Marcos, Sara trust ratings decline further – SWS

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte both suffered further declines in their trust ratings in the latest commissioned survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The Jan. 17 to 20 survey, commissioned by Stratbase group, found that 50 percent of the respondents had “much trust” in the President.

In July 2024, trust in Marcos was at 64 percent. It went down to 57 percent in September and 54 percent in December.

Those who had little trust in Marcos slightly increased to 26 percent, from 21 percent in July to 25 percent in both the September and December 2024 surveys.

Those who were undecided increased to 22 percent, from 14 percent in July, 17 percent in September and 19 percent in December.

Across areas, trust in Marcos remained the highest in his bailiwick balance Luzon at 60 percent (from 66 percent in December), followed by those in Metro Manila at 52 percent (same as in the previous survey), 44 percent in the Visayas (from 54 percent) and 37 percent in Mindanao (from 33 percent).

Stratbase president Dindo Manhit said the drop in the President’s trust rating “may likely be due to the growing frustration over the government’s weak response to rising inflation.”

“With the cost of essential goods continuing to rise, many Filipinos feel the administration’s efforts to ease the burden have been slow and insufficient. To restore public confidence, the Marcos administration must double-down on its responses by implementing long-term solutions to stabilize inflation and support struggling Filipino households,” he said.

Below majority

Duterte’s trust ratings, meanwhile, dropped to less than a majority in the January poll at 49 percent from 52 percent in December last year, 55 percent in September and 65 percent in July.

Those who had little trust in the Vice President slightly increased to 30 percent, from 21 percent in July, 27 percent in September and 29 percent in December.

Those who were undecided increased to 20 percent, from 13 percent in July, 16 percent in September and 17 percent in December.

Duterte continued to enjoy very high trust ratings in her bailiwick Mindanao, although it went down from 83 percent in December to 78 percent in January.

She also had majority trust ratings among respondents in the Visayas at 55 percent (from 57 percent), followed by those in Metro Manila at 36 percent (from 41 percent) and rest of Luzon at 33 percent (from 38 percent).

Manhit cited the issue of confidential funds as among the reasons for the continued decline in Duterte’s ratings.

“At a time when many are struggling with the high cost of basic necessities, the public needs a reassurance – now more than ever – that taxpayers’ money is being spent properly to benefit the Filipino people,” he said.

“The Vice President’s refusal to address questions regarding her spending of public funds is understandably eroding her public trust rating,” he added.

The January 2025 SWS survey had 1,800 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus two percent for national percentages.