Dip in Aquino’s ratings due to failure to ease hunger, poverty – KMU

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno said today that the recent dip in Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s satisfaction rating is due to the government’s failure to ease hunger and poverty in the country.

A Social Weather Stations survey conducted in March 10-13 showed the president losing 10 per cent in his approval ratings, getting a net zero satisfaction on the issue of fighting inflation and negative three on the issue of oil prices.

“Net satisfaction with Pres. Aquino is decreasing because of his failure to give the public some form of relief from the soaring prices of petroleum products as well as of basic goods and services,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“Dissatisfaction with the president on the issue of prices is closely linked with his failure to provide workers and the poor with types of relief from hunger and poverty, such as a substantial wage increase,” he added.

“People are aware of the rising prices and how the oil companies are taking advantage of oil price hikes. And unless the president takes action on these issues, satisfaction with his government will likely drop further,” he said.

KMU noted that the SWS survey was conducted before the People’s Protest Against Oil Overpricing last March 15, which further exposed the president’s refusal to bring down oil prices.

It also condemned Malacañang’s reaction to the survey, with Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda claiming that poll results show the people’s “continued appreciation” of the government’s initiatives.

“As usual, Malacañang is turning a blind eye on what the survey says about the president’s performance, or non-performance, on economic issues,” Labog said.

“It wants to push through with its economic policies rather than listen to people who are reeling from the president’s pro-cartel and pro-capitalist policies,” he said.

“Given Malacañang’s cavalier attitude towards the recent SWS survey, it is most likely that it will carry on with the policies that have caused dissatisfaction with the president to rise in the first place,” he added.