Survey shows Marcos maintaining trust rating

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. maintained his trust and satisfaction ratings, while Vice President Sara Duterte's significantly dropped based on the latest "Boses ng Bayan" survey of the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD). The third quarter survey showed the President with a 76 percent trust rating and a 74 percent job satisfaction rating, revealing strong, steady support from the people, even if his ratings slightly dipped by 1 percent. Dr. Paul Martinez of the RPMD explained that the 1 percent was negligible as it is "within the margin of error." "This stability signifies that Filipinos retain the same 'heartbeat' for the President's leadership as seen in the previous quarter's results. The survey underscores the public's confidence in Marcos and his alignment with the Filipino people's aspirations," he added. Duterte, on the other hand, posted a 69 percent trust rating and a 63 percent approval rating, reflecting a 7-point and 8-point drop, respectively. The changes in the vice president's ratings, according to Martinez, showed a shift in public sentiment. The survey also showed that Duterte's disapproval has risen to 17 percent for trust and 15 percent for job performance, with 14 percent undecided on trustworthiness and 22 percent on performance. While her ratings remain above the majority threshold, RPMD said these shifts highlight evolving public expectations that the vice president may need to address. The survey also showed strong public support for Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez for their people-centered governance. Escudero's leadership, with a 69 percent trust rating and a 67 percent job performance score, has bolstered the Senate's image as an independent and transparent body. The Senate's high trust (85 percent) and satisfaction (82 percent) ratings emphasize his role in enhancing legislative accountability. Romualdez, meanwhile, had a 75 percent trust rating and a 73 percent job satisfaction score. Under his leadership, the House has achieved 83 percent trust and 80 percent satisfaction, reflecting his efforts to engage communities through impactful outreach programs in collaboration with other lawmakers and President Marcos. "This hands-on, community-focused approach has positively shaped public sentiment, positioning Romualdez and his team as essential contributors to the nation's progress aligned with the Marcos administration's goals," RPMD said. Conducted from September 20-31, 2024, with 10,000 participants, the survey had a +/-1 percent margin of error and a 95 percent confidence level.