MANILA, Philippines — The public satisfaction with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration suffered an eight-point drop in the third quarter of 2018, according to the latest Social Weather Stations’ survey.
The poll, conducted from September 15 to 23, found 65 percent of adult Filipinos satisfied with the general performance of the current administration. Nineteen percent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, while 15 percent were dissatisfied.
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This yielded a net satisfaction rating of +50, an eight point decline from the +58 recorded during the second quarter.
While there was a decrease in the latest figure, the Duterte administration managed to maintain a “very good” satisfaction rating.
The pollster noted that the eight-point decrease can be attributed to declines in the net satisfaction rating in all areas, except for Metro Manila.
It declined to “very good” +67 from “excellent” +76 in Mindanao, “good” +48 from “very good” +54 in Balance Luzon and “good” +42 from “very good” +56 in Visayas.
The net satisfaction rating with the national administration in class ABC was down by 34 points to +47 in the third quarter from +81 in the second quarter, falling by two grades from “excellent” to “good.”
It also went to “good” +49 from “very good” +62 in class E.
Downgrades were also noticed among 55 year olds and above (to “good” +47 from “very good” +60) and among high school graduates (to “good” +48 from “very good” +52).
But the net satisfaction rating of the Duterte administration stayed “very good” in rural areas (+54) and among the class D or the masa (+50), and “good” in Metro Manila (+40) and in urban areas (+45), although there were significant drops in the recent figure.
Neutral in fighting inflation
The survey also asked the respondents to rate the government’s performance on several subjects.
The Duterte administration got the lowest score on fighting inflation at “neutral” +8. The figure, however, was up by eight points from the -1 in June.
Inflation reached a fresh nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September.
The government posted a “moderate” rating on fighting hunger at +23.
It, however, received “very good” marks in fighting terrorism (+53), protecting human rights (+54), building and maintenance of public works (+66), helping the poor (+63) and reconstructing Marawi City (+58).
The administration garnered “good” ratings on reconciling with communist rebels (+42), defending the West Philippine Sea (+39), fighting crimes (+43), reconciling with Muslim rebels (+41), foreign relations (+40), fulfilling commitment in international treaties (+40) and eradicating graft and corruption (+38).
The third quarter survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults.
It has sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.