SWS: Satisfaction with government still high despite rising costs

MANILA, Philippines — Overall satisfaction with the Marcos administration remained high in the fourth quarter of last year despite poor public assessment on how it handled the rising cost of basic commodities, a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The survey, conducted from Dec. 12 to 18, found that 59 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the overall performance of the national administration.

Twenty-three percent said they were dissatisfied, while 17 percent were undecided.

This resulted in a net satisfaction rating of +36, classified by SWS as “good.”

The net satisfaction rating is obtained by subtracting those who said they were dissatisfied from those who were satisfied with the performance of an institution or an official.

SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of at least +70 as “excellent”; +50 to +69 as “very good”; +30 to +49 as “good”; +10 to +29 as “moderate”; +9 to -9 as “neutral”; -10 to -29 as “poor”; -30 to -49 as “bad”; -50 to -69 as “very bad”; and -70 and below as “execrable.”

December’s net satisfaction with the national government was similar to the +36 obtained in a similar SWS survey in September 2024. It was +40 in June and +29 in March last year.

The Marcos administration had a net satisfaction rating of “very good” +68 in October 2022, the first poll conducted since it began its term in June that year.

Similar to previous polls, addressing inflation obtained the lowest satisfaction among specific issues included in the survey.

Only 37 percent said they were satisfied with how the government deals with the rising cost of commodities, while 48 percent said they were dissatisfied. The rest were undecided.

This resulted in a net satisfaction rating of “poor” -12, slightly better than the “poor” -17 obtained in the September 2024 poll.

Three issues obtained “neutral” net satisfaction ratings: eradicating graft and corruption (39 percent satisfied, 42 percent dissatisfied), ensuring oil companies do not take advantage of oil prices (38 percent satisfied, 40 percent dissatisfied) and fighting crimes that victimize ordinary citizens (44 percent satisfied, 40 percent dissatisfied).

Some 54 percent said they were