Arroyo's popularity down

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's popularity rating has declined in the capital Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, but there is no sign of a sympathy swing to the opposition, according to an independent nationwide poll released yesterday.

Forty-eight per cent of 1,200 adult respondents told the Social Weather Stations (SWS) March 4-23 poll that they were satisfied with Arroyo's performance, while 32 per cent were dissatisfied. The figure was down slightly from the 53 per cent satisfaction rating she gained in a November 3-21 survey by the same polling organisation. SWS said the poll had an error margin of plus or minus three per cent.

"Political support for the administration remains healthy, with no sign of transfer of public sympathy to the opposition," SWS said in a statement.

The drop in the president's rating occurred mainly in metropolitan Manila, while support for her remained strong in the middle-to-upper ABC classes, and in the Visayas, it said.

The polling agency said only 31 per cent of respondents trusted Estrada, while 46 per cent distrusted him.

Arroyo welcomed the poll, said her spokesperson and press secretary Rigoberto Tiglao. She took it as "another reminder that we have to intensify our efforts to create an economic environment that generates jobs, especially for the poorest," he said.

The survey "also supports our assessment that we're way past the period of political volatility, and beyond threats to our constitutional system," Tiglao said.

"Those day-dreaming of another round of political attacks against this administration should take note of the SWS findings, so they won't waste their money."

SWS released the survey results ahead of the first anniversary of the deadly street riots unleashed in Manila by supporters of Arroyo's deposed predecessor Joseph Estrada last May 1.