Duterte retains 'very good' satisfaction ratings in SWS survey

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction from December 2017 to March 2018 dipped by two points, according to a survey by a polling firm, as approval with his performance dove significantly in Balance Luzon.

According to the First Quarter 2018 survey of the Social Weather Stations, 70 percent of Filipinos were satisfied, 14 percent dissatisfied and 17 percent undecided with Duterte’s performance during the polling period.

This gives Duterte a 'very good' net satisfaction rating of 56 percent, according to SWS. The rating is lower by just two points compared to the score he got in December 2017.

“Compared to December 2017, gross satisfaction with President Duterte fell by 1 point from 71%, gross undecided rose by 2 points from 15%, and gross dissatisfaction rose by 1 point from 13%,” the polling company said.

SWS classifies ratings of 70 or above as excellent, 50 to 69 as very good, 30 to 49 as good, 10 to 29 as moderate, 9 to -9 neutral, -10 to -29 as poor, -30 to -49 as bad, -50 to -69 and -70 or below as execrable.

'Good' in Balance Luzon, 'excellent' in Mindanao

The pollster said that Duterte suffered an 11-point decline in Balance Luzon, from a 'very good' 50 percent to a 'good' 39 percent. Balance Luzon refers to areas of Luzon outside of Metro Manila.

Duterte’s satisfaction score in Metro Manila also decreased by a point, from 55 percent in December last year to 54 percent in March. Both ratings are classified as 'very good'.

The decline Duterte took in Balance Luzon and Metro Manila was offset by increases in the Visayas and in Mindanao, based on SWS data.

In the Visayas, he enjoyed a 12-point increase, from 53 percent in December to 65 percent in March, according to SWS.

Duterte’s rating also stayed 'excellent' in his home region of Mindanao, from 80 percent in December to 82 percent this March, said SWS.

The chief executive also took a 17-point plunge in his ratings among the poor, from 65 percent in December to 48 percent in March.

His ratings among classes ABC however stayed at "very good" levels, according to the polling firm.

The Philippine leader also remains popular in both urban and rural areas, according to SWS.

Rural net satisfaction for him was at a 'very good' 56 percent from 54 percent in December while urban net satisfaction was at a 'very good' 56 percent.

However, Duterte’s urban net satisfaction rating was down by seven points from 63 percent in December 2017.

The chief executive’s ratings also remained 'very good' across different educational levels, from college graduates to non-elementary school graduates, said SWS.

His satisfaction ratings among both men and women respondents remained 'very good', said the survey agency.

The president however suffered an 11-point decline among Filipinos aged 35 to 44, but his 52 percent rating was still deemed as very good.

He also remains popular among young Filipinos, with his March satisfaction rating measured at 69 percent, up by five points from 63 percent in December.

“It also stayed very good among those 55 years old and older, at +54 (67% satisfied, 13% dissatisfied) in March 2018, down by 4 points from +58 (70% satisfied, 12% dissatisfied) in December 2017. It stayed good among 18-24 year olds, at +48 (68% satisfied, 20% dissatisfied) in March 2018, up by 2 points from +46 (67% satisfied, 22% dissatisfied, correctly rounded) in December 2017,” SWS said.

The March 2018 survey was conducted from March 23 to 27, 2018 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide, with 300 each from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

It has a sampling error of +/- 3 percent for national ratings and +/- 6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.