GMA rating among Filipinos dips from 33% to 7%

MANILA, November 23, 2004 (STAR) Filipinos became more critical of
President Arroyo's performance during the first few months of her second
term, with her net approval rating down from 33 percent in June to just
seven percent last month, according to an independent public opinion
survey.

"All these political and economic problems have taken their toll on the
performance ratings of the President," Pulse Asia Inc., which conducted
the poll, said in a statement issued yesterday. "The President's overall
approval rating is the same as the lowest ever rating she has received.
since she assumed the post in January 2001."

While four out of 10 Filipinos approved of Mrs. Arroyo's performance in
security issues, the poll also showed that public criticism was sharpest
on her efforts to improve the lot of Filipinos, especially the poor.

Most Filipinos were also found to be pessimistic about their quality of
life with six out of 10 Filipinos saying "they are worse off now than
last year."

Reacting to the survey, Mrs. Arroyo's communications adviser, Silvestre
Afable, said the President has "consistently accepted a drop in ratings
as the price to pay for doing what is right for the national interest."

"The executive has experienced low ratings in the past and has
consistently shown resiliency. While the people are expressing concerns
over the social impact of high oil prices and fiscal reforms, we believe
that this is not a verdict on overall presidential leadership," Afable
said in a statement.

Forty-one percent of 1,200 Filipinos surveyed nationwide by Pulse Asia
approved of Mrs. Arroyo's performance during the last quarter, while 34
percent disapproved, giving a net performance rating of seven percentage
points. Twenty-five percent were undecided.

The latest net approval rating is a 26-percentage point drop from her
rating in June, in which 55 percent gave Mrs. Arroyo's passing marks and
22 percent failed her, for a net approval rating of 33 percent.
Twenty-two percent were undecided.

Controlling inflation was the public's highest concern, followed by
fighting corruption, maintaining peace, reducing poverty and better
wages.

"It is the rising prices of foodstuffs and oil products - an economic
issue that hits closer to home - that most preoccupies them at present,"
Pulse Asia said.

Afable maintained the Arroyo administration was not to blame. "We are
reaping the political cost of oil price hikes not of our own making and
of putting our fiscal house in order."

Combating terrorism, while a top priority of the Arroyo administration,
was among Filipinos' least concerns. However, 42 percent approved of
Mrs. Arroyo's performance in this department, compared to 28 percent, for
a 14-percentage point net approval rating. Twenty-eight percent were
undecided.

Forty-four percent approved of Mrs. Arroyo's performance in maintaining
peace in the country while 28 percent disapproved.

On the issue of curbing crime, 43 percent approved while 28 percent
disapproved.

In economic issues, 25 percent approved of Mrs. Arroyo's efforts to
control inflation while 54 percent disapproved, 29 percent approved on
the issue of reducing poverty while 48 disapproved, 34 percent approved
on increasing workers' pay while 45 percent disapproved, and 36 percent
approved on economic recovery while 37 percent disapproved.

However, on the issue of encouraging new investments to generate jobs,
40 percent said they were satisfied while 29 percent said they were not.

On the issue of eliminating graft, a serious problem for the Arroyo
administration, 32 percent said the President did a good job while 47
percent said she did not.

"This may be attributed in part to the high-profile corruption charges
against Gen. Carlos Garcia," Pulse Asia said. Garcia is undergoing
court-martial proceedings for allegedly amassing millions of pesos
illegally.

On the issue of restoring public trust in the government, 32 percent
approved and 33 percent disapproved. Thirty-five percent were undecided.

The numbers were almost similar on the issue of upholding the law.

The Pulse Asia survey also found that "pessimism remains the dominant
sentiment among Filipinos." It found that 60 percent felt they are worse
off now than the past year.

"An even bigger proportion (78 percent) considers the national quality
of life as having deteriorated in the last 12 months," Pulse Asia said.

"In addition, nearly half of Filipinos (47 percent) say they expect
their personal circumstances to worsen further in the year ahead while
about two in three Filipinos (65 percent) also express pessimism as
regards the country's state in the coming 12 months."

Pulse Asia conducts an opinion poll every quarter to gauge public
sentiment. The latest opinion poll was conducted from Oct. 22 to Nov. 6
and had an error margin of plus or minus three percentage points and a
95-percent confidence level.

Afable said the Arroyo administration is listening closely to the
criticisms.

"We acknowledge and understand the sentiments of the public and the
government is moving as one to buck the trend. Our anti-corruption
campaign takes its toll on errant officials day by day, we are cutting
waste in spending and a strong executive-legislative partnership is
pulling the train of needed revenue measures," he said.

"In the meantime, we are riding on solid gains in law and order,
stopping street crime, cutting the drug trade by half, putting a halt to
kidnapping and forging peace in Mindanao," referring to peace
negotiations with Muslim rebels.

The Arroyo administration is struggling to rein in a burgeoning budget
deficit, which economic analysts warn could throw her anti-poverty
program off track.

Rampant tax evasion, corruption, bloated state subsidies and
protectionism have been blamed for the government's fiscal woes.

Mrs. Arroyo said in August the Philippines was already in the midst of
a fiscal crisis and introduced a drastic austerity program.

Earlier this month, she said the country was now successfully avoiding
a fiscal crisis with the expected passage of a bill that will raise taxes
on cigarettes and alcohol products.

Mrs. Arroyo is counting on Congress to pass the so-called sin tax bill
and seven other tax measures that are expected to rake in an additional
P80 billion in revenue for the cash-strapped government. - With Marvin
Sy, AFP