SWS: Satisfaction for Robredo, Pimentel up, Alvarez and Sereno down

By Mario M. Banzon

THE latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) shows net satisfaction with Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo and Senate President Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III picking up while the ratings of House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno declined as of Sept. 23-27 when the poll was conducted.

The noncommissioned survey published Thursday, Oct. 12, indicates Ms. Robredo’s net satisfaction rating of +41 (62% satisfied minus 21% dissatisfied) up five points from her rating last June.

Net satisfaction for the Vice-President had a decline of 37 points in December last year (from +49 in September that year) and 26 points in March this year, but was recovering by June at 36 points.

Ms. Robredo had a seven-point increase both in Balance Luzon, where she hails from as a Bicolana, and in the Visayas where support for her has been sustained.

Ms. Robredo also got double-digit gains across urban and rural areas and social classes except in Class E where she slumped 5 points. Her net satisfaction also rose between 9 and 13 points among the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups.

Class D also gave her a satisfactory mark with +40 points, up from +34 in June while her rating among Class E fell from +55 in June to +50 in September.

Ms. Robredo’s latest rating stands alongside President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s 18-point drop in his net satisfaction according to the September poll.

Mr. Pimentel’s 46 points in September showed a 13-point rise from his net satisfaction last June.

The Senate leader had double-digit increases across geographic, urban, and rural areas, and among Class D, among women respondents, across all age groups except 55 up, and among vocational/college students and college graduates.

“I’m happy and would credit such a good result to the cooperation, support, and hard work of my fellow senators and the entire Senate and CA (Commission on Appointments) family. And maybe, just maybe, the favourable coverage of the senate media???” Mr. Pimentel said in a message to reporters, in response to the survey.

Of late, opposition Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV has criticized Mr. Pimentel’s leadership and said he would “work hard” to have the Senate leader replaced if Senator Richard J. Gordon remains chair of the Blue-Ribbon Committee.

Mr. Alvarez’s 8 points in September is half his net-satisfaction rating last June, which, in turn, however, was an increase from his 12 points last March.

Except in the Visayas where he remained at 10 points since last June, Mr. Alvarez’s ratings dropped across all segments, notably his home region of Mindanao (12 points from last June’s 31 points) and Class E (8 points from last June’s 34 points).

Sought for comment, Mr. Alvarez said in a text message: “I have to work harder.”

Mr. Alvarez was recently reported as criticizing the Senate as being a “slow assembly” (“mabagal na kapulungan”), comparing this chamber with the track record of the House. The ball is now in the Senate with regards to the Duterte administration’s priority measures.

Ms. Sereno, who is the subject of a potential impeachment threat from Mr. Alvarez, also fell in her net satisfaction at 9 points from 21 points last June.

Except in the Visayas where she remained at 14 points since last June – and in Balance Luzon where she dropped to 9 points from 17 points – Ms. Sereno had double-digit declines across all segments, notably the National Capital Region where her 21 points last June fell to zero by September.

Sought for comment, Ramon C. Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, said in a text message: “I think the message of the people is for officials to focus on their jobs and less politicking.”

The opposition Liberal Party, for its part, said in a statement: “The rise in the satisfaction rating of Vice President Leni Robredo is a seal of approval of her programs from Filipinos. Despite the political noise, the Vice President has kept her focus in bringing to the people her flagship poverty alleviation programs.”