PNoy, a Very Good President: Public Morale and Governance Legacy Remembered

MANILA, Philippines — Social Weather Stations (SWS) expressed its deepest condolences to the Aquino family following the passing of former President Benigno S. Aquino III, highlighting his administration’s impact on public morale, governance, and national development.

For more than a decade, SWS has preserved a photograph of its board of directors’ courtesy call on then-President Aquino at Malacañang on July 27, 2011, where the group presented key milestones in Philippine public opinion research. These included the First SWS Public Opinion Report from June 1986, which recorded strong public support for the Aquino presidency of Corazon Aquino, and a report on public reaction to the 1987 coup attempt, which reflected strong popular backing for democratic institutions.

According to SWS, the period under Aquino’s leadership was marked by notably high public morale. A 2016 SWS survey review found sustained optimism among Filipinos regarding their personal lives, the economy, and overall quality of life.

The surplus of personal optimists over pessimists reached a record +40 in late 2015, with “very high” optimism recorded for seven consecutive quarters. Economic optimism also remained consistently positive throughout Aquino’s term—something not commonly observed in previous administrations.

SWS data further showed that more Filipinos began reporting improvements in their quality of life starting in 2015, reversing earlier long-term trends where pessimism had generally outweighed optimism. Life satisfaction also reached 88 percent in September 2015, the highest level recorded since 2002.

The report noted broader improvements in social indicators during the Aquino administration, including declines in poverty and hunger, reduced crime victimization, and improved perceptions of government corruption among business respondents.

SWS also cited average Net Satisfaction Ratings for Aquino’s presidency at +45, considered “good,” with his final rating of +29 surpassing previous administrations. His governance was assessed positively in areas such as inflation management, anti-corruption efforts, crime prevention, foreign relations, poverty reduction, and hunger mitigation.

The report further credited major policy achievements during his term, including the Conditional Cash Transfer program, the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and the Philippines’ victory in the West Philippine Sea arbitration case.

Based on these indicators, SWS concluded that Benigno S. Aquino III’s administration set a higher standard in governance and public trust, with his leadership associated with stronger democratic institutions and improved national morale.