Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to enjoy the trust and approval of the people, despite having “significant” drops in his ratings, PUBLiCUS Asia Inc.’s third quarter survey released on Thursday showed.
The September 7 to 12 survey results showed 55 percent of 1,500 respondents appreciated the President’s work performance, a seven-point decline from the 62 percent in the second quarter.
The President recorded lower ratings in Metro Manila (61 percent in second quarter to 52 percent in third quarter), North Central Luzon (60 percent to 56 percent), South Luzon (55 percent to 49 percent), and Visayas (71 percent to 52 percent).
His approval rating rose slightly from 63 percent to 64 percent in the Visayas.
“Connected to the less positive sentiments of Filipinos this quarter, approval ratings of the top country officials take a significant blow, hitting lowest in five quarters,” PUBLiCUS said.
“All regions except Mindanao contribute to the overall weakened approval but in varying extents,” it added.
The President’s trust ratings also dropped from 54 percent to 47 percent.
Vice President Sara Duterte had a 62-percent approval rating and a 55-percent trust rating.
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri continues to have a steady approval rating of 43 percent and 33 percent trust rating, while House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez had a stable approval rating of 37 percent and a 29 percent trust rating.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo’s approval (36 percent) and trust (29 percent) ratings were unchanged.
The survey also showed that Duterte — who concurrently serves as Education secretary — had the highest approval rating among Cabinet members at 52 percent.
Duterte was followed by Marcos, with a 49 percent approval rating, for his role as head of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The approval ratings of other Cabinet officials: Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. (46 percent), the late Migrant Workers Secretary Maria Susana “Toots” Ople (45 percent) Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian (43 percent), Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno (41 percent), Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. (40 percent), Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. (39 percent), Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa (36 percent), Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (34 percent), Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma (33 percent), Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista (32 percent), Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (32 percent), Information and Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy (32 percent), National Economic and Development Authority Arsenio Balisacan (31 percent), Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman (31 percent), Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual (31 percent), Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (31 percent), Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan (31 percent), Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga (31 percent), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla (30 percent), Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar (29 percent), Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Esrtrella 3rd (29 percent), and Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla (29 percent).
Approval of the President’s self-appointment as Agriculture secretary also dropped to 53 percent in the third quarter from 57 percent in the second quarter.
“As secretary, he must address the ‘shortage’ in rice, sugar and other agricultural products, which is likely a contributory factor to the most pressing issue on inflation,” PUBLiCUS said.
Agreement with Duterte’s appointment as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) also “significantly weakened,” from 66 percent in the second quarter to 60 percent in the third quarter.
The P150-million confidential and intelligence fund (CIF) for DepEd “is now at the forefront as the most pressing issue hurting her overall performance,” PUBLiCUS said.
Duterte has said the proposed CIF was for the agency’s anti-insurgency efforts.
“Education is intertwined with national security. It’s important for us to mold children who are patriotic, who will love our country and defend our country,” said Duterte, who is also the co-vice chairman of the government’s anti-communist insurgency task force, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
The noncommissioned survey was conducted from September 7 to September 12. Its respondents were randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace.
The respondents were spread across five geographical areas — National Capital Region, North Central Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. — Catherine S. Valente
*****
Credit belongs to: www.manilatimes.net
