Palace welcomes public uncertainty over PNoy's chances at success

Malacañang on Monday welcomed the result of the recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey that shows the uncertainty of Filipinos on whether President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will be a successful leader of the nation or not. “We view the opinion of our countrymen as reflected in the recent SWS survey as a recognition on the part of the public of the magnitude of the tasks before us," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press statement on Monday. He said the President's tasks — transforming the government, achieving justice for all, and providing genuine service to the people — requires the cooperation of all. “It also requires time and sustained efforts from all concerned," he said. “We now live in a different neighborhood where the obstacles of the past are being cleared away: and where the foundations are being laid for enduring reforms," Lacierda said. He also expressed confidence that Filipinos will experience progress during Aquino’s term. “We are confident that as we bring the good news to the attention of our people, confidence will continue to grow in the sustainability of our shared efforts to make the Philippines of 2016 as different from the Philippines of 2010 as day is from night," Lacierda said. The SWS survey showed that seven out of 10 Filipinos say it is still too early to tell if Aquino will succeed or fail during his six-year term. Only 22 percent of the 1,200 adults surveyed nationwide were convinced that Aquino, who will mark his first year in office on June 30, will be successful. The SWS conducted face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide from June 2 to 6 and used sampling error margins of ±3% for national and ±6% for area percentages. - VVP/HS, GMA News