67% satisfied with govt, survey says

MANILA - (UPDATED) President Rodrigo Duterte has started his six-year term with a "very good" net satisfaction rating and top marks for "campaigning against illegal drugs" and "promoting human rights," according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

Of 1,200 respondents questioned between September 24 and 27, 75 percent were satisfied with the national government's general performance, 17 percent were undecided and 8 percent were dissatisfied.

This yielded a +66 net satisfaction rating which is the difference between the percentage of satisfied and dissatisfied respondents. In the SWS scale, a score of at least 50 qualifies as "very good" while ratings 70 above are "excellent."

Duterte's maiden satisfaction marks bested most of his post-EDSA revolt predecessors. He got statistically the same score as Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who got a net rating of +67 in his first three months in office.

'VERY GOOD' IN HUMAN RIGHTS, 'EXCELLENT' VS DRUGS

The pollster also noted that the Duterte administration bagged "excellent" marks in the "campaign against illegal drugs" -- included for the first time in the SWS Governance Report Card -- "very good" in eight subjects and "good" in eight others.

Duterte's anti-narcotics drive, despite mounting criticism on the deaths of drugs suspects, posted a +78 net score, with 85% satisfied, seven percent dissatisfied and seven percent undecided.

The administration's record on human rights, meanwhile, got a "very good" +63.

Other areas where the government had "very good" were:
- helping the poor, +63;
- promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, +62;
- fighting crime, +58;
- eradicating graft and corruption, +57;
- fighting terrorism, +55;
- defending the country's territorial rights, +55; and
- distributing lands to deserving tillers under land reform, +53.

The government got "good" scores in eight other issues, including: developing science and technology, providing jobs, reconciliation with Muslim rebels, foreign relations, ensuring an efficient transportation system, reconciliation with communist rebels, ensuring that no family will ever be hungry, and fighting inflation.

First published on the Businessworld, the survey has sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for area percentages.

'SURVEY RESULT AN INSPIRATION'

Malacañang thanked the public for the administration's high rating, which it said will motivate officials to sustain its campaign against criminality.

"The 'very good' +66 net satisfaction rating of the Duterte Administration is a source of inspiration and strength to the President and his entire team to double their time and energy to rid society of drugs, criminality and corruption while bringing the fruits of sustainable inclusive development down to our grassroots," Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a text message.

But Andanar also promised that the survey results will "not lull us to complacency."

"The President, as we all know, has been elevating the consciousness of our people from the gravity of the drug problem and the threat of terrorism and lawlessness," he said. "This means much work has to be done and we all need to roll up our sleeves and buckle down to work and get things done."