What the survey says

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

President Aquino’s net satisfaction rating has dropped to its lowest level so far according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey. The poll, conducted from May 24 to 27 among 1,200 Filipinos nationwide, showed 65 percent of Filipinos remain satisfied with Aquino’s performance and 21 percent dissatisfied for a net score of +42, down by 7 points from March’s +49. Furthermore, a recent Pulse Asia survey has also been noting a gradual decline in the President’s trust and approval ratings, registering an overall disapproval rating of 10 percent in May, his first double digit disapproval score since October 2010.

While Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda expressed surprise at the survey results, many Filipinos think that instead of being baffled at the deteriorating survey results, President Aquino, the man who inspired the “Noynoying” fad, should consider it as wake-up call and convince his people that he is doing more than just fighting corruption for the country.

His anti-corruption campaign may be gaining ground and even being recognized by the international community, and the removal of the midnight appointed Chief Justice, Renato Corona, from office could provide his crusade with a much-needed boost, but PNoy must remember that winning the vaunted fight against corruption does not put food on the table of many hungry Filipinos whose patience could be wearing thin after having been willing to give him a couple of years to set things right in this country.

President Aquino cannot expect the high ratings that he enjoyed at the start of his term to stay the same or climb higher even if his government wages a successful war against corruption, if it comes at the expense of the economy and progress. Because Filipinos have seen from the impeachment and conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona that PNoy can focus the awesome power of the government to achieve something if he is really bent on it, it is but natural for us to expect him to give the other concerns of governance the same attention and focus.

If he can do that, or at least, convince his people that he is on top of the situation and that corruption is not his only concern, he and his people will not have to worry about the surveys anymore.*