MANILA-- Malacañang on Saturday hailed the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which showed a new record-high of 81 percent satisfaction rating for the Duterte administration as a "hard slap" on critics.
"The efforts of this Administration in serving the nation and the Filipinos are starting to bear fruit," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
"Our countrymen's towering satisfaction in favor of our hardships and attainments is a hard slap on the face of the opposition and our detractors who, from day one, never gave the leadership of President Duterte a chance to show them his competence in administering the nation's affairs," he added.
Panelo assured that the administration will continue to "grind for our nation's interests and betterment."
The results of the First Quarter 2019 survey conducted from March 28 to 31, 2019 by the SWS showed an overall +72 net satisfaction rating or 81 percent satisfaction rating for the administration.
This is the highest rating received by any administration since the polling firm started such survey in February 1989.
The government received the highest point of "excellent" +72 on the issue of helping the poor, followed by a "very good" +58 points on fighting terrorism and reconstructing Marawi almost two years since the siege that battered the city.
Panelo said Malacañang is "glad" that the public appreciate the current government's efforts in fighting poverty.
"Poverty-stricken areas in the Philippines have become the spawning grounds for terrorist activities. In combating terrorism, therefore, the Executive likewise pays attention to addressing the socioeconomic causes of the problem," he said.
"A whole-of-the-nation approach centered on peace and development is laid out and we are gratified that the public acknowledges it," he added. (PNA)
