A survey conducted by Pasig City-based political consultancy PUBLiCUS Asia, Inc. showed a “significant decline in the approval and trust ratings of key government officials and institutions” as the year drew to a close.
The company’s PAHAYAG 2024 End-of-Year Survey showed that President Marcos’s approval rating dropped from 43 percent in the previous quarter to 33 percent.
It was also revealed that Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s approval rating fell from 41 percent to 37 percent and House Speaker Martