MEDIARELEASE

(December 06, 2011)

FROM:

Prof. Ronald D. Holmes President Pulse Asia, Inc.

RE:

Pulse Asias November 2011 Nationwide Survey on Performance and Trust Ratings of President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Performance Ratings of the Aquino Administration

Pulse Asia is pleased to share with you some findings on Performance and Trust Ratings of President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Performance Ratings of the Aquino Administration from the November 2011 Ulat ng Bayan national survey. We request you to assist us in informing the public by disseminating this information. The survey fieldwork was conducted from November 10 to 23, 2011 using faceto-face interviews. The following developments dominated the headlines: (1) the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the watch list order against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo; (2) acting on orders of Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the immigration officials' preventing the former First Couple from leaving the country despite the SC TRO; (3) the arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 18 November 2011 on charges of electoral fraud in the May 2007 elections; (4) the murder of a son of former Senator Ramon Revilla, Sr. and the alleged involvement of family members in the murder plot; (5) the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III; (6) the visit to the Philippines by U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak; (7) the Bureau of Internal

Revenues (BIR) continued campaign against tax evaders; (8) the commemoration of the second anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre; (9) the issuance of a hold departure order against retired Maj. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife following the filing of tax evasion charges against the couple; (10) government financial assistance given to several rebel groups; (11) the Supreme Court decision mandating the distribution of the lands of Hacienda Luisita to about 6,000 farmer beneficiaries; (12) the passage of the national budget by the Senate and (13) depreciation of the Philippine peso and increase in diesel prices and power rates. Other developments during this period include Saranggani Representative Emmanuel D. Pacquiaos controversial win over Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, the appointment of Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as the new chief of the Philippine Army and the inclusion of the Palawan Underground River as one of the provisional winners in the search for the new seven wonders of nature. As in our previous surveys, this nationwide survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. Those interested in further technical details concerning the survey's questionnaire and sampling design may request Pulse Asia in writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used. Pulse Asias pool of academic fellows takes full responsibility for the design and conduct of the survey, as well as for analyses it makes based on the survey data. In keeping with our academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group influenced any of these processes. Pulse Asia undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort. For any clarification or questions, kindly contact Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia President at 09189335497 or Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Pulse Asia Chief Research Fellow at 09189436816.

Pulse Asias November 2011 Ulat ng Bayan Survey: Media Release on the Performance and Trust Ratings of President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Performance Ratings of the Aquino Administration 06 December 2011 President Benigno S. Aquino III continues to enjoy big majority approval and trust ratings Most Filipinos continue to express confidence in President Benigno S. Aquino III despite the different problems being faced by his administration. In November 2011, 72% of Filipinos are appreciative of President Aquinos performance while 74% trust him. On the other hand, less than one in ten Filipinos (9%) is critical of and distrusts the President. Ambivalence toward presidential performance and trustworthiness is expressed by nearly the same percentages of Filipinos (19% and 17%, respectively). These overall figures hardly differ from those recorded by Pulse Asia in its August 2011 Ulat ng Bayan survey. Although there is a 5-percentage point decline in the Presidents national approval rating as well as a 5-percentage point increase in his overall disapproval score and a 4-percentage point rise in his overall distrust rating, these changes are marginal at best given this surveys overall error margin of +/3 percentage points. (Please refer to Table 1). President Aquino registers sizeable to big majority approval and trust ratings across geographic areas (64% to 82% and 69% to 87%, respectively) and socio-economic classes (65% to 75% and 68% to 76%, respectively). Disapproval scores range from 6% in the Visayas to 11% in Mindanao while distrust ratings vary from 3% to 11% across geographic areas. The President records basically the same disapproval and distrust ratings in the different socio-economic groupings (8% to 11% and 8% to 9%, respectively). Levels of indecision toward presidential performance and trust ratings across geographic areas (12% to 25% and 9% to 20%, respectively) and socio-economic classes (17% to 24% and 15% to 24%, respectively) are generally consistent with the national figures (19% and 17%, respectively). (Please refer to Table 1).

Table 1 PERFORMANCE AND TRUST RATINGS OF PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

Novermber 10 - 23, 2011 / Philippines (In Percent) PBSA Performance Ratings Total Philippines Location NCR Balance Luzon Visayas Mindanao Socio-economic Class Class ABC TOTAL D E PBSA Trust Ratings Total Philippines Location NCR Balance Luzon Visayas Mindanao Socio-economic Class Class ABC TOTAL D E Approve 72 64 70 82 71 65 71 75 Big Trust 74 69 71 87 70 68 73 76 Undecided 19 25 20 12 19 24 19 17 Undecided 17 20 19 9 20 24 18 15 Disapprove 9 10 10 6 11 11 10 8 Small / No trust 9 11 10 3 10 8 9 8

Notes: (1) % Approve = % Truly Approve plus % Approve; % Disapprove = % Truly Disapprove plus % Disapprove (2) % Big Trust = % Very Big Trust plus % Big Trust ; % Small Trust = % Small Trust plus Very Small Trust (3) Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding off or to Don't Know and Refuse responses.

