President Rodrigo Duterte kept his approval and trust ratings high more than a year and half into the COVID-19 crisis, independent pollster RP-Mission and Development Foundation said.
Duterte logged an overall approval rating of 77 percent and a trust rating of 72 percent in the National Capital Region, RPMD’s survey showed.
Among the Cabinet members, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Benjamin Abalos Sr. (70 percent), Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (68 percent), Public Works chief Mark Villar (66 percent), Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade (65 percent) and Trade chief Ramon Lopez (63 percent) were ranked as the top five performers in Metro Manila.
The most trusted agencies, on the other hand, are the Department of Justice (68 percent) headed by Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Department of Tourism (65 percent) led by Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Department of Foreign Affairs (63 percent) under the helm of Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.
Overall public satisfaction with the Cabinet officials as a whole stood at 57 percent.
The non-commissioned survey, conducted in Metro Manila from July 3 to 10, had 3,500 respondents.
According to Phyns Patalinghug, of the 16 Cabinet officials ranked, 10 had high approval ratings while the rest need to improve.
“At this time of the pandemic, the needs and priorities of the people have greatly changed which would require our government leaders to face it in a different manner. Such initiatives are also being recognized in social media by constituents and are also reinforced by the mainstream media,” Patalinghug added.
RPMD executive director Paul Martinez said Duterte's performance rating is commendable amid the challenges the country is currently facing.
“Majority of the constituents appreciate the efforts he has done in NCR,” Martinez said