SWS: Rody starts presidency with ‘excellent’ trust rating

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte began his term last June 30 with an “excellent” trust rating, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest survey.

The Second Quarter 2016 Social Weather Survey, conducted from June 24 to 27, found 84 percent of those surveyed with “much trust,” and only five percent with “little trust,” in Duterte, yielding a net trust rating of +79.

Eleven percent of the 1,200 adults respondents nationwide were undecided on the matter, the SWS said. 

The SWS classifies net trust ratings of at least +70 as “excellent”; +50 to +69 as “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 as “execrable.” 

Duterte’s latest net trust rating went up by 53 points from the “moderate” +26 (54 percent much trust, 28 percent little trust) in May. 

His net trust score was a “moderate” +26 just before the national elections last May 9.

The President received “excellent” ratings across all areas and socio-economic classes.

His net trust rating rose by 66 points to +75 in June from +9 in May in balance Luzon, 57 points to +78 from +21 in Metro Manila, 57 points to +74 from +17 in the Visayas, and by 23 points to +90 from +67 in Mindanao. 

The President’s net trust rating also improved by two grades to “excellent” from “good” (to +83 from +30) in urban areas, as well as by three grades to “excellent” from “moderate” (to +75 from +21) in rural areas.

Duterte’s net trust rating gained 47 points to +82 from +35 among respondents from class ABC.

It rose by three grades to “excellent” from “moderate” (to +79 from +23) among those in class D. It also improved by two grades to “excellent” from “good” (to +79 from +35) in class E.

Net trust in Duterte rose to “excellent” in all age groups, with higher scores coming from the youth, the SWS noted.

His rating increased by 46 points to +88 from +42 among respondents aged 18-24 years old.

It likewise rose to +84 from +38 among those aged 25-34 years old; to +78 from +27 among those 35-44 years old; to +78 from +22 among those aged 45-54 years old; and to +70 from +11 among those aged at least 55 years old.

Duterte’s net trust rating also increased to “excellent” across education status, with higher scores among respondents with more formal schooling, the SWS said.

It rose to +76 from +18 among non-elementary graduates; to +74 from +16 among those with some high school education; to +81 from +28 among those with some college education; and to +87 from +44 among college graduates. 

The survey has sampling error margins of plus or minus three percentage points for national percentages, and plus or minus six percentage points each for Metro Manila, balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

SWS said Duterte’s net score was close to the trust rating received by former president Benigno Aquino III following his election in May 2010.

The SWS poll, taken on June 25-28, 2010, showed 88 percent of Filipinos expressing “much trust” in Aquino, while only four percent had “little trust” in him, yielding an “excellent” +83 net trust rating.

No surveys were conducted on public trust for other past presidents-elect.

Malacañang yesterday welcomed the results of the survey as it maintained that Duterte is just performing his duty. 

“He (Duterte) would appreciate the trust and he would also say, if I know him, that, trabaho lang yan (it’s my job),” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. 

“That’s just part of the job and that we will continue to do our part,” he added. 

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar called the result of the survey “a positive sign.”

“(It is) very encouraging to know that the people trust the judgment, decisions and actions of the President. The mandate is clear, the government cannot stop what it has started,” he added. – With Alexis Romero