Palace downplays drop in Aquino's satisfaction ratings

Just over a week before marking his first year in office, the latest satisfaction ratings of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III dropped but Malacañang downplayed the dip in ratings, saying the level of dissatisfaction remained steady nationwide. According to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS), Aquino's ratings dropped from "very good" to "good." Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, said the level of dissatisfaction did not increase nationwide. "It is also noteworthy that the level of dissatisfaction did not increase nationally, remaining at 18 percent," Lacierda said. The Palace posted Lacierda's statement on the government portal early on Tuesday. The poll was conducted from June 3 to 6 this year and the results were published on SWS’ media partner BusinessWorld. The survey showed that Aquino’s net satisfaction rating was +46, with 64 percent indicating approval and 18 percent indicating they were not satisfied with his performance. Aquino's latest rating was lower compared to the "very good" net score Aquino received in March, when he obtained a +51 rating (69 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied). The March rating was significantly lower than Aquino’s best score of +64 (classified as "very good") which he obtained in November 2010. The SWS classifies net 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;" and -70 and below, "execrable." Satisfaction still high?

In downplaying the latest SWS survey, Lacierda said while the June survey showed nationwide satisfaction ratings have slightly dipped, the figure remains in the "very good" range. Lacierda noted that across all classes (74 percent for ABC, 63 percent for D, 66 percent for E), in all regions (60 percent in Balance Luzon, 62 percent in NCR, 67 percent in Visayas, 71 percent in Mindanao), the satisfaction rating according to SWS’s own standards, is "very good." Lacierda added that for the socioeconomic ABC classes and Mindanao, the administration has achieved a rating of "Excellent." "We are not alone in pointing out that satisfaction and dissatisfaction ratings are separate numbers," he said. "Many in the media have also cautioned against relying on net ratings without dissecting the actual numbers on which net ratings are based. We trust that all who take the time to look at survey figures ponder the specific questions and the responses to each," he added. He said the latest survey numbers should "confound the pundits" who have been drumbeating a "massive drop" in Aquino’s and the administration’s satisfaction ratings from March to June. "As the administration marks its first year in office, it is heartening to note that it continues to receive the support of the broad public. The administration has been working to clear the obstacles to good governance put in place by those with a vested interest in seeing the country fail," he said. "The foundations for inclusive growth are being laid firmly and the public is seeing the hard work being put in beginning to bear fruit," he added. 'Good' and 'Very Good' By geographic area, socioeconomic class and sex, Aquino’s ratings were all in the "good" and "very good" ranges, the SWS survey said. Respondents from Metro Manila and Balance Luzon said Aquino was "good" at his job; while those from the Visayas and Mindanao gave him "very good" ratings, it added. In Metro Manila, Aquino got a "good" net rating of +43 (62 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied), slightly higher than March’s "good" +41 (62 percent satisfied, 21 percent dissatisfied). The rest of Luzon gave him a "good" +41 (60 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied), down from the similarly "good" +48 (68 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) in March. Aquino maintained his "very good" standing in the Visayas at +51 (67 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied, correctly rounded), although the score was lower than the prior +60 (75 percent satisfied, 15 percent dissatisfied). He also kept his "very good" standing in Mindanao with a score of +54 (71 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied), barely changing from +53 (69 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied). But rural net satisfaction fell by eight points into "good" territory at +47 (65 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) from March’s “very good" +55 (71 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied). Urban net satisfaction stayed "good" at +45 (63 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) but also fell by two points from +47 (66 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied, correctly rounded). By class Aquino’s net rating among the class ABC rose by nine points to a "very good" +58 (74 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied) from the "good" +49 (67 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied) in the previous quarter. However, the gain was offset by a lower score among the class D or masa where he got a "good" +44 (63 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied), seven points down from the "very good" +51 (69 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) in March. In class E, satisfaction fell by two points to a "good" +48 (66 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied), also down from the "very good" +50 (67 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied) previously. Aquino’s net rating remained "good" among men at +49 (67 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied, correctly rounded), up from +47 (67 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) previously. Women, however, appeared less impressed and gave him a "good" +43 (62 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied), 12 points down from the previous "very good" score of +55 (70 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied). The SWS’ June survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide and sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national and ±6percent for area percentages. — RSJ/VVP, GMA News