80% Of Filipinos Trust President Aquino

..MANILA, Philippines --- President Benigno S. Aquino III continues to enjoy high trust and approval ratings in the past three months, based on the Pulse Asia survey results released yesterday. The nationwide survey found that eight in 10 Filipinos approve of President Aquino's performance (78 percent) and have trust in him (80 percent) in the last three months. The survey held November 23-29 among 1,200 respondents showed that the President continues to enjoy "majority" approval and trust ratings. Mr. Aquino registered 78 percent both on his performance and trust ratings last September. Only 6 percent of Filipinos expressed appreciation for the work done by President Aquino in the past quarter, while 16 percent expressed uncertainty on the matter. Majority of Filipinos across geographic areas in Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao (74 percent to 83 percent) also gave high approval ratings for the President. Likewise, socio-economic classes ABC, D, and E (75 percent to 79 percent) are appreciative of the work done by President Aquino. The President enjoyed the same overall approval score in September and November 2012, while changes in his overall indecision and disapproval ratings are marginal (-2 and +2 percentage points, respectively). Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang is thrilled about the overwhelming public support for President Aquino. Pulse Asia said there are also no notable changes in the Presidential performance ratings in the different geographic areas and socio-economic groupings during this period. Most Filipinos also trust President Aquino, which is translated in all geographic areas (78 percent to 85 percent) and socio-economic classes (79 percent to 83 percent). Meanwhile, only 4 percent of Filipinos distrust the President while 16 percent cannot say if they trust or distrust him. Filipinos' opinions regarding presidential trustworthiness remain basically unchanged between September and November 2012, with only marginal changes occurring in President Aquino's national trust and indecision scores (+2 and -2 percentage points, respectively). In the same survey period, the national administration registered "majority" overall approval ratings on eight out of 11 issues. Pulse Asia said there were a few significant movements in the administration's performance ratings that took place between September and November 2012. Sixty-seven percent of Filipinos approve of the work done by the Aquino administration with regard to fighting criminality. It also scored high in fighting corruption (65 percent), enforcing the rule of law (64 percent), promoting peace (63 percent), protecting the environment (60 percent), defending the country's territorial integrity (57 percent), increasing the pay of workers (56 percent), and creating more jobs (55 percent). In addition, Filipinos approve of the national administration's efforts to control population growth (47 percent) and reduce poverty (44 percent). "Virtually the same approval and indecision ratings are recorded by the current dispensation on the issue of controlling inflation (40 percent versus 38 percent) - an issue considered as urgent by 51 percent of Filipinos," the pollster said. Pulse Asia noted that between September and November 2012, the only significant improvements in the national administration's approval ratings are recorded on the issues of defending the country's territorial integrity (+9 percentage points) and stopping environmental degradation (+10 percentage points). The other gains in approval are marginal in nature given the survey's overall error margin of +/- three percentage points. The survey results found that Filipinos are most critical of the administration's initiatives to reduce poverty (20 percent), control inflation (22 percent), enforce the rule of law (7 percent), defend the country's territorial integrity (7 percent), promote peace (8 percent), and fight criminality (9 percent). (With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling) ...