Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said the 91 percent approval rating of President Rodrigo Duterte in the latest Pulse Asia survey reflects the people’s trust and confidence in his ability to chart the right course for the country as Filipinos come to terms with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and begin to reopen and recharge the Philippine economy.
Año said the record soar in the President’s trust rating also showed that the public is more discerning and informed and can look beyond the fake news and disinformation from pundits and critics of the government who are always looking for every opportunity to discredit the government’s efforts.
“No amount of black propaganda can erase the government response and mitigation programs that has flattened the curve and has reached practically every household in the country.”
“It means that 9 out of 10 Filipinos appreciate the government COVID response which includes the dramatic increase in COVID testing capacity – the highest in South East Asia — the mega quarantine facilities, the unprecedented Social Amelioration Program for 21 million households across the country, the decreasing trend in COVID cases in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, the huge recovery rate of patients, among many others,” Año said who is also Vice Chair of the National Task Force COVID-19.
“No amount of black propaganda can erase the government response and mitigation programs that has flattened the curve and has reached practically every household in the country. The people felt and appreciate the over-all effort of government, particularly the successful repatriation of a record number of OFWs from foreign shores who were ably assisted by OWWA and DFA and the successful program for Locally Stranded Individuals through the Hatid Tulong program,” he said.
Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan survey, released last Monday, was conducted from Sept. 14 to 20 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 Filipino adults 18 years old and above showed Duterte’s approval rating up by 8 percent from 87 percent in December last year. Disapproval of his work still at five percent while five percent of the respondents were undecided.
“It means that 9 out of 10 Filipinos appreciate the government COVID response which includes the dramatic increase in COVID testing capacity – the highest in South East Asia.”
Año said the continued soar in the President’s rating disproved claims that the pandemic was the litmus test of his administration’s lack of leadership, planning, and coordination among his subordinates in the Cabinet in addressing the pandemic.
“On the contrary, it became the rallying point for people to take action and follow the government’s health protocol to prevent the spread of the virus and enable government officials to roll up their sleeves and think of innovative ways to contain the pandemic through the National Action Plan against COVID-19,” the secretary said.
“Now that the people have spoken, I call on the critics of the government to pull your punches and listen to the people,” Año said.
“Your much-need temporary silence and cooperation with government at least during the pandemic, will spell the difference in containing this problem. Now is not the for politicking but for cooperation. There will come a time for that once elections come closer but not during this pandemic please,” he stressed.