President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the raising of the Philippine Flag during the inauguration of the Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo at the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite on Friday (March 20). The museum chronicles the life and times of Aguinaldo, especially during the revolution against Spain and war against the United States. Also in photo are National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno and Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Abaya. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Public satisfaction with President Benigno Aquino III in the first quarter of 2015 plunged 16 points to 47 percent, giving the president his lowest net satisfaction rating in his term, according to a poll taken by the Social Weather Stations.
Those dissatisfied with Aquino’s performance was at 36 percent, up 12 points from December. Some 17 percent were undecided, three points higher than December.
The resulting net satisfaction rating of +11 (those satisfied minus those dissatisfied) was 28 points lower than in December. Also, the +11 net satisfaction gave Aquino a “moderate” rating, a downgrade from the “good” +39 in December.
The SWS explained that net satisfaction ratings of at least +70 were considered “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.”
Despite the drop in satisfaction, 50 percent of those polled opposed calls for Aquino to resign, with 32 percent agreeing and 18 percent undecided.
Among those opposing Aquino’s resignation, the President’s net satisfaction was a “good” +31 (59 percent satisfied, 28 percent dissatisfied).
University of the Philippines political science professor Clarita Carlos told business newspaper BusinessWorld that the drop could be attributed to the January 25 Mamasapano clash, in which 44 police officers were killed, and the government’s response to it.
The SWS poll was taken from March 20 to 23 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide. Sampling error margins of ±3 percentage points for national percentages and ±6 points each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao applied to the poll.
The poll results were posted in the BusinessWorld website.
Aquino’s satisfaction ratings dropped across geographical areas and socioeconomic classes.
In Balance Luzon, his satisfaction rating fell 42 points, downgrading Aquino’s rating two steps to a “neutral” -3 (40 percent satisfied, 43 percent dissatisfied) from a “good” +39 (62 percent satisfied, 23 percent dissatisfied) in December.
In Mindanao, net satisfaction fell 21 points to a “moderate” +25 (55 percent satisfied, 29 percent dissatisfied) from a “good” +46 (66 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) in December.
In Metro Manila, it fell 16 points to a “neutral” +7 (45 percent satisfied, 38 percent dissatisfied). In December, his score there had been a “moderate” +23 (55 percent satisfied, 31 percent dissatisfied)
In the Visayas, his satisfaction score fell 12 points to +30 (57 percent satisfied, 27 percent dissatisfied) from +42 (66 percent satisfied, 24 percent dissatisfied), but remained in “good” territory.
Aquino’s net satisfaction in urban areas fell 34 points to a “neutral” +3 (44 percent satisfied, 41 percent dissatisfied) from a “good” +37 (61 percent satisfied, 24 percent dissatisfied) in December.
In the rural areas, his score fell 18 points to a “moderate” +23 (52 percent satisfied, 29 percent dissatisfied), a step below a “good” +41 (64 percent satisfied, 23 percent dissatisfied) in December.
Among Class ABC, his net rating fell 43 points to a “neutral” +6 (41 percent satisfied, 35 percent dissatisfied) from a “good” +49 (65 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied).
In Class E, his score fell 27 points to a “moderate” +18 (49 percent satisfied, 32 percent dissatisfied). In December, he had a “good” +45 (66 percent satisfied, 22 percent dissatisfied).
Among Class D, his score fell 27 points to a “moderate” +10 (47 percent satisfied, 37 percent dissatisfied) compared to +37 (62 percent satisfied, 25 percent dissatisfied) three months earlier. (MNS)