MANILA, March 17 (PNA) — The government is determined to regain public trust by continuously pushing for reform programs that aim to better the people’s lives, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Tuesday.
Commenting on the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey that showed a significant drop in President Benigno S. Aquino III’s approval and trust ratings, Secretary Coloma said the people’s trust is continually earned day after day, month after month, year after year.
“Matatamo po ito sa pamamagitan ng kasipagan at ipinapakitang determinasyon ng administrasyon sa pagpapabuti sa kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan,” he told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang.
Coloma attributed the drop in the President’s approval and trust ratings to the public sentiment that arose following the death of 44 police commandos while on a mission to capture international terror suspects in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January.
He said that from the outset, President Aquino has taken personal responsibility for the incident.
“The President has repeatedly said that all successes and all failures of his administration land on his doorstep. He believes that in time, the truth will set us all free. We are determined to work even harder to continually earn our people’s trust and confidence,” Coloma said.
He however noted that while public attention has been focused on the Mamasapano issue, there had been some “good news” regarding the economy.
He pointed out that the government has achieved a record amount of foreign direct investments in 2014, and more recently, has succeeded in reducing unemployment rate from 7.5 percent to 6.6 percent.
He further said that the country’s trade position continues to improve.
“Samakatuwid, marami namang magagandang pangyayari sa ating bansa na dapat pagyamanin nating lahat at patuloy pang pagtulungan upang maiangat natin ang kalagayan ng buong bansang Pilipinas,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said, the President will continue to pursue his administration’s reform agenda with the end in view of attaining inclusive growth.
“In the remaining 15 months (of his term), the President and the Cabinet will intensify the implementation of development programs and the strengthening of institutional reforms toward achieving sustainable and inclusive growth and fulfilling our people’s aspirations,” Coloma said.
In its March 2015 Ulat ng Bayan national survey, Pulse Asia Research, Inc. said President Aquino scored his lowest national approval and trust ratings since he assumed the presidency in 2010.
According to the survey, the President’s approval rating dropped by 21 percent to 38 percent, and his trust rating by 20 percent to 36 percent, compared to the previous quarter’s survey results.
This is the first time the President has posted non-majority approval and trust ratings in the Ulat ng Bayan surveys since he was first rated as president in October 2010. (PNA)