MANILA - Fifty percent of Filipinos are dissatisfied with the Arroyo administration’s performance, according to the latest survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The survey conducted from September 18-21 found 30 percent of adults satisfied and 50 percent dissatisfied with the overall performance of the national government, for a poor net satisfaction rating of –20.

The latest net satisfaction ratings of the Arroyo administration is 9 points lower than the –11 in June 2009. It has been poor for three consecutive quarters since February 2009, when it was at –19.

The Arroyo administration scored poor ratings on three key issues: fighting inflation (–19), ensuring no family will ever be hungry and have nothing to eat (–20), and eradicating graft and corruption (–28).

On the other hand, it scored a good net satisfaction rating of +31 on the issue of protecting the public from disease outbreak; and moderate ratings on the issues of ensuring that all food products in the market are safe (+29), promoting the welfare of OFWs (+19), ensuring that medicines are affordable (+18), foreign relations (+12), and helping the poor (+10).

It scored neutral ratings on fighting terrorism (+5), reconciliation with Muslim rebels (+3), reconciliation with communist rebels (+3), campaigning against illegal drugs (+3), and fighting crime (–8).

SWS said the administration improved its satisfaction rating in three issues: reconciliation with communist rebels (up by 9 points), ensuring that all food products in the market are safe (up 5 points) and ensuring that medicines are affordable (up 4 points).

The survey used sampling error margins of ±2.3% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila and Mindanao, and ±4% for the Balance of Luzon and the Visayas. A total of 1,800 adults participated in the survey.