By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. registered his lowest public trust rating since taking office, while Vice President Sara Duterte maintained majority public confidence despite the political turmoil surrounding her impeachment, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
Results of the nationwide survey, conducted from June 20 to 29 and commissioned by the Stratbase Group, found that only 34 percent of Filipinos said they had “much trust” in President Marcos, down from 35 percent in the March survey.
The poll also showed that 45 percent expressed “little trust” in the President—the highest level of distrust he has received since November 2025—while 19 percent were undecided.
The latest rating marks a significant decline from the 64-percent trust score Marcos recorded in July 2024, when public confidence in his administration reached its highest level.
By contrast, Vice President Duterte maintained a 57-percent trust rating, unchanged from the previous quarter despite months of political controversy and the ongoing impeachment proceedings against her.
Only 27 percent of respondents said they had little trust in the Vice President, while 15 percent remained undecided.
The latest survey reflects the widening political contrast between the country’s two highest-ranking officials, who entered office as running mates in the 2022 elections.
In July 2024, Marcos and Duterte both posted identical 65-percent trust ratings. Since their political split later that year, however, their public standing has moved in opposite directions, with the President’s numbers steadily declining while Duterte has continued to command majority public trust.
The survey was released a week before President Marcos is scheduled to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, where he is expected to outline the administration’s priorities for the remainder of his term.
Malacañang downplayed the latest figures, saying the President remains focused on governance rather than popularity surveys.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos is prioritizing programs that directly benefit Filipinos and is not preoccupied with improving his approval or trust ratings.
She added, however, that the Cabinet should treat the survey as constructive feedback and continue improving the delivery of government services.
For Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, the findings should serve as a warning that Filipinos expect more decisive leadership.
He urged President Marcos to use his upcoming SONA to present concrete measures aimed at easing the burden of rising food prices, generating quality jobs, stabilizing inflation, and improving essential public services.
Manhit also said the administration must reinforce public trust by demonstrating a stronger commitment to accountability and transparency, particularly amid controversies involving flood control projects and other high-profile investigations.
He added that restoring confidence in government would depend not on political rhetoric but on visible action against corruption and meaningful solutions to the day-to-day concerns of ordinary Filipinos.
The SWS survey interviewed 1,200 adult respondents nationwide through face-to-face interviews conducted from June 20 to 29.
It carries a ±3-percent margin of error for national estimates and ±6-percent margins of error for each of the country’s four major geographic areas—Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao—at a 95-percent confidence level.
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