[ad_1]
PRESIDENT Duterte’s glowing confidence ratings reflect public support for government action against the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, according to Malacañang.
“It is the promise of the president that he will do everything possible so that we can recover from the pandemic and put politics aside,” said presidential spokesman Harry Roque at an online news conference Monday.
He said many Filipinos appreciated the P200 billion Social Improvement Program (SAP) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as well as the help from other government agencies to those affected by the pandemic.
On Monday, Pulse Asia released the results of its survey of 1,200 respondents, which was conducted from September 14-20 to gauge the awareness and performance ratings of top national officials.
Low rating
Duterte had the highest approval rating of 91 percent. Only 5 percent disapproved of his performance, while the remaining 5 percent were “undecided” about it.
The same poll also covered the approval rating of other senior national officials, including Vice President Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo (57 percent); The president of the Senate, Vicente “Tito” Sotto (84 percent); The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alan Peter Cayetano (70 percent); and the president of the Supreme Court Diosdado Peralta (44 percent).
Roque attributed Robredo’s low trust rating to his frequent observations on how to improve the government’s Covid response.
“As I said before, we have yet to hear any new suggestions from Vice President Robredo. This is probably why it got a 50 percent approval rating and performance levels, ”said Roque.
Trump concern
Meanwhile, Roque said that President Duterte also expressed concern for the well-being of US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, after they both recently tested positive for Covid-19.
“You know the President and President Trump … and your message is that you wish President Trump and First Lady Melania a full and speedy recovery,” Roque said.
Duterte and Trump last spoke by phone in April about bilateral cooperation.
Trump is running for re-election in the November US presidential election against former Vice President and Democrat Joe Biden.
