POLL TREND DOES NOT REFLECT SUPPORT OF PNOY’S OFFICIALS – CHIZ

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA)-- With the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showing a decline in President Aquino's approval ratings while his Cabinet members are gaining, Senator Chiz Escudero said the survey is indicative of a trend that is not reflective toward propping up support for the Chief Executive by his officials.

The first quarter SWS survey conducted between March 4 and 7, 2011 showed the President has a +46 net satisfaction rating, 18 points down from his +64 rating in November 2010.

In the same survey, the President's Cabinet secretaries included in the polling have shown improvements as opposed to their ratings in November last year.

"This result creates a discomfort. The survey rated the President along with another particular subset, in this case the Cabinet secretaries. What one sub-set does should reflect the other sub-set. But while the President's men are gaining grounds, the President is losing steam. Something is amiss" Escudero said.

The senator said that while Palace officials downplay the drop in the President's approval rating, they should not discount the fact that the backbone of the President, meaning his Cabinet members, does not carry the Chief Executive toward sending the right message across in relation to governance.

"The dip in the President's rating is a paradox vis-a-vis his official family. While he visibly takes the heat for the flak happening around him, it seems his men take the credit for the good things and good news," Escudero pointed out.

Escudero again put to task the Palace communication team to strengthen its efforts in spreading the achievements and endeavors of the government for the country and the people to protect the President from adverse public opinion.

"This way, people are assured that their government is sensitive to their needs, their welfare, that their President is on top of these efforts and labor to provide it to them. The system of governance is parallel to communication system, they are two entities hard to separate," Escudero said. (PIA V/Off. of Sen. Escudero)