The private business sector has released the results of its survey which ranked the performances of the government’s 69 agencies and for the first time, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) made its list of top 10 performing agencies.

The survey provides a ‘snapshot of the business sector’s perception on the current government leadership and public service’

In the 2019 Executive Outlook Survey of the Makati Business Club (MBC), the AFP is the only non-economic sector among the top ten performing agencies, posting a 78.7 percent satisfaction rating, a 29.23 percent hike from 60.9 percent in 2015.

“I think it’s a good development because the Armed Forces is part of our government. It’s good for the country,” Financial Executives of the Philippines president Atty. Eusebio V. Tan told the Daily Tribune, commenting on the AFP’s notable performance.

According to Tan, the survey showed that the people may have observed the AFP delivers better services by professionalizing its members.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) received the highest satisfaction rating of 97 percent from the survey, a 1.68 percent improvement from 95.4 percent in 2015.

The BSP is among the government agencies tasked to manage inflation, which hit an all-time high record of 6.7 percent in September and October last year. Further, the bank was able to raise interest rate by 175 basis points to retaliate the inflation.

The central bank was followed by the National Economic and Development Authority with 84.5 percent, and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration with 84.2 percent. These figures were higher by 80.3 percent and 89.4 percent, respectively.

On the fourth and fifth slots are Department of Trade and Industry with 82.8 percent, down from 84.8 percent; and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) with 81.1 percent, up from 76.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) got the most unfavorable rating as it dropped to 21.9 percent from the 29.7 percent recorded in 2015.

The lower rating may be attributed to the water shortage that plagued most of Metro Manila during the summer season when the La Mesa Dam reserves dropped below the critical level.

During the crisis, it can be recalled that stakeholders demanded stiffer penalties be imposed on the water concessionaires.

On the other hand, members of the business sector remain divided on the performance of the Office of the President, which was among the 27 agencies that registered a negative grade from the respondents. The Office got a satisfaction rating of 49 percent from 64.5 percent in 2015.

There were 100 participants from 100 firms covered in the survey.

According to MBC executive director Coco Alcuaz, the survey provides a “snapshot of the business sector’s perception on the current government leadership and public service.”

The survey would also help agencies to assess and improve their performance especially now that the Anti-Red Tape Agency is in place.