SWS poll: GMA net performance rating steady at 26%

Over half of Filipinos approved of President Arroyo’s performance during the last three months of her first term as well as her overall performance during her first three years in office, results of an opinion poll conducted last month and released yesterday showed.

Poll respondents said they were more satisfied with Mrs. Arroyo’s performance during her first three years than with the performance of scandal-tainted Joseph Estrada, whom Mrs. Arroyo replaced in 2001.

Of the 1,200 respondents surveyed nationwide from June 4 to 29 by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), 57 percent said they were satisfied while 31 percent said they were not, for a net performance rating of 26 percent.

The President’s net rating is "close" to the net 30 percent she got in the last survey, taken from March 21 to 29 (55 percent satisfied, 25 percent dissatisfied), the SWS said.

Asked to rate Mrs. Arroyo’s first three years in office, 61 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied while 27 percent said they were not, resulting in a net satisfaction rating of 34 percent.

Rating Mrs. Arroyo’s overall performance on certain issues during her first three years in office, 67 percent said they were satisfied with her efforts in helping the poor while 20 percent said they were not, for a net rating of 47 percent. Eleven percent were undecided.

Sixty-two percent gave her a passing grade for "setting a good example of morality in public office" while 23 percent said otherwise, for a net rating of 40 percent. Twelve percent were undecided.

With regard to promoting investments, 60 percent were satisfied while 22 percent were not, for a net rating of 37 percent. Thirteen percent were undecided.

As for Mrs. Arroyo’s efforts in strengthening democracy, 57 percent gave their approval while 23 percent did not and 16 percent undecided, for a net rating of 34 percent.

Asked about the administration’s efforts in trying to reach a peace settlement with the communist and Muslim rebels, 49 percent said they were satisfied while 27 percent were dissatisfied, for a net satisfaction rating of 22 percent. Seventeen percent were undecided.

Mrs. Arroyo’s approval ratings on these specific issues were higher compared to Estrada’s.

Estrada got a net rating of 42 percent for efforts in helping the poor (64 percent satisfied, 22 percent dissatisfied, 11 undecided), 15 percent in setting a good example of morality in public office (48 percent satisfied, 33 percent dissatisfied, 15 undecided), 18 percent in promoting foreign investments (47 percent satisfied, 29 percent dissatisfied, 17 undecided), 27 percent in strengthening democracy (53 percent satisfied, 26 percent dissatisfied, 17 undecided) and 12 percent in reconciliation with rebel groups (43 percent satisfied, 31 percent dissatisfied, 18 undecided).

Estrada was forced out of office by a military-backed popular uprising 31 months into his six-year term.

Estrada is currently on trial for plunder. He is accused of amassing millions of pesos for running an illegal gambling protection racket and misusing state funds.

He was replaced by then vice president Arroyo, who finished the remainder of Estrada’s term that ended on June 30.

With her victory in the May presidential race, Mrs. Arroyo is the country’s first sitting president to win a fresh six-year term since 1969 when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos won a second term over Sergio Osmeña Jr.