An independent and non-commissioned survey conducted by Pahayag has revealed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval and trust ratings have shown improvement. In the fourth quarter of the year, his approval rating increased from 55 percent to 58 percent. This recovery can be attributed to increased support in various regions, including North-Central Luzon (NCL), special land (SL), and the Visayas. Support from middle-income voters, Catholics, and the self-employed group also contributed to the President’s resurgence.
On the other hand, the same survey showed a decline in Vice President Sara Duterte’s approval rating, dropping from 62 percent to 59 percent. The downward trend is particularly pronounced in Mindanao, where approval decreased from 84 percent to 76 percent. Various demographic groups, including different age groups, income levels, and employment statuses, contributed to this decline.
Previous survey polls by other independent firms have also indicated a decrease in Duterte’s popularity, especially during the inquiries by the Senate and House of Representatives regarding her controversial P650 million in confidential funds. These funds, amounting to P500 million for the Office of the Vice President and P150 million for the Department of Education, were rejected by lawmakers.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, on the other hand, showed a notable recovery in the survey, bouncing back from a decline of 43 percent to 47 percent. Increased support in special land (SL) and positive shifts among different demographic groups, such as the age group 30-39 years old, middle-income individuals, Catholics, the unemployed, and college-educated individuals, contributed to Zubiri’s recovery.
The survey also revealed that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s approval rating has stabilized, although a downward trend was evident. It declined from 42 percent in the second quarter to 37 percent in the third quarter, and further to 36 percent in the fourth quarter.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo had the most stable approval rating at 37 percent and a trust rating of 28 percent. While his approval and trust ratings are relatively low, Gesmundo’s ratings remained stable across quarters, demographics, and psychographics.
In terms of trust ratings, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri showed a recovery to a flat trend, with Marcos increasing from 47 percent to 48 percent and Zubiri increasing from 33 percent to 35 percent. Vice President Sara Duterte, however, experienced a downward trend, with her trust rating decreasing from 55 percent to 53 percent. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s trust rating continued to decline from 29 percent to 25 percent.
The recent Pahayag End of Year Survey, conducted from November 29 to December 4, provides valuable insights into the approval and trust ratings of key political figures in the Philippines. The survey, conducted by Publicus Asia Inc., used purposive sampling of 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from a market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos.
These survey results shed light on the current political landscape and the shifting dynamics of public opinion. It is important to note that approval and trust ratings can fluctuate over time, influenced by various factors such as political events, policy decisions, and public perception.
Source: The Manila Times
