Speaker Belmonte, House Rated Positively

Online, March 23, 2011 (Newswire.com) - AIM Data & Research Center
HKPH Public Opinion & Research Center

Speaker Belmonte +18%, House of Representatives +37%

Views of Speaker Belmonte: Rated Three Times Favorably

Before being elected as the 15th House Speaker, Filipinos were largely divided in their views of him-- 28% favorable and 16% unfavorable. After he became Speaker, 30% of Filipinos viewed him favorably and 14% unfavorably.

Most Filipinos don't have much opinion about House Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., yet those who have opinion of Speaker Belmonte have a very good one: Belmonte is viewed favorably by roughly three times as many people viewed him unfavorably as House Speaker.

Belmonte's latest favorable rating in the survey stands at 35%. His unfavorable ratings, meanwhile, is 11%-- meaning that more than one in three views Speaker Belmonte positively.

A 30% of those surveyed say they haven't heard enough to make a decision, while 8% are undecided and 16% don't know him.

Speaker Belmonte: Performance Ratings

Thirty-seven percent of Filipinos are satisfied of the way Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. is handling his job as Speaker of the House of Representatives, while 19% are dissatisfied-- a net of +18% in the latest poll.

By Area

The Speaker is rated high in Metro Manila with 67% "satisfied" while 17% "dissatisfied", a net of +52%.

The survey scores in Balance Luzon are: 36% "satisfied" and 17% "dissatisfied", a +19% net ratings.
In the Visayas region, the scores are: 29% "satisfied" and 21% "dissatisfied", a +8% net ratings.
In Mindanao, the scores are: 16% "satisfied" and 23% "dissatisfied", a -7% net ratings.

By Class

The December 2010 survey found Speaker Belmonte rated positively than negatively in all classes.

In class ABC, Belmonte received +40% net ratings-- 60% "satisfied" and 20% "dissatisfied".

In class D or the "masa", only 16% are "dissatisfied" while 30% "satisfied" with the Speakers performance. A +14% net ratings.

The class E scores are: a net rating of +2%, 21% "satisfied" and 19% are "dissatisfied".

By Gender

Females are more "satisfied" with the performance of Speaker Belmonte than males. 40% of females are "satisfied" while males at 345. Among males 21% are "dissatisfied" while 17% with the females. Net ratings +23% (females) and +13% (males). [See page 9, table 4]

House of Representatives: Job Approval Gets Boost

Filipinos' evaluation of the House of Representatives have grown more favorable following the assumption of a newly installed House Speaker backed by a very popular President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III.

With a 54% approval rating, Filipinos now clearly view the institution positively. The public express much more confidence in the majority members of the House of Representatives than the minority bloc. Only 17% of Filipinos currently disapprove of the way the House of Representatives doing its job. A net of +37%.

Performance Ratings of the National Administration: 7 out of 10 National Issues Appreciated By Filipinos

Approval for the Aquino administration's efforts to address key national issues is expressed by small majorities of Filipinos - Fighting graft and corruption in government (60%), job creation (56%), law enforcement (55%), poverty reduction (53%), peace (52%), environmental protection (51%) and wage increase (50%). In contrast, plurality approval ratings are scored by the national administration on three national issues - restoring people's trust in the government and its official (47%), inflation (40%) and controlling rapid population growth (40%).

Meanwhile, it is on the issues of controlling rapid population growth and controlling inflation that the Aquino administration scores its highest disapproval ratings (28% and 27%, respectively).

Survey Methodology

Results are based on face-to-face interviews nationwide conducted December 15-30, 2010 with a multi-stage probability sampling of 1,200 respondents [300 NCR; 300 Balance Luzon; 300 Visayas, 300 Mindanao] /+/-3 RP; +/-6 in major areas. Selection of provinces 10 in Luzon, 5 in Visayas, 6 in Mindanao; with Regional allocations per major area & non-quotas for Luz & Vis=selected with probability proportional to size (PPS).

Samples are weighted on the basis of gender, age, race, education, and region. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls