Pulse: Noy gets barely passing mark in poverty reduction

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos gave President Aquino a “barely passing” grade in poverty reduction but rated him “good” in 11 areas of governance, including management of the economy and strengthening of political institutions, based on the latest Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan national survey.

Aquino’s averages or mean grades range from 75 in poverty reduction to 80 in the management of the economy and delivery of basic services to Filipinos, according to the Pulse Asia survey conducted from June 20 to July 4.

The President registered a one-percentage point gain in his mean grade on the issue of economic management from 79 in August 2011 to 80 in June 2013.

Aquino also received a five-point improvement in his median grade on the issue of poverty reduction – from 75 to 80.

However, he experienced a one-point decline in his grade on the issue of equal law enforcement from 79 to 78.

All other mean and median grades were steady during the period, Pulse Asia said.

Aside from management of the economy and strengthening of institutions, the other areas of governance for which Aquino received a median grade of 80 were increasing peace in the country, ensuring the delivery of basic services such as health, education and low cost housing to Filipinos in need; enforcing the law on both influential and ordinary people, reducing poverty, strengthening the relations of the Philippines with other countries, fighting graft and corruption in government, addressing criminality, stopping the destruction and abuse of the environment; and, controlling population growth.

“Marginal changes in the President’s performance grades occur between August 2011 and June 2013,” Pulse Asia said.

The Pulse Asia survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults with sampling error margin of plus or minus three percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.