SWS: Noy gov’t ratings slip

MANILA, Philippines - Public satisfaction with the Aquino administration dropped further in the last quarter of 2013 but remained “very good,” the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest report.

The SWS survey, conducted from Dec. 11 to 16, found 71 percent of respondents satisfied and 19 percent dissatisfied with the administration’s general performance, for a net satisfaction score of 51.

The administration’s new rating was down from its September score of “very good” 56 and 66 in June.

Satisfaction with the administration declined in all areas except in Mindanao, according to the results of the SWS Fourth Quarter poll published in the newspaper BusinessWorld yesterday.

It was down by nine points but stayed “very good” in the Visayas at 51.

It also dropped by seven points to 52 in balance Luzon, and by 15 points to a still “good” 30 points in Metro Manila.

The Aquino administration’s net rating, however, rose by 11 points to a still “very good” 64 in Mindanao.

The SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings 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.”

Its scores also declined across all socioeconomic classes but remained “very good.”

It fell by eight points to 54 among the ABC, by five to 51 among the D or masa, and by four to 50 among the class E.

Meanwhile, the SWS poll showed that the Aquino administration received poor ratings in fighting inflation (-10 from a “neutral” 8); and ensuring that oil companies don’t take advantage of oil prices (-14 from a “neutral” zero three months earlier).

It also obtained a “very bad” -51 rating for “resolving the Maguindanao massacre case with justice.”

The government, however, scored “very good” in the following issues: defending the country’s territorial rights (52, up from the “good” 49 last September), and foreign relations (50, up from 41).

“Good” ratings, meanwhile, were obtained for helping the poor (49, down from a “very good” 54); promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (44 from 48), and fighting terrorism (33 from 35).

It received moderate scores for the following: reconciliation with communist rebels (21 from 27); reconciliation with Muslim rebels (21 from 25), and fighting crimes (18, down from a “good” 35).

It obtained “neutral” scores in eradicating graft and corruption (8 from a “moderate” 23), and ensuring that no family will be left hungry (2 from 9).

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,550 adults nationwide.