Poll: Aquino's trust, performance ratings up

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III's performance and trust ratings for the third quarter of this year shoot up by 11 percent and 13 percent, respectively, since May, according to the latest Pulse Asia "Ulat ng Bayan" survey.

The Pulse Asia for the third quarter shows both performance and trust ratings for the President at all time highs, said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a press briefing Wednesday.

Public satisfaction with the President's performance surged to +78, a noteworthy increase of 11 points from the second quarter of 2012 survey.

Trust in the President also shot up to +78, representing a significant 13-point jump from his +65 in the last rating in May 2012.

"Strong positive scores across all geographic regions and social classes pushed ratings of the President to within the margin of error of his personal best of +79 for performance and +80 for trust in the fourth quarter of the October 2010 Pulse Asia survey," the Palace official said.

Conducted last August 31 to September 7, the Pulse Asia survey also bared the Aquino government's high approval ratings in terms of battling criminality (66 percent) and fighting corruption (64 percent).

It also scored high approval ratings in enforcing the law (59 percent), creating more jobs (51 percent), and increasing the pay of workers (51 percent).

The latest survey was conducted among 1,200 adult respondents with a ± 3 percent error margin.

Lacierda said the President has consistently received the highest ratings since Pulse Asia started conducting its trust and performance surveys.

Lacierda noted that these ratings further amplify the public's overwhelming support for the President and the success of his initiative toward positive change as shown in surveys and reports from respected local and international organizations.

"We have always maintained that public office is a public trust, the sustained ratings affirmed the Filipino people’s belief and confidence in the President, his leadership and his administration’s relentless pursuit of reform," he added.

When asked on the possible effects of the positive ratings of the Aquino government to the fate of the administration's bets in the coming polls, Lacierda said it could mean a positive influence on the decision of the people.

"This is a gauge of his (President Aquino) performance and trust ratings for the third quarter… if this has any relation to the campaign or the upcoming senatorial elections, we do believe that the President would have a positive influence," he said. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)