By Ellalyn V. Ruiz
After a year-and-a-half in office, President Duterte continues to enjoy the highest approval and trust ratings among the country’s top government officials, the latest Pulse Asia survey said.
The nationwide survey conducted from Dec. 10 to 15 among 1,200 respondents found out that 80 percent appreciate the work done by Duterte in the last quarter of 2017. Only seven percent disapproved the President’s work.
On the other hand, 82 percent continues to trust Duterte while six percent distrust him.
Among the country’s top government officials next to Duterte, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno obtained the highest disapproval and distrust ratings (26 percent and 33 percent, respectively).
Sereno’s approval rating declined from 35 percent in the third quarter to 31 percent in the fourth quarter. Her trust rating was also down from 31 percent to 27 percent at present.
Most Filipinos remain appreciative of the work done by Vice President Leni Robredo (59 percent from 57 percent) and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (57 percent from 55 percent in the last quarter of 2017.
Filipinos also highly trust Robredo (58 percent from 55 percent) and Pimentel (53 percent from 52 percent).
House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez has almost the same approval and indecision ratings (42 percent versus 37 percent) as well as trust and indecision scores (37 percent versus 43 percent).
Pulse Asia pointed out that only Alvarez and Sereno had notable changes in their performance and trust ratings between September and December 2017.
Approval for the House Speaker’s quarterly performance became more pronounced on the national level during this period (+9 percentage points).
Similar movements occurred in the rest of Luzon (+12 percentage points), “masa” or Class D (+8 percentage points), and Class E or the “poorest” (+12 percentage points).
Meanwhile, in a separate survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from Dec. 8 to 16 with 1,200 respondents, 70 percent believe that Duterte worked better than former President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Only eight percent said Aquino was better than Duterte while 22 percent said both performances were just the same as reported in GMAnews TV.
Duterte received the highest approval in Mindanao at 86 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 73 percent, 64 percent in Visayas, and 63 percent in the rest of Luzon.
Aquino’s approval was highest in Metro Manila at 10 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon and Visayas at nine percent each, and Mindanao at three percent.
