Results of latest SWS survey 'clear repudiations' of Duterte critics —Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday clapped back at critics of President Rodrigo Duterte after a survey showed majority of Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of the government in the last quarter of 2018.

Net satisfaction with the government’s general performance rose 16 points from +50 in the previous quarter to +66, a Social Weather Stations poll conducted from December 16 to 19, 2018, found.

Of the 1,440 respondents, 76 percent said they were satisfied with the government's performance, 15 percent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and nine percent were dissatisfied.

“The Palace considers this increase in satisfaction rating as a vote of public confidence and a demonstration of the people’s unshakable trust to the present administration, which the polling firm classified as ‘very good,’” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

According to the survey, the highest marks received by the administration are on the following subjects: promoting women’s rights (+71); building and maintenance of public works (+70); helping the poor (+68); protecting human rights (+62) and reconstructing Marawi City (+60).

The government, however, only secured a “moderate” rating on ensuring that no family will ever be hungry (+28) and fighting inflation (+14).

“These figures are loud and clear repudiations of the critics and detractors of President Duterte who have described him as misogynistic, anti-poor and anti-human rights, and who have taken turns in questioning the ‘Build-Build-Build’ infrastructure program and lambasting the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi,” Panelo said.

The Palace official then said it was time for critics to “finally realize that a sizable but silent majority has paid no attention to their endless tirades against Duterte and the administration, as well as its policies.”

“As we go into the third year of the President’s term, the Filipinos can rest assured that we would not be lulled into complacency while we continue to roll out the programs and services he started in bringing a comfortable life for all under a peaceful and corrupt-free environment,” Panelo said. —KBK, GMA News