Marcos admin gets lower approval on key issues – Pulse

MANILA, Philippines — Fewer Filipinos approved of the Marcos administration’s performance in key national issues, with a majority disapproving of its performance in controlling inflation, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.

Results of the Sept. 10 to 14 survey released on Tuesday, Oct. 3, found that only 16 percent of the respondents approved of the government’s efforts to address the rising cost of basic commodities.

It went down from 31 percent in a similar survey conducted in June.

In contrast, those who disapproved of the government’s performance in managing inflation increased from 37 percent to 56 percent.

The Marcos administration also obtained an approval rating of less than majority in five other issues.

These include reducing poverty at 29 percent (from 43 percent), increasing the pay of workers at 41 percent (from 52 percent), creating more jobs at 43 percent (from 53 percent) and fighting graft and corruption at 45 percent (from 44 percent).

Disapproval on these issues also increased, with poverty reduction at 31 percent (from 23 percent), increasing workers’ pay at 24 percent (from 21 percent), fighting graft and corruption at 23 percent (from 17 percent) and creating more jobs at 23 percent (from 17 percent).

Some 46 percent approved and 16 percent disapproved of the Marcos administration’s performance in terms of addressing involuntary hunger, an issue not included in the June survey.

The national government also obtained lower approval ratings, although still a majority, in eight other issues.

Approval was still the highest in terms of protecting overseas Filipino workers at 74 percent (from 76 percent), followed by responding to the needs of areas affected by calamities at 72 percent (from 73 percent) and promoting peace in the country at 63 percent (from 67 percent).

These were followed by defending the integrity of Philippine territory at 59 percent (from 63 percent), fighting criminality at 57 percent (from 54 percent), equal enforcement of the law at 55 percent (from 56 percent), providing assistance to farmers at 55 percent (from 59 percent) and stopping the destruction of the environment at 54 percent (from 61 percent).

Disapproval of the government’s performance on the said issues ranged from three percent to 12 percent. The rest were undecided.

Inflation most urgent

The survey also asked respondents about three issues they believe the national government should urgently address.

Controlling inflation topped the list at 74 percent, with almost half – 48 percent – ranking it first among the issues.

Across areas, it topped the list of issues that the respondents want the government to immediately address.

It was highest among those in the Visayas at 80 percent, closely followed by those in Mindanao at 79 percent, Balance Luzon at 72 percent and Metro Manila at 66 percent.

Compared to similar surveys conducted during the second Marcos administration, the September survey showed more respondents identifying inflation as among the most urgent national concerns.

It was 63 percent in March and June 2023, 59 percent in November 2022 and 66 percent in September 2022.

Following inflation in the latest survey were increasing the pay of workers at 49 percent, creating more jobs at 27 percent, reducing poverty at 25 percent, fighting graft and corruption at 22 percent, fighting criminality at 18 percent, addressing involuntary hunger at 14 percent, providing assistance to farmers at 13 percent and equal enforcement of the law at 11 percent.

Obtaining less than 10 percent were proving support to small entrepreneurs at nine percent, promoting peace at nine percent, stopping the destruction of the environment at eight percent, defending Philippine territory at seven percent, reducing taxes at seven percent, protecting OFWs at four percent and preparing to face any kind of terrorism at three percent.

The total exceeded 100 percent because the respondents were allowed to select up to three issues.

The survey had 1,200 adult respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.8 percent.

Meanwhile, according to an official of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), President Marcos must continue to head the Department of Agriculture (DA), citing major improvement in the sector under his helm.

At a press briefing at Malacañang on Tuesday, BPI director Gerald Glenn Panganiban noted the Philippines was able to export three major commodities early this year.

He said Marcos is also hands on in addressing problems facing the sector, a major source of employment in the country.

“He (Marcos) is really addressing the problems confronting the DA. I think that’s his difference from the predecessors,” Panganiban said.

“And him being at the helm, he was able to integrate all efforts,” Panganiban said. “With the President there, and with the support we’re receiving from the DA, I think he is doing a great job.”

Malacañang was mum on a Bilyonaryo.com report that Marcos is eyeing fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. – who, according to the website, was one of Marcos’ top donors in the 2022 elections – as the next DA chief.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earlier said he believes Marcos was “on the way” to making a decision with regard to choosing the new agriculture secretary.

In an interview in June, Marcos said he would stay as agriculture secretary until efficient systems are in place to ensure food security and better living conditions for the country’s farmers.

Several senators and other sectors have urged Marcos to appoint a full-time head of the DA. — Helen Flores