 2010, followed by the government’s performance towards the end of the Ramos administration. “What explains this phenomenon," Malaya said, “is the fact that even under these trying times, the DFA has been fully supported by the President and has been inspired by the President’s example." He noted that President Benigno Aquino III has made sufficient funding available to the agency, and has tightened the coordination between government agencies to respond to issues in foreign affairs among other things. Malaya also said the government has addressed problems that plague OFWs, including the proliferation of international drug syndicates. He cited the arrest on Tuesday of two foreign nationals believed to be members of a South African drug ring, which is said to have recruited one of the three Filipino drug mules executed in China. Other issues The survey also categorized as “good" the Aquino administration’s performance in the following specific areas:

• helping the poor
• setting a good example of morality
• being prepared for natural disasters
• reconciliation with Muslim rebels
• reconciliation with communist rebels
• implementing housing programs for the poor.

The administration meanwhile received “moderate" ratings in the following areas:

• fighting terrorism
• suppressing politicians with private armies in Mindanao
• deciding quickly on important problems
• acting according to what the people want
• fighting crimes
• eradicating graft and corruption

For the areas of “ensuring no hunger" and “fighting inflation," Aquino’s leadership posted a neutral rating. — VS, GMA News