7 out of 10 Filipinos still satisfied with Aquino's performance

President Benigno "PNoy" Aquino III in a press conference in Malacanang. (Photo from SunStar.com)

According to the Social Weather Station's most recent survey, 7 out of 10 Filipinos remained satisfied with President Benigno Aquino III's performance.

The survey of SWS shows that 67% of respondents are satisfied with the government's performance in general, as opposed to 21% ambivalent and 11% dissatisfied. The survey was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2011. Geographically, the PNoy government scored well for the residents of Metro Manila (+64, from +44), stayed "very good" for Luzon (+52, from +59), Visayas (+58, from +51), and Mindanao (+56, from +63).

The PNoy government also scored well in particular issues, such as promotion of welfare of OFWs, developing tourism, and promotion of foreign relations. Subsequently, it scored poor on issues such as delivering justice to victims of Maguindanao Massacre, and ensuring that oil firms do not take advantage of oil prices. Despite the president's firm policy and campaign for accountability and against corruption, the administration obtained "moderate" scores for the issue of transparency in government activities.

I can see it as being ironic however, that the administration obtained high scores on protection of human rights (+45) despite continuous cases of extrajudicial killings in the country, and with Arroyo butcher Jovito Palparan still at large. The low scores it has obtained is a result of its very unidirectional approach to issues hounding the administration. It is evident with the case of Maguindanao Massacre, with it's crawling pace and lack of delivery of justice to victims.

The administration scored a -18 on this issue, down three from the former survey's score of -15. Additionally, the administration's neglect is evident also with its ability to control oil prices and making oil firms accountable to their alleged overpricing. The governments' hands are still tied and it cannot do anything sustainable to aid the public's burden of skyrocketing oil prices. The Oil Deregulation Law turns 14 last Friday February 10, marking the public's 14th year of worsening situation due to uncontrolled oil prices.

Despite the governments general affirmative score in the surveys, the public should also keep an eye on the issues the administration sets aside. Good governance should not be based on good "pogi" points but on promotion of social justice, equality, and accountability.