Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday said the decline in the satisfaction and trust ratings of President Rodrigo Duterte was to be expected as his honeymoon period in office ends.
“Alam mo naman ang honeymoon period ng ating Pangulo ay usually one year sa isang opisina at ito nama’y expected [You know that the honeymoon period of a president is usually the first year in office and this is expected],” he said in an interview with radio dzRH.
“Pero despite of this [sic] ay nasa good pa rin ang kanyang satisfaction at iyong public trust ay nasa very good [But despite this, his satisfaction rating is still good while his public trust rating is still very good],” he added.
The third quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that the president’s net satisfaction rating decreased by 18 points, from a “very good” rating of +66 in June 2017 to a “good” rating of +48 in September 2017.
Meanwhile, the president’s net trust rating also dipped by 15 points, from an “excellent” rating of +75 in June 2017 to a “very good” rating of +60 in September 2017.
Andanar said the Duterte administration welcomed the SWS survey results, saying that it would serve as a guide for them to keep their job in line with the sentiments of Filipinos.
“Ito po ay magsisilbing gabay pa rin sa administrasyon na talagang tumutok sa trabaho, sa reporma at pagbabago para maibsan ang kahirapan ng ating mga kababayan [This will serve as a guide for the administration to really focus on their duties, reforms, and change in order to lift Filipinos out of poverty],” he said.
“We also encourage constructive criticism, because it is the only way for us in government to focus on our job and para mapaalala din – kami sa gobyerno – na kung ano iyong mga dapat naming gawin para mas lalo kaming maging [to remind us in government to do what we need to do in order to be] in tune with the sentiment of the people,” he later added.
However, the PCOO secretary also pointed out that the SWS survey was conducted between Sept. 23 to 27, days before the Sept. 21 National Day of Protest.
The survey was also conducted during a period when the administration faced intense scrutiny and opposition in its policies, Andanar also noted.
Despite the decline in the president’s ratings, Andanar hoped the recent efforts of the Duterte administration would be still recognized by Filipinos, citing the free tuition fee policy in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and the negotiatons with Mighty Corp. and Philippine Airlines to settle their government dues.
“So itong mga balitang positive na ito ay for the next few weeks, month ay mare-realize din ito ng ating mga kababayan [So these positive news in the next few weeks, months will be also be realized by Filipinos],” he said.
“At the same time also, kailangan din natin talagang tingnan ang isang [we also need to look at a] survey constructively… We really accept all of these ratings, mga criticism, constructively at iyon naman talaga ang gusto ng ating Pangulong Duterte [and that is what President Duterte really wants],” he added.
