By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte’s net satisfaction rating dropped 11 points in the second quarter of the year to a personal low of +45, but still classified as “good,” results from the Social Weather Survey (SWS) showed.
The 2nd Quarter 2018 SWS survey showed that Mr. Duterte at 45+ as of June, from the “very good” +56 rating last March. The polling group noted that the third quarter results surpassed the previous personal low of Mr. Duterte at “good” +48 last September 2017.
“The 11-point decline in President Duterte’s net satisfaction rating from March 2018 to June 2018 was due to declines of 20 points in Metro Manila, 18 points in the Visayas, 6 points in Balance Luzon, and 6 points in Mindanao,” the SWS stated.
The survey also showed 65% of Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of Mr. Duterte as President, while 15% were undecided and 20% were dissatisfied. The latest gross satisfaction rating with the President fell by five points from the 70% in March.
‘I DON’T CARE’
Asked about the latest survey results when he met with reporters in Pampanga on Tuesday late afternoon, Mr. Duterte said, “I don’t care. Make it 15, wala na ako diyan. It does not interest me at all. Basta ako coast along na lang ako, just traveling along (As for me, I’m just coasting along, traveling along)…. And with the new suggestion, since I’m not popular anymore, Congress might decide to find a popular one. You want a popular president? Good.”
The survey was conducted from June 27-30, 2018 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with a sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
At the time the survey was conducted, the public was reacting to Mr. Duterte’s statements calling God “stupid” for the concept of original sin as indicated in the Catholic Bible in a June 22 speech.
The President told reporters later on June 28 that he would not apologize for his controversial remarks. On June 30, Malacañang announced that Mr. Duterte would meet with officials of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Last Monday, Mr. Duterte agreed to stop his tirades against the Church after a meeting with the CBCP president, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles of Mr. Duterte’s hometown of Davao City.
SHARPEST DROP IN METRO MANILA, CLASS D
By area, Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction had the sharpest decline in Metro Manila at +34 in June from +54 in March, followed by Visayas, where his net satisfaction dropped 18 points at +47 in June from +65 in March.
Mr. Duterte’s home region of Mindanao remained steady at “excellent” but declined by six points from +82 in March to +76 in June. In Balance Luzon, Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction remained “good” but down by six points from +39 in March to +33 in June.
By class, Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction rating dropped by 14 points in Class D or what SWS referred to as “the masa” from +57 in March to +43 in June.
However, his rating in Class E rose by one grade from “good” to “very good” at +52 in June from the +48 in March. Among the ABC, his rating remained steady at very good +66.
The President’s net satisfaction rating also decreased among age groups, except for the 18-to-24-year-old group. His rating among elementary and high school graduates also fell.
Sought for comment, political analyst and former dean of the Ateneo School of Government Antonio G.M. La Viña said the drop in Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction rating was expected due to the increasing prices of goods and services as well as the President’s remarks against God.
“I think this is expected because of inflation more than anything. His anti-God rants if done during or before the survey would also have an effect,” he said in a text message to BusinessWorld. — with Arjay L. Balinbin

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