For the most part, Filipinos assessment of presidential performance and trustworthiness remains constant between August and November 2011. During this period, the only double-digit movements in President Aquinos ratings are the decline in his approval and trust ratings in Mindanao (-10 and -12 percentage points, respectively), the drop in his approval rating in the poorest Class E (-11 percentage points) and the decrease in the level of indecision toward his trustworthiness recorded among Visayans (-12 percentage points). (Please refer to Tables 2A and 2B).
Table 2A COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE RATINGS OF PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
March to November 2011 / Philippines (In Percent)
Demographic variables

Approve
Mar 11 (A) May 11 (B) Aug 11 (C)

Change*
Nov Nov11 11 Aug11 (D) (D - C) Mar 11 (E)

Undecided
May 11 (F) Aug 11 (G)

Change*
Nov Nov11 11 Aug11 (H) (H - G) Mar 11 (I)

Disapprove
May 11 (J) Aug 11 (K)

Change*
Nov Nov11 11 Aug11 (L) (L - K)

Total Philippines NCR Balance Luzon Visayas Mindanao Class ABC TOTAL D E

74 66 72 83 78 69 72 80

71 57 73 68 79 63 70 77

77 72 76 80 81 68 74 86

72 64 70 82 71 65 71 75

- 5 - 8 - 6 + 2 - 10 - 3 - 3 - 11

18 26 20 13 15 26 19 14

21 28 20 25 15 23 22 18

18 23 19 18 14 25 20 12

19 25 20 12 19 24 19 17

+ 1 + + + 2 1 6 5

7 9 8 4 7 5 8 6

8 15 7 7 6 14 8 5

4 5 5 2 5 7 5 1

9 10 10 6 11 11 10 8

+ 5 + + + + 5 5 4 6

- 1 - 1 + 5

+ 4 + 5 + 7

Table 2B COMPARATIVE TRUST RATINGS OF PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

March to November 2011 / Philippines (In Percent)
Demographic variables

Trust
Mar 11 (A) May 11 (B) Aug 11 (C)

Change*
Nov Nov11 11 Aug11 (D) (D - C) Mar 11 (E)

Undecided
May 11 (F) Aug 11 (G)

Change*
Nov Nov11 11 Aug11 (H) (H - G) Mar 11 (I)

Distrust
May 11 (J) Aug 11 (K)

Change*
Nov Nov11 11 Aug11 (L) (L - K)

Total Philippines NCR Balance Luzon Visayas Mindanao Class ABC TOTAL D E
Note:

75 69 71 84 75 71 73 78

71 56 73 70 76 63 69 78

75 74 73 74 82 64 74 82

74 69 71 87 70 68 73 76

- 1 - 5 - 2 +13 - 12 + 4 - 1 - 6

20 24 22 13 18 26 20 18

22 29 21 24 17 25 23 17

19 21 21 21 13 25 20 16

17 20 19 9 20 24 18 15

- 2 - 1 - 2 - 12 + 7 - 1 - 2 - 1

6 7 6 2 6 2 7 4

7 15 6 6 7 12 8 5

5 5 6 5 5 11 6 2

9 11 10 3 10 8 9 8

+ 4 + + + 6 4 2 5

- 3 + 3 + 6

*Change = Figures of November 2011 minus Figures of August 2011.

Disenchantment with the Aquino administrations performance on selected national issues becomes more pronounced between August and November 2011 A majority of Filipinos approves of the Aquino administrations work in the areas of equally enforcing the law on all citizens (53%), fighting criminality (53%) and eradicating corruption in government (56%). Meanwhile, approval is the plurality sentiment toward the current dispensations efforts to control population growth (42%), increase the pay of workers (43%), create more jobs (48%), protect the environment (49%) and promote peace (50%). Almost the same percentages of Filipinos express either approval or indecision toward the Aquino administrations initiative to strengthen Filipinos trust in government and its officials (44% versus 39%). Public opinion as regards the latters performance on two issues reducing poverty and controlling inflation is basically split threeways as the administration scores essentially the same approval (32%), indecision (31% to 32%) and disapproval ratings (36% to 37%) on these concerns. (Please refer to Table 3). Even as the Aquino administration scores big plurality to small majority approval ratings (42% to 56%) on nine (out of the 11) national issues on which its performance is evaluated in this survey, disapproval for the work it has done on seven issues is more pronounced in November 2011 than six months ago. During this period, levels of disapproval for the administrations efforts to equally enforce the law on all Filipinos, create more jobs, strengthen public trust in government and its officials, increase the pay of workers, control population growth, control the increasing prices of commodities and reduce poverty increase (+8 to +15 percentage points). [It may be noted that the biggest increase in disapproval is recorded on the issue of reducing poverty] Furthermore, approval for the Aquino administrations initiatives in the areas of fighting criminality, promoting peace, increasing the pay of workers, controlling inflation and reducing poverty eases during this period (-7 to -8 percentage points). Levels of ambivalence are basically unchanged between May and November 2011, with the only significant change being the decline in the administrations indecision rating on the issue of poverty reduction (-7 percentage points). (Please refer to Table 4).

