PRESIDENT Arroyo will work even harder following the drop in her satisfaction rating to a record negative 38 for presidents since 1986, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said yesterday.

He said negative ratings, as shown in the second quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations, would not hamper governance. The President will continue to make decisions she deems beneficial for the country even at the cost of her popularity, he said.

The June 27-30 SWS survey showed Arroyo’s net satisfaction rating has plunged from negative 33 in May 2005. It was the fourth consecutive quarterly drop in her net rating since June 2007, when it was a neutral negative 3, according to the SWS.

Dureza said: "Ang Pangulo lalong tumitindi ang kanyang trabaho pag ganito iyung mga sinasabi na mababa ang kanyang popularity, kaya araw-araw nasa labas siya at sa trabaho siya tutok. Governance is very important…Hindi (siya) apektado, mas lalong tumitindi ang kanyang focus," he said.

Arroyo flew to General Santos City to inspect the jathropa production in Apopong and then proceeded to the DOLE Philippines plantation in Polomolok, South Cotabato to preside over the Region 12 Regional Disaster Coordinating Council meeting.

She was supposed to go to Makilala in North Cotabato to inspect a rubber plantation but rains prevented her from proceeding.

Dureza shrugged off calls for a Cabinet revamp because of her plunging rating.

"That is her judgment call, kung sino iyung gusto niyang kasama sa trabaho. So far sa ngayon dahil tumitindi iyung need for focused governance work, kailangan niya lahat ng myembro ng Cabinet to be closely working with her, apace with her. Pero ang bottom line, ang Pangulo ang may final discretion niyan," he said.

Among those calling for a revamp was former Senate President Franklin Drilon.

On Malacañang’s offer for Gabriel Claudio to return to his post as presidential adviser for political affairs, Dureza said the Palace is awaiting response from Claudio, now a director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Claudio resigned in August last year after undergoing spinal surgery for congenital scoliosis and compressed spinal nerves.