AS 2018 is about to end, public satisfaction with President Rodrigo Duterte's performance as the highest official in the country remained "very good," according to the latest poll results conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
Results of SWS's December 16 to 19 survey found 74 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte's performance, while only 15 percent were dissatisfied. Some 11 percent were undecided.
The poll results yielded a net satisfaction score of "very good" +60, up by six percentage points from +54 registered in September.
Duterte's latest net satisfaction rating brought his annual net satisfaction average score to a "very good" +54, lower by five percentage points from his 2017's "very good" +59.
SWS attributed the rise in Duterte's net satisfaction rating to increases by one grade from "good" to "very good" in Metro Manila (+58 from +36), Visayas (+62 from +49), and Balance Luzon (+52 from +49).
Duterte maintained an "excellent" rating of +73 in his baliwick, Mindanao, although four percentage points below than the +77 score posted in September.
The President also enjoyed an increase in his satisfaction score in classes ABC ("very good" +62 from "good" +41), D ("very good" +58 from "very good" +56), and E ("very good" +65 from "good" +45).
His net satisfaction score in urban areas rose from "very good" +64, up by 22 percentage points from "good" +41. On the other hand, it stayed "very good" in rural areas although down by give percentage points to +57 from September's +62.
Duterte also retained a "very good" satisfaction rating among age groups 55 and above (+59 from +50), 45 to 54 (+52 from +56), 35 to 44 (+62 from +54), and 25 to 34 (+64 from +59).
His net satisfaction score was also "very good" among college graduates (+65 from +54), high school graduates (+62 from "good" +49), elementary school graduates (+56 from +59), and non-elementary school graduates (+58 from +57).
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the poll results which showed the "consistent" satisfaction rating of Duterte “puts a lie to critics and detractors who find nothing good in his style of governance.”
“We thank the Filipino people for their continued support for the President as such only motivates us to unceasingly work harder and serve them better as we aim for the best for the Philippines and its people,” the Palace official said in a statement.
Panelo said the latest figure encouraged Duterte to continue the fight against criminality, corruption, illegal drugs, Muslim rebellion, communist insurgency, and terrorism.
He added that it motivated the Chief Executive to keep improving the social services given to people, as well as to end the assaults on our natural resources and environment.
“The support of the Filipinos for our Chief Executive also sends a strong message to foreign human rights groups and foreign governments to put a stop to their baseless and unkind accusations on his war on drugs. In addition, the survey result is a slap on their faces for their outrageous intrusion on the sovereignty of our country,” he said.
“The scorecard on the President's performance rating similarly shows the correct foreign policy he has embarked,” he added.
SWS interviewed 1,440 adult respondents, using sampling error margins of ±2.6 percentage points for national percentages, and ±5 percentage points each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.