With barely six months remaining in the President’s term of office, the nine-year Arroyo administration recorded its lowest public satisfaction rating of minus 23 in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The non-commissioned SWS nationwide poll fielded from December 5 to 10 with 2,100 respondents found that Filipinos’ satisfaction with the Arroyo government’s performance remained at a “poor” -23 (28 percent satisfied minus 51 percent dissatisfied).

SWS terminology pegs a “poor” rating between -10 and -29.

The respondents were specifically asked to answer the question, “Overall, are you happy or unhappy with the current national administration (Sa pangkalahatan, gaano po kayo nasisiyahan o hindi nasisiyahan sa kasalukuyang administrasyong national?)?”

The latest rating is lower than the previous “poor” -20 recorded in September 2009. It is also slightly lower than the previous record low of -21 earned by the administration in June 2008.

SWS also noted that the Arroyo government has remained in the “poor” category since February 2009.

Even though the quarterly net ratings of the administration have been negative in the past surveys, SWS said some results are still classified as “neutral” (+9 to –9) since December 2007.

The Arroyo administration received a “moderate” rating (+10 to +29) in August 2004 with +15, while the highest rating was recorded in 2001 after her oath of office with “moderate” +27.

The survey also asked the respondents on 14 key issues under the Arroyo administration.

The present administration recorded a “very good” rating of +51 in helping victims of disasters, and received “moderate” ratings on four issues, particularly natural calamity preparedness with +27, overseas Filipino workers’ welfare promotion with +26, affordability of medicines with +20, and assistance to the poor with +17.

The survey also showed that “neutral” ratings were recorded on six issues, namely: fight against terrorism with +4, campaign against illegal drugs (-3), reconciliation with Muslim and communist rebels with –4 and –5, respectively, and fight against crime and inflation with –9 each.

With regard to issues on fight against hunger (–15), suppression of politicians with private armies in Mindanao (–17), and eradication of graft and corruption (–27), the administration received net ratings that are under the “poor” category.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 2,100 respondents with sampling error margins of ±2.2 percent for national percentages, ±6 percent for Metro Manila and ±4 percent for the balance of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.