Duterte’s ‘excellent’ trust rating due to ‘political will’ : Roque

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is accorded with military honors upon his arrival at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City for his attendance to the 82nd Anniversary Celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on December 20, 2017. Accompanying the President is AFP Chief of Staff General Rey Guerrero. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA— President Rodrigo Duterte’s trust rating has surged by 15 points and Malacanang attributed this to the chief executive’s “ability to exercise political will” in addressing issues on criminality and terrorism, and his bid to improve the country’s economy.

“I think the fact that he has shown that he can exercise political will to defeat terrorists and violent extremist in Marawi,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said when asked for comment during his first press briefing in Valencia, Bukidnon.

According to the SWS Net Trust Rating survey held last Dec. 8 to 16, 2017, Duterte’s trust ratings rose to +75 in December 2017 or a 15-point jump from +60 in September last year.

The SWS considered the net trust rating as “excellent”, showing high public satisfaction with the performance of the chief executive across all socio-economic clusters and in all education levels in both urban and rural areas.

Roque said Duterte continues to enjoy high trust ratings based on an all-time high optimism of the Filipino and an all-time high manufacturing output.

“So all this indicate that the economy is growing as his promised. He has promoted the rule of law against the threat of terrorism. And of course, he is winning the war against drugs,” Roque said.

Despite the President’s trust ratings rebounding to “excellent,” Roque said the Duterte administration promised to leave no stone unturned.

“We therefore assure that everyone, that the Chief Executive together with his team will remain undistracted in improving the lives of the poor and marginalized, fighting criminality and enforcing the law and curbing graft and corruption in government,” Roque said.

‘Excellence’ in other areas

Meanwhile, Roque announced that infrastructure and capital spending in November 2017 has posted a year-on-year increase of 13.6 billion or 44.8 percent.

Roque said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) report is a welcome news, owing it to the government’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure plan.

“We assure everyone that with the implementation of the package of tax reform measures, we will expediently and efficiently use public funds to usher in the golden age of infrastructure in the Philippines,” he said.

Roque also reported that 2,615 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from home-based communities and evacuation centers in Marawi have graduated from skills training provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“The DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) has provided a 5,000 pre-employment assistance to these graduates. IDPs also underwent a series of mental and psycho-social intervention to further boost and strengthen their morale,” he said.

He said 80 representatives from various government agencies took part in Task Force Bangon Marawi programming workshops to discuss which intervention fits under the PHP10 billion budget allocated for 2018.

Roque said Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra initiated the Libreng Sakay program to lessen the IDPs’ burden of high fares and lack of transportation within cleared barangays.

“We appeal to the patience of our brothers and sisters, residents of those residing in the city their willing cooperation will immensely help,” he said.

He said the TFBM intends to clear Marawi of improvised explosive devices ahead of April, as government steps up the rehabilitation plan for the areas heavily affected by the five-month war between the government troops and ISIS-backed Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists last year.