Filipinos are beginning to see the light, according to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, after President Duterte’s satisfaction rating dropped in the latest Social Weather Stations survey.
Surveys are just numbers and they are susceptible to political risks. What the administration needs to do is to use this survey as guide but not as game changer. Strategic alignment in the bureaucracy must also be taken into consideration by the current administration since a lot of its members are likened to incompetent officials or trapo (traditional politicians).
To a larger extent, the dip in Mr. Duterte’s ratings was just “part of the cycle of politics.” It should not be a cause for concern for the Duterte administration. Historical data show that presidents usually experience a dip in trust and approval ratings after their first year in office.
But the government should not be complacent. We encourage the President and his administration to view these survey results as a constructive challenge to do more for the Filipino people. Corruption, poverty, and police impunity are three important issues that deserve more attention.
The honeymoon stage may be over and people may start to feel that change is not coming, but it does not mean that the government can’t do anything.
JUMEL G. ESTRAÑERO, bluebaby_lemuj@yahoo.com