Mar elated over surge in survey ranking

MANILA, Philippines - An acknowledgement by a growing number of Filipinos of the need to sustain the administration’s gains under the daang matuwid (straight path) explains the jump in his ratings in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II said yesterday.

“I am very thankful for the support of our countrymen. The entire daang matuwid coalition is elated by the surge in our numbers in the most recent SWS survey,” Roxas said.

“For me, this is proof that, as time passes, more and more Filipinos are recognizing the excellent beginnings we have made along the straight path, and are expressing their desire to maintain our trajectory,” he added.

Based on the latest SWS survey conducted in the first week of the month, Roxas’ popularity ratings jumped 18 points to 39 percent, making him the second most popular presidential candidate in the 2016 polls after Sen. Grace Poe – and ahead of Vice President Jejomar Binay for the first time.

Poe’s rating was up five points from the previous survey figure.

Binay is mired in corruption issues while Poe is fending off questions regarding her citizenship.

Roxas expressed confidence his survey ratings would further improve once more people get to know his vision and platform of government.

“Despite this (increase in rating), we remain firm in the belief: we’ve only just begun. As time passes, so too will each candidate have to face more issues. We are confident that even more of our people will be able to discern true election issues from mere mudslinging,” Roxas added.

“We see our increased numbers in this survey as an expression of faith in our capability to care for our families, our collective future and the dreams of our countrymen,” he said.

Vote of confidence

At Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the improvement in Roxas’ ratings was a vote of confidence for daang matuwid.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the improvement was “the biggest one recorded in the survey, and reflects growing sentiment that he (Roxas) is the best leader to succeed President Aquino in 2016.”

“These latest results come on the heels of another SWS survey, which showed the President’s satisfaction ratings rising across all socioeconomic classes and geographic areas, with the exception of Mindanao,” Lacierda said.

“The President’s ratings improved significantly, with satisfaction jumping from 57 percent last quarter to 64 percent, and dissatisfaction dropping from 27 percent to 22 percent,” he said.

“These two surveys serve as successive votes of confidence from the public, reflecting the strong belief that daang matuwid has led to direct improvements in governance and the economy – and should therefore be continued,” he said.

In the past five years, Lacierda said the people have witnessed how the straight path advocacy of the administration has revolutionized the country, as the international community “followed our story and marveled at our transformation.”

“Our country’s upward trajectory makes it clear: what used to be impossible is now possible. Approaching 2016, it is once again up to us to decide our country’s fate – whether we will take a U-turn or continue along the straight path, and continue reaping the fruits of transparency and good governance,” he said.

Rejoicing at the House

Allies of Roxas at the House of Representatives also rejoiced over the huge jump in his ratings.

“We’re of course happy about it and hopeful his (Roxas) ratings will continue to rise. Of course, this means more effort on his part and that of his supporters,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday.

Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said the improvements in Roxas’ ratings came months before the start of the campaign. – With Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero