A recent study conducted by the University of Mindanao’s Institute of Popular Opinion concluded that President Rodrigo Duterte’s policies, statement and declarations gained an approval rating of 83 percent among Davaoeños.
The study, conducted from December 3 to 10, 2016 covered 1,200 respondents using a 5 per cent margin of error and 95 per cent confidence level.
Speaking during the Habi at Kape media forum at Abreeza Mall Davao City, Prof. Adrian Tamayo said of the many controversial policies and statements, the President’s drug war came out to be the most approved policy with 99 percent.
“Almost all Dabawenyos support the drug war waged by the President,” he said.
The survey further showed that Dabawenyos approve Duterte’s policies on the liquor ban (98%), anti-smoking (97%), Endo (end-of-contract) (95%), birth control which is laced with controversies like free contraceptives and the preference for limiting to 3 children per household (94%), and publicly exposing the names involved in narcopolitics (93%).
The amnesty to NPA surrenderees and peace negotiations also obtained high approval rating with 90 percent and 89 percent respectively.
Meanwhile, Prof. Tamayo identified the President’s statement on saying sorry for allowing the burial of late president Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) as one of those which received low approval rating with 24 percent.
He explained, this is an indication that Dabawenyos supported the declaration of the President to bury Marcos and saying sorry is unnecessary.
“They approved, they mean, burying Marcos is the right thing to do,” stressed Tamayo.
Another policy which Dabawenyos do not approve was the reaching out of the President to discuss peace with the Maute group.
“Perhaps they find the effort to be unlikely for they know that the perpetrators are terrorists behind the September 2, 2016 Roxas bombing,” said Prof. John Vianne Murcia, one of UM-IPO’s researchers.
The researchers further said that the approval ratings revealed that males and females maintain similar ratings of 86 percent while widows/ers fall a point less than the rest with 85 percent.
Tamayo added that it was found out that ages 50 to 59 years old signified highest approval ratings at 88 percent followed by 36 to 49 years old at 87 percent. Meanwhile those above 60 possess the relative proposal ratings on the policies and declarations of the President at 83 percent, while those aged 18 to 35 the lowest approval rating (85%) indicated on the controversial statements and declarations of the President.
Tamayo explained that ages 50 to 59 have the highest approval rating due to their years of experience with Duterte serving Davao City as a mayor for over 20 years.
Meanwhile, the ages 18 to 35 obtaining the lowest approval rating perhaps due to their disagreement on Marcos’ burial , according to Tamayo.
The UM professor said they may conduct a national survey in the future but it depends if someone would employ them to do so.
“It was a mandate of our office to extract the opinion of Dabawenyos,” said Tamayo who added that if a national survey would be pursued, a total of 200,000 respondents will be needed.