Table 3 PERCEIVED URGENCY OF SELECTED NATIONAL ISSUES AND THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION'S PERFORMANCE RATINGS
November 10 - 23, 2011 / Philippines (Row Percent)
% citing as One of Three Most Urgent Issues Approve Undecided Disapprove NAR*

National issues

Fighting graft and corruption in government Fighting criminality Enforcing the law to all, whether influential or ordinary people Increasing peace in the country Stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment Creation of more jobs Strengthening the peoples trust in the government and its officials Improving/Increasing the pay of workers Controlling fast population growth Reducing the poverty of many Filipinos Controlling inflation

37 15 20 23 17 34 10 47 10 32 56

56 53 53 50 49 48 44 43 42 32 32

24 30 30 34 32 31 39 32 33 32 31

20 17 18 16 19 21 18 25 25 36 37

+36 +36 +35 +34 +30 +27 +26 +18 +17 - 4 - 5

Q58 - 68. Nais naming malaman ang inyong opinyon tungkol sa pagganap sa tungkulin ng administrasyon ni Presidente Aquino sa pagharap nito sa mga sumusunod na isyung pambansa. Sa bawat isyung mabanggit, sa pamamagitan po ng board na ito (SHOW RATING BOARD), maaari bang pakisabi ninyo kung kayo ay TALAGANG APROBADO, APROBADO, MAAARING APROBADO AT MAAARING HINDI APROBADO, HINDI APROBADO o TALAGANG HINDI APROBADO sa pagganap sa tungkulin ng pambansang administrasyon sa mga isyu na ito? Notes: (1) % Approve = % Truly Approve plus % Somewhat Approve; % Disapprove = % Somewhat Disapprove plus % Truly Disapprove. (2) *NAR (Net Approval Rating) = %Approve minus % Disapprove (3) Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding off or to Don't Know and Refuse responses.

Table 4 COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE RATINGS OF THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION ON SELECTED NATIONAL ISSUES
October 2010 to November 2011 / Philippines
Approval Change* Undecided Change* Disapproval Change*

Selected National Issues

Oct Mar May Nov Nov11 - Oct Mar May Nov Nov11 - Oct Mar May Nov Nov11 10 11 11 11 May11 10 11 11 11 May11 10 11 11 11 May11 (A) (B) (C) (D) (D - C) (E) (F) (G) (H) (H - G) (I) (J) (K) (L) (L - K)

Fighting graft and corruption in government Fighting criminality Enforcing the law to all, whether influential or ordinary people Increasing peace in the country Stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment Creation of more jobs Strengthening the peoples trust in the government and its officials Improving/Increasing the pay of workers Controlling fast population growth Controlling inflation Reducing the poverty of many Filipinos

57 62 58 56 51 59 --56 53 45 47

56 54 49 53 48 48 --48 42 37 41

56 60 57 57 50 53 49 51 48 39 40

56 53 53 50 49 48 44 43 42 32 32

0 - 7 - 4 - 7 - 1 - 5 - 5 - 8 - 6 - 7 - 8

30 28 33 32 37 30 --31 34 34 35

29 30 35 31 36 33 --29 37 31 33

30 29 34 33 36 34 42 32 38 32 39

24 30 30 34 32 31 39 32 33 31 32

- 6 + 1 - 4 + 1 - 4 - 3 - 3 0 - 5 - 1 - 7

13 10 9 12 13 11 --14 13 21 18

15 17 15 16 16 19 --22 20 32 26

14 11 9 10 14 13 9 17 14 29 21

20 17 18 16 19 21 18 25 25 37 36

+ 6 + 6 + 9 + 6 + 5 + 8 + 9 + 8 +11 + 8 +15

*Change = Figures of November 2011 minus Figures of May 2011.