Record-high increase among top gov’t agencies in SWS poll

THE top government agencies as well as President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Cabinet posted “record-high” increases in a first quarter poll by the Social Weather Stations.

The polling group said its First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey showed a “record-high” net satisfaction for the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and the Cabinet, while the Senate rose to “very good” +62 972% satisfied and 10% dissatisfied), up by 4 points from +58 in December 2018.

Net satisfaction for the House was “good “+47 (61% satisfied and 13% dissatisfied), up by 7 points from +40 in December 2018; and for the Supreme Court, “very good” +50 (62% satisfied and 12% dissatisfied), up by 13 points from +37 in December 2018.

On the other hand, a first-quarter 2019 poll by the SWS on the country’s top officials showed House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo still remaining “poor” in terms of net satisfaction, as she did in the previous quarter, and Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin having a net satisfaction of “moderate” +14, compared with +11 in December last year.

Mr. Duterte’s Cabinet had a net-satisfaction rating of “good” +44 (57% satisfied and 12% dissatisfied), up by 9 points from +35 in December 2018.

“The 4-point rise in the overall net satisfaction with the Senate was due to increases of 7 points in Balance Luzon, 6 points in Mindanao, and 1 point in the Visayas, combined with an 8-point decrease in Metro Manila,” SWS said.

For the House, its 7-point rise in overall net satisfaction rating was due to increases in all areas. The House also rose 10 points from “good” +39 to “very good” +50 among class D, but fell 17 points from “good” +46 to “moderate” +29 among class ABC.

“The 13-point rise in the overall net satisfaction rating of the Supreme Court was due to increases of 22 points in Mindanao, 16 points in Balance Luzon, and 9 points in the Visayas, combined with a 5-point decline in Metro Manila,” SWS said. “The 9-point increase in the overall net satisfaction rating of the Cabinet was due to increases of 16 points in Balance Luzon, 11 points in Mindanao, and 4 points in the Visayas, combined with a 10-point decrease in Metro Manila.”

The survey was conducted from March 28-31, using face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 360 each in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao, with sampling error margins of ±2.6% for national percentages and ±5% each for the said areas.