By: Reigh John Bench Almendras
Two different tales, two different persons. Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Photo from ABS-CBN News.
The Marcos administration received majority approval on 11 out of 13 socio-political issues based on survey assessments released by Pulse Asia on Thursday, October 13, 2022.
The current administration scores lower than the beginning of the Duterte administration which garnered majority approval on 12 sociopolitical issues.
Pulse Asia’s September 2022 Nationwide Survey on Urgent Concerns and the Performance Ratings of the National Administration on Selected Issues cover the following— calamity response (78%), controlling the spread of COVID-19 (78%), protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (68%), fighting criminality (67%), law enforcement (62%), creating more jobs (59%), increasing workers’ pay (59%), fighting graft and corruption in government (58%), environment protection (57%), defense of the country’s territorial integrity (52%), poverty reduction (39%), and control of inflation (31%)
The first 98 days of Marcos’ approval rating were negative on addressing inflation and curbing poverty. The release of results is in consideration of the persistent decline in the performance of the Marcos administration. The June to September 2022 data of Pulse Asia presented a seven percent decline in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and promoting peace in the country.
There was also an eight percent decrease in enforcing the law, a 13 percent decline in protecting the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and a 17 percent decrease in fighting criminality.
The incumbent administration showed better performance in job creation, scoring seven percent higher than former President Duterte.
There was also growth in increasing the worker’s wage with a three percent increase, reducing poverty with a two percent increase, and controlling inflation with a one percent increase.