ONE in two Filipinos (51 percent) do not approve of President Arroyo’s performance while almost the same number (57 percent) do not trust her because of the unresolved controversies like the NBN-ZTE deal, the Feb. 21-March 8 survey of Pulse Asia showed.

The survey, which had 1,200 respondents, showed Arroyo’s net approval rating dropping from -9 (30 percent approve vs. 39 percent disapprove) in October 2007 to -28 (23 percent approve vs. 51 percent disapprove) in March 2008.

It also showed that Arroyo’s net trust rating also dropped from -23 (23 percent big trust vs. 46 percent little/no trust) in October 2007 to -38 (19 percent big trust vs. 57 percent little/no trust) in March 2008.

The biggest level of disapproval came from Metro Manila (71 percent) and Classes ABC (61 percent). The highest distrust came from the same groups (76 percent for Metro Manila and 65 percent for Classes ABC).

The only place where Arroyo got high approval and trust ratings was in her bailiwick, the Visayas.

Of the 18 senators included in the Pulse Asia survey, most of those who got high approval ratings were from the opposition.

Filipinos were more appreciative of the work done by Loren Legarda (79 percent), Francis Joseph Escudero (77 percent), Francis Pangilinan (76 percent) and Manuel Roxas II (72 percent).

The approval rating of Sen. Jamby Madrigal rose by 10 points, from 55 percent in October 2007 to 65 percent in March 2008 because of the ZTE controversy while the indecision rating of Sen. Richard Gordon dropped by 11 points, from 40 percent to 29 percent.

Almost nine in 10 (87 percent) of Filipinos are aware of the broadband and ZTE issue while eight in 10 (82 percent) know the Senate testimony of Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr.

Of those who are aware of Lozada’s testimony, 57 percent consider his testimony to be credible.

Among the four key personalities in the ZTE issue, Lozada was considered as the most credible by 62 percent of those who knew of his testimony. Jose de Venecia III was credible to only 10 percent, acting Higher Education chair Romulo Neri to 3 percent, and former elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. to only 1 percent.

Twenty-three percent of Filipinos said all of the four witnesses are "equally not believable."

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye downplayed the results, saying President Arroyo considers "economic numbers" as more important than popularity numbers.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said Arroyo’s ratings would improve once the public realizes that there is no truth to allegations that she is involved in the NBN-ZTE controversy.

Fajardo also said Arroyo should not be blamed for the rising prices of rice, oil and other commodities because these are global matters that are beyond her control. – Regina Bengco