Trusted

WITH 85% approval for his performance in the past three months, Vice President Jejomar Binay is enjoying the highest approval and trust ratings (85 percent approval rating and 86 percent trust rating) anew among key government officials in the latest Pulse Asia Survey.
The country’s chief executive, President Benigno Aquino III, received 77% approval and 75% trust ratings — a commendable feat by a Philippine president in the past decades.
The two highest government officials improved in numbers, indicating the appreciation their constituents have for them.
Aquino, who was recently conferred an honorary degree by Fordham University, is in the United States for the launching of Open Government Partnership in New York City. Reiterating his drive in alleviating poverty and creating more opportunities for Filipinos, Aquino expressed gratitude for the renewed interest of investors to the country.
The president’s economic team is also seeking reconsideration from three major international credit rating firms to have the agencies take a second look at the Philippines’ sovereign credit rating.
Meanwhile, elated on the survey results, the vice president said the renewed trust on him by the public has inspired and challenged him to do more for the people.
He credited Aquino for assigning him to address the housing needs of Filipinos and the concerns of overseas Filipinos workers, and victims of human trafficking.
To most pundits in Philippine politics, trustworthy is something we can rarely associate with politicians. Hence making the term “trusted official” – concocted through surveys – an oxymoron. It is hard to square politics with trust, not just in fact but in principle as well.
For years, politics was bruised by controversies in the past. With so much scrutiny from local and international spectators, politics in the country almost requires a miracle to redeem itself.
While Filipinos tend to hold politics and politicians in low regard, the present administration and its officials are viewed more favorably now than ever before.
Although they are a good affirmation from the people, trust and approval ratings on politicians are fairly blunt instruments. They do indicate the public’s general feelings toward a politician at a given point in time, but they don’t predict the real score of how the leaders faired in their responsibilities.
Still, looking at politicians’ favorability ratings, these numbers can provide suggestions of strengths and weaknesses, and things that need work.
For politicians, the numbers these ratings show is a yardstick that tells them of their standing among the hoi polloi. If the numbers are unfavorable, the ratings serve as a wakeup call.
If the numbers are positive, the leaders are subjected to discernment. They are given an option to either be complacent or work even harder to make a lasting impression to the public.
It’s really impossible to measure a politician’s performance. There are so many subjective factors to identify how formidable a politician can be. It is unjust to base the relationship of a leader and his followers on approval ratings alone, what matters more is the successful negotiations and compromises both parties extend to each other.
Aquino and Binay may have won plaudits for now, but challenges in their job and leadership, still lie ahead.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek Sept 21-23, 2011 Sec A pg.6)