PRESIDENT Duterte’s glowing trust ratings reflect public support for government measures against the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, according to Malacañang.
“It is the promise of the President that he will do everything so we can recover from the pandemic and to set aside politics,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press briefing on Monday.
He said many Filipinos appreciated the P200-billion Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as well as the assistance from other government agencies to those affected by the pandemic.
On Monday, Pulse Asia released the result of its survey on 1,200 respondents, which was conducted last September 14 to 20 to measure the awareness and performance ratings of top national officials.
Low rating
Duterte got the highest approval rating of 91 percent. Only 5 percent disapproved of his performance while the remaining 5 percent were “undecided” on it.
The same survey also covered the approval rating of other top national officials including Vice President Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo (57 percent); Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto (84 percent); House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (70 percent); and Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta (44 percent).
Roque attributed the low trust rating of Robredo to her frequent observations on how to improve the government’s Covid response.
“Like what I previously said, we have yet to hear any new suggestion coming from VP Robredo. This is probably why she got a 50-percent trust approval and performance levels,” Roque said.
Trump concern
Meanwhile, Roque said President Duterte also expressed his concern for the well-being of US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania after both recently tested positive for Covid-19.
“You know the President and President Trump…and his message is he wishes President Trump and First Lady Melania a full and speedy recovery,” Roque said.
Duterte and Trump last talked by phone in April about bilateral cooperation.
Trump is running for reelection in the November US presidential polls against former Vice President and Democrat Joe Biden.
Image credits: Albert Alcain/Malacañang Presidential Photographers Division via AP