(CNN Philippines) — President Benigno Aquino III’s public satisfaction ratings continue to slide in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which shows his numbers in the first three months of the year have plummeted to an all-time low.
Data from the March 2015 poll, which was released Monday (April 6), show only 47% of Filipinos are happy with the president’s performance – down 16% from his 63% rating in the previous quarter – the biggest drop in his ratings a little over a year left before he steps down from his post.
The SWS survey, conducted on 1,200 respondents from March 20 to 23, translated Aquino’s net satisfaction rating from “good” at +39 (December 2014) to moderate at +11. The slide was also reflected across all geographic areas and socioeconomic classes.
SWS describes its net satisfaction ratings as follows:
excellent: +70 and above
very good: +50 to +69
good: +30 to +49
moderate: +10 to +29
neutral: +9 to -9
poor: -10 to -29
bad: -30 to -49
very bad: -50 to -69
execrable: -70 and below
Malacañan, however, remained positive despite the decline in Aquino’s numbers, saying that the “satisfied” people (47%) still outnumber those who say otherwise (36%).
In a statement released Monday (April 6), Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. acknowledged the decline in the president’s ratings, but he also pointed out that most Filipinos do not want Aquino to leave office prematurely.
“While there has been a decline in the president’s satisfaction rating, it is evident that a higher number of Filipinos affirm their belief in his leadership and outnumber those who are dissatisfied or prefer that he resign from office,” Coloma said.
The dip in Aquino’s ratings, which practically echoed an earlier Pulse Asia survey showing the president’s approval ratings at an all-time low of 38 percent, come nearly two months after the January 25 Mamasapano battle that left 44 Special Action Force commandos dead.
“We note that the survey was taken on March 20 to 23, or three weeks after the other regular public opinion survey (Pulse Asia’s) was conducted (on March 01 to 07),” Coloma said. “It is possible that, having gathered more information about current events – and having been able to know and understand better the President’s position on the Mamasapano incident – the people gave the president a higher satisfaction rating in the SWS survey than the performance approval rating that he obtained in the Pulse Asia survey.”
He added that the president and his Cabinet are firmly determined to carry on reforms and development programs to achieve the primary objective of attaining inclusive growth and improving the quality of life of Filipinos.
“In the next 15 months, we will continue to stay focused on priority programs such as infrastructure development, employment generation, and poverty reduction and improved social protection,” Coloma said. “Transparent and responsive governance along the righteous path will be pursued, so that public institutions may be strengthened, the transformation process may be sustained, and that the concrete gains achieved will become permanent.”
