Officials’ performance ratings

January 16, 2014
Once again, a pollster or research group has come out with results of its latest survey indicating a continuing downslide in the performance and popularity ratings of top Philippine government officials led by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Of the two officials, the survey by Pulse Asia showed that it is the President who had the biggest drop in ratings continuously leading into his last two years in office. Based on the national survey conducted last December 8-15, 73 percent of Filipinos expressed a positive opinion of the President’s performance in the past three months, but the figure was down from 79 percent in the September, 2013, survey. Ten percent expressed a negative opinion of the President’s performance, while 17 percent neither approved nor disapproved. President Aquino’s trust rating also slightly dropped to 74 percent in December from 76 percent in September. Nine percent said they have trust in him, while 17 percent were undecided. Officials, however, shrugged off the downtrend, pointing out that the ratings were still positive for the Chief Executive. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma added that in the aftermath of a series of calamities and the tremendous challenges arising from these, the President continues to enjoy the support of about 3 out of every 4 Filipinos, based on the approval and trust ratings recorded by Pulse Asia.
In the same survey, Vice President Binay received slightly higher performance and trust ratings the ratings with 80 and 77 percent, although they dropped slightly from 77 and 74 percent, respectively, in September. He thanked supporters for their continued trust and confidence and appealed for continued support.
Others covered by the survey were Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, among others. Drilon registered lower performance and trust ratings with 43 and 40 percent and had the biggest slide among officials from 50 and 46 percent in September. Speaker Belmonte and Chief Justice Sereno, on the other hand, gained slightly higher performance and trust ratings last December. Belmone had 43 percent and 44 percent, respectively, while Sereno had 38 percent and 41 percent, respectively.
While surveys are surveys, they are important barometers of how Philippine officials do their work for the people, especially if the survey groups are credible. Officials should take note of these surveys as they could serve as wake up call  in the kind of performance of their duties and responsibilities. Our government is a government for the people and by the people and so officials should listen to the pulse coming from the people.