SWS poll result disproves critics of govt disaster response – Palace spokesman

The recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll showing higher satisfaction rating for the Aquino administration proved critics of the government wrong, a Malacañang spokesperson said Monday.

In a statement, presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda particularly highlighted the administration's "very good" rating in helping victims of disasters.

"Despite negative comments made from some quarters, this survey demonstrates the people’s voice—that this administration is responsive to their needs," Lacierda said.

The SWS survey also proved that the public is satisfied with the government's reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, the Palace official added.

Earlier in the day, the SWS released survey results showing public satisfaction figures for the Aquino government recovering to a "good" +35 in September from the "moderate" +29 in June.

The same poll yielded a "very good" +52 rating for the government in terms of post-disaster response.

The Aquino government has been consistently criticized, even by local government officials, for its supposedly slow response to the needs of victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The powerful typhoon cut a swath of devastation across central Philippines last year, leaving 6,300 people dead and displacing over 1.4 million families.

Last month, Aquino signed the P170.9-billion comprehensive master plan to rebuild areas devastated by Yolanda.

Continued reforms vowed

In a separate text message, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the SWS survey results would drive the administration to pursuing further reforms for the country.

"We will continue to pursue the implementation of priority projects that will further spur and sustain the attainment of inclusive growht for the welfare of our people," Coloma said.

Lacierda, for his part, vowed that the government will "build on recent successes."

"Recognizing our citizens as the nation’s greatest resource, we continue to work to bring about reforms geared toward expansive and inclusive growth, for the benefit of current and future generations," Aquino's spokesman said.

Although the administration's public satisfaction ratings improved during the third quarter of 2014, more Filipinos claimed they went hungry and considered themselves poor during the same period. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News