Malacañang wants SWS to explain drop in PNoy’s ratings

Malacañang on Monday said it would ask pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) for a briefing on its May 24-27 survey that showed President Benigno Aquino III’s net satisfaction rating down by 7 points nationwide and 34 points in Metro Manila.

 

A drop in Aquino’s ratings–in surveys of both SWS and Pulse Asia–has been consistent since December, but the dissatisfaction rating in Metro Manila was “really very surprising to us,” said Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

 

“That’s something we cannot explain… You look at it… You look at the background of all the surveys being taken and suddenly you see a response which doesn’t seem to jibe with the reality under which the survey was taken,” Lacierda noted.

 

During the survey period, Mindanao gave the President a very high score while the power crisis was sowing outrage among its leaders and citizens, he said. 

 

Still, the President’s ratings remain high and he continues to enjoy majority of public support, the Palace official claimed.

 

“A survey is a snapshot of a particular time. Regardless of whether it’s up or down, the President will continue to do his job of pursuing inclusive growth in the economy and our crusade in anti-corruption,” said Lacierda.

 

The SWS survey showed Aquino’s net satisfaction rating plunging to +42 in May from +49 in March. His satisfaction rating was 63 percent and his dissatisfaction rating was 21 percent. The survey had 1,200 respondents.

 

Aquino’s satisfaction rating was 68 percent last March and only 19 percent were dissatisfied with him.

 

His net satisfaction rating was on the decline since December 2011, with +58 from +60 in 2010 when he became President. —VS, GMA News