Malacañang Wednesday said it is stepping up its campaign to inform the public about programs of the administration in 2010 in a bid to shore up the job satisfaction rating of President Arroyo.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde also took the blame for the President’s -38 net satisfaction rating in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey and vowed to work harder to communicate her programs to the people well.

“I am very sad about the public approval rating of the president despite all the good things she has done and the many sacrifices she has made for our country.

“Maybe, I have failed as press secretary for ten months now to do my job of effectively communicating the achievements of our very hardworking president,” Remonde said.

“We consider this as a challenge to work harder so that the Filipino people can better appreciate what a great president this country has in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” he added.

Another Cabinet official, however, was more positive and gave Mrs. Arroyo a performance grade of 85 percent during her almost nine years in office despite her dismal popularity ratings.

Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the President did a good job after effectively dealing with difficult challenges faced by the country on the economic and security fronts in 2009.

Bello told the Manila Bulletin that the President secured the country’s survival in the face of the global financial crisis while still making significant progress in generating jobs, providing key social services, and building infrastructure this year.

However, Liberal Party presidential candidate and Senator Benigno Noynoy” Aquino III said the negative dissatisfaction ratings of President Arroyo is proof of public anger at her administration that has been marked by worsening poverty, hunger and corruption.

Aquino said President Arroyo’s performance had not changed since she came into power through the military-backed EDSA 2 civilian revolt that ousted President Joseph Estrada in 2001.

“PGMA (Arroyo’s initials) has not changed her ways. Therefore, the people’s dissatisfaction with her continues,” Aquino said in a text message.

In the SWS survey conducted last Dec. 5 to 10, at least 61 percent of the 2,100 respondents were dissatisfied with the President’s performance, while only 23 percent was satisfied.

The President’s net satisfaction rating of -38 percent was considered “bad” under the SWS rating scale and was unchanged from the last survey.