The administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte continues to enjoy the support of most Filipinos, according to a latest independent poll.
Duterte's spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday that a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed the administration's net satisfaction rating rose by 16 points from 50 in September 2018 to 66 in December 2018.
The SWS is one of the foremost public-opinion polling bodies in the Philippines.
The fourth quarter 2018 SWS survey, done on Dec. 16-19, 2018, found 76 percent of adult Filipinos satisfied, 15 percent neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 9 percent dissatisfied with the general performance of the Duterte administration, for a net satisfaction rating of 66, classified by SWS as "very good."
"This means that 76 percent of Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of the administration," Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo said the presidential palace considers this increase in satisfaction rating as a vote of public confidence and a demonstration of the people's unshakeable trust in the country's present administration, which the polling firm classified as "very good."
Aside from Duterte's "very good" satisfaction rating, the SWS survey showed that Duterte enjoyed high rating in subjects -- promoting women's rights, building and maintenance of public works, helping the poor, protecting human rights and reconstructing Marawi, the city in the southern Philippines ruined by the May 2017 battle between the government security forces and terrorists.
"These figures are loud and clear repudiations of the critics and detractors of (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.
Panelo continued, "While the administration never impelled the vocal minority from expressing their dissent, it is the time they 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, particularly with respect to the aforesaid matters."
As Duterte enters into his third year in office, Panelo said "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."
