OCT.

6, 2012

NR # 2884C

Solons vow more hard work as House, Speaker Belmonte gets high Pulse Asia & SWS ratings
Buoyed by the record high ratings of the House of Representatives and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. as reflected in the Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys, lawmakers today vowed to remain focused at fulfilling what remains of the socioeconomic reform agenda of the 15th Congress and not allow the approaching elections to derail their legislative work. In the latest Pulse Asia Survey conducted last August 31 to September 7, the House of Representatives garnered an approval rating of 51 percent up by +6 from 45 percent in the May 2012 survey. Fewer people also disapproved of the House performance, as the chambers disapproval rating dropped to 9 percent from 15 percent in the May 2012 survey. The Pulse Asia Survey also bared higher ratings for Speaker Belmonte, whose trust rating on a national level rose to 36 percent from 29 percent last May, while his distrust rating dropped to 14 percent from 20 percent. His approval rating also jumped to 38 percent from 37 percent last May while his disapproval rating dropped to 15 percent from 19 percent. He also registered a high awareness rating of 89 percent. The positive ratings of the Pulse Asia Survey affirmed the results of the third quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted earlier on, last August 24 to 27. The SWS survey showed the House garnering a high net satisfaction rating of 42 percent from 30 percent last May. Its public satisfaction rating also rose to 55 percent from 50 percent last May while its dissatisfaction rating dropped to 14 percent from 21 percent last May. Meanwhile, Speaker Belmonte got a higher satisfaction rating of 40 percent up from 36 percent last May while his dissatisfaction rating dropped to 20 percent from 28 percent. Deputy Speaker and Zambonga City Rep. Ma. Isabelle Climaco said the higher ratings reflect the hard work and diligence of House members and the competent leadership of the Speaker which are being acknowledged by the people through higher survey marks. This should push us to work harder to complete our remaining agenda and priority reforms for the welfare of the people. Instead of celebrating, we should work harder to complete every thing during the remaining months of the 15th Congress, Climaco said.

Rep. Janette Garin (1st District, Iloilo), a Senior Deputy Majority Leader, said the high survey ratings are a vote of confidence for House members and Belmonte for their performance and accomplishments. The high ratings mean people support and approve of our work and goals They are satisfied with our work and how we accomplish things in the limited time we have. We should complement this trust on us with more achievements under the able leadership of Speaker Belmonte, Garin said. Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano (2nd District, Davao City), an Assistant Majority Leader, said the upcoming political campaign and elections should not distract House members from pursuing their pro-people, pro-poor agenda. Time and again, weve proven our diligence and determination to pass vital measures for the benefit of the nation and the people. In fact, before going on recess last month, we passed the 2013 empowerment budget along with 16 bills of national significance and 35 local bills. Our marathon hearings enabled us to pass on second reading the 2013 national budget on record time. The public is well satisfied with our performance, Garcia-Albano said. Rep. Jose Aquino II (1st District, Agusan del Norte), an Assistant Minority Leader , said the high survey ratings mean people feel the positive impact on their lives of the legislative work of lawmakers. We should continue delivering basic services to the people and supplement this with enactment of relevant measures to uplift their lives, Aquino said. Rep. Simeon Datumanong (2nd District, Maguindanao) acknowledged that the sense of unity and team work among House members was instrumental at attaining the goals of lawmakers. Speaker Belmonte has effectively steered us toward the right direction. I congratulate the Speaker for his able leadership that enabled him and the House to obtain high performance ratings, said Datumanong, a former Deputy Speaker. Rep. Neri Colmenares (Party-list, Bayan Muna) said the high survey ratings show that the public appreciate the pro-people stance taken by the House in many issues. Speaker Belmonte and our colleagues have proven the House of Representatives is indeed the House of the people because our main thrust is to address the needs of our constituents and institute all the necessary socio-economic reforms in our society. We should continue working hard for the people, said Colmenares, a Vice Chairman of the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms. (30) rbb