President Rodrigo Roa Duterte maintained the high level of trust and confidence of the Filipinos amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the analysis of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) experts on his performance and popularity.
SWS board member and researcher Prof. Steven Rood said, in a forum on Thursday (Sep. 23), the President “remained at honeymoon levels throughout his term of office.”
Based on the agency’s data, Duterte’s net satisfaction rating was at its highest in November 2020 with a rating of +79 amid the pandemic, but it went down to +65 in May 2021, then +62 in June 2021 as he started his last year in office.
However, the SWS showed that despite the drop in ratings, the current President’s rating was still the highest compared to the data gathered from the past five presidents.
According to SWS fellow Jeff Ducanes, their analysis showed that there are “multiple reasons” for the Chief Executive’s high ratings.
“Based on our analysis, there is no single explanation for President Duterte’s high satisfaction rating, rather there are multiple reasons. One is his strong base support. Another is satisfaction with the administration’s overall ‘pamamalakad.’ And third is that people relate to or are attracted to some aspects of his character,” he explained.
Meanwhile, in today’s (Sep. 24) Laging Handa public briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Rique welcomed the results of the new study. He also assured that the President will continue to exercise decisive and compassionate leadership until the end of his term in office.
“Siyempre habang mag-eeleksyon na yung mga kakandidato eh hahanap ng paraan para mapababa ang rating ng administrasyon dahil kung hindi, wala silang pag-asang manalo. So that is hindi masyadong alarming and still very good by any standards,” he said.
Report from Mela Lesmoras/NGS-rir
