President Rodrigo Duterte still has a “very good” satisfaction score, even after it dropped this year, Malacañang said on Friday.

This, after the three results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic showed an apparent decline in Duterte’s satisfaction rating.

“That is po hindi masyadong (That is not really) alarming and it is still very good by any standard,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Results of the SWS poll found that Duterte earned an “excellent” +79 net satisfaction score in November 2020, after 84 percent expressed satisfaction with his performance, while only 6 percent were dissatisfied, and the remaining 9 percent were undecided.

Duterte’s net satisfaction rating in November last year was his highest since 2016.

However, it dropped by 14 points to “very good” +65 in May 2021, with 75 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied, and 15 percent undecided.

His net satisfaction score further declined to “very good” +62 in June 2021.

In June this year, around 75 percent expressed satisfaction with Duterte’s performance, 13 percent said otherwise, and 12 percent were ambivalent on the matter.

Roque said the poll results were expected since it is election season.

“Inaasahan naman po natin na walang Presidente na hindi bumaba sa kaniyang trust and [satisfaction] rating habang palapit na po ang eleksyon (We expect that each President experienced a decline in his trust and satisfaction ratings ahead of elections),” Roque said.

He said the Palace is expecting Duterte’s critics to look for ways to taint the reputation of the Chief Executive and his administration to gain the voters’ trust.

“Siyempre, habang mage-eleksyon na, ‘yung mga kakandidato eh hahanap ng paraan para mapababa yung rating ng administrasyon dahil kung hindi ay wala silang pagasang manalo (Of course, ahead of the elections, they would find a way to bring down the administration’s rating for them to win),” he said. (PNA)