Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was given a score below passing grade in a poll on her performance, local media reported Friday.

The IBON Foundation of the Philippines said a poll conducted from March 14 to 29 among 1,211 respondents showed that people perceived the president as not performing well as leader and "teacher," according to local television network ABS-CBN News.

The poll results gave her a score of 72.08 percent, below the 75 percent passing grade.

Lack of substantial reforms has contributed to the people's negative perception toward the administration, said the poll.

In a similar survey done in December, Arroyo received 72.84 percent.

Asked about issues on spiraling prices of basic goods, low wages and unemployment, the respondents said Arroyo did perform as expected.

When asked if they want a change in leadership, 58.55 percent of the respondents answered positive while 20.73 percent said no.

A further 19.49 percent were undecided while 1.24 percent declined to comment.

Of those who replied yes to a change in leadership, 19.93 percent of the 709 respondents said they would vote for Senator Panfilo Lacson as President Arroyo's replacement. On second place was Vice-President Noli de Castro with 16.34 percent.

Coming in at third was former president Joseph Estrada. Tied in fourth place are Fernando Poe's widow Susan Roces and former senator Raul Roco. Former senator Loren Legarda completed the top five contenders to replace the president, the poll said.

IBON said the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

The poll came in the wake of a Social Weather Station poll showing that people trusted more the jailed former president Joseph Estrada than President Arroyo.

Source: Xinhua