LOWEST
GRADE
Arroyo receives lowest NSR in SWS survey
By Dol Fajardo
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
received a record-low satisfaction rating in the latest Social
Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The rating was the lowest received
by a Philippine President and Arroyo’s lowest in the
past three years.
Based in the said survey conducted from June
27 to 30, Arroyo received a poor -38 net satisfaction rating
(NSR). Only 22 percent of the respondents were contended in
her governance while 60 percent were not satisfied.
The new rating broke her record low -33 NSR
some three years ago, the SWS report said.
The gross dissatisfaction rating against President Arroyo
was evident in various regions as 63 percent of Metro Manila
residents were dissatisfied with her performance, 60 percent
in the remaining areas in Luzon, 56 percent in Visayas, and
62 percent in Mindanao.
Malacañang immediately blamed the global
food and energy crises as the main reason of the dramatic
drop of Arroyo‘s rating.
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Cerge
Remonde said the hard times experienced by the public is now
being blamed to President Arroyo especially now that she is
very vocal on her support to the controversial expanded Value
Added Tax (eVAT) on oil products.
The Palace official, however, emphasized that
Arroyo is not regretting making unpopular decisions especially
if it would benefit the majority of the Filipino poor.
“The result is obviously due to the
problems confronting the country brought about by the global
food and energy crises. The President is paying a high price
for making the right decisions on very unpopular issues such
as the eVAT… It is never easy to be President of the
Philippines,” Remonde said.
“But while the President is sensitive
to public opinion, she took an oath that requires her to do
what is right not what is popular. It’s very unfair
to a very dedicated and hardworking President like Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo. But this is part of the burden of leadership
that all leaders in the world, including US president bush,
must carry. To whom much responsibility is given, much is
required,” he added.
The survey was conducted while Arroyo was
busy in her 10-day US trip while the country was suffering
from the damages brought by typhoon Frank./PN
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