An official of Pulse Asia said Tuesday that the high approval and trust ratings of President Rodrigo Duterte were due to the government’s financial aid or “ayuda” to the people during the height of the COVID-19 crisis in the country.
“They do not attribute their economic hardships to him. They are grateful for the government subsidies that they received during the ECQ and MECQ,” Ana Maria Tabunda, Research Director for Pulse Asia, told GMA News Online in a phone interview.
The Pulse Asia official refers to the social amelioration program (SAP), which provided a monthly P5,000 to P8,000 cash grant to low-income households nationwide.
Likewise, Tabunda said the respondents do not blame Duterte for the world’s longest lockdown, which prevented people from going outside to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Tabunda also said respondents also did not think that Duterte is responsible for the alleged corruption in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
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“As for the PhilHealth mess, they do not trace the graft and corruption of those under him to the President,” Tabunda said.
The Pulse Asia survey revealed that 9 out of 10 Filipinos, or 91%, approved Duterte’s performance while 5 percent disapproved, and the remaining 5 percent were undecided.
Meanwhile, the Pulse Asia survey said Vice-President Leni Robredo had 57 percent approval rating, 22 percent disapproval, and 21 percent undecided.
Senate President Tito Sotto garnered 6 percent disapproval, 84 percent approval, and 10 percent undecided.
Those surveyed gave House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano a 70 percent approval, 10 percent disapproval, and 19 percent undecided. Cayetano currently has a term-sharing conflict with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
The Palace meanwhile thanked the public for the President’s high rating.
“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa taumbayang Pilipino na ang trust at ang performance rating po ng ating Presidente ay napakataas at 91%,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a news conference in Boracay.