The Palace on Tuesday, August 29, welcomed a recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showing high level of public appreciation and support for the Duterte administration.
“We appreciate the people’s recognition of the efforts and hard work of the government as public appreciation on the Duterte administration continues to remain ‘very good’ at +64,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said at a press briefing in Malacañan.
“As a result, the Duterte administration posted the highest first four-quarter average net satisfaction rating ever recorded,” he added.
Abella also expressed elation over another survey showing the President as being the “most decisive” official among the country’s top officials.
“We are gratified that 90 percent of Filipinos considered the President as the most decisive and caring government official based on the nationwide survey by Publicus Asia,” he said.
“The results affirm the very high trust approval and satisfaction ratings of the President in other surveys. The pulse also affirm[s] the hard work and responsiveness of the government and its key officials in serving our people,” the Palace official added.
Noting that since ratings always vary, Abella said the government is determined to redouble its efforts and work even harder for the advancement of the country.
High business optimism
Also, Spokesperson Abella welcomed the high business optimism in the country contrary to the report of the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). He said it continues to be high as the Philippines remains one of Asia’s fastest growing economies.
The country’s 6.5 percent growth in the second quarter, higher than the first quarter expansion, means that the government is on track in its goal of sustaining growth momentum, according to Abella.
He stressed that the growth has been backed by much stronger industry and manufacturing sectors that grew 7.3 percent and 7.9 percent respectively, which are expected to create more decent jobs.
He likewise noted the turnaround of over 6 percent coming from negative figures of last year in the agriculture sector. “Service sector continues to grow over 6 percent. Export growth also registered 14 percent for January to June 2017, coming also from a negative performance of last year,” he said.
Abella added that the investments registered with the Board of Investments posted 40 percent growth for January to July of 2017, reflecting the continued confidence on the socio-economic reforms under President Duterte’s administration.
“This will certainly redound to more jobs, business opportunities and more money in the pocket for more people,” he said.
SEA Games
The Palace official also congratulated Filipino athletes competing in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Malaysia.
“We wish to congratulate our athletes who won and brought honor to the country in yesterday’s events in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia,” he said.
The Philippines has now 23 gold, 30 silver, and 57 bronze medals, as of August 28.
President’s meeting with Kian delos Santos’ kin
During the same press briefing, Abella mentioned the President’s recent meeting with the parents of Kian Delos Santos, who was killed in a police drug bust.
The Palace official said the administration expects speedy and truthful investigations into the killing.
“Let the NBI and the DOJ do their job with impartiality, integrity and dispatch. Other agencies are welcome to undertake their own probes as mandated by the law,” Abella said.
Fight vs illegal drugs
At the same time, Malacañan called on the people to help the government in its relentless fight against illegal drugs in light of the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to assign Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido to Iloilo.
“We call on our people to unite with the state in our campaign against drugs through both police action and drug prevention and rehab with full respect for law — for human rights and the rule of law, which is the pledge of the President,” Abella said. (PND)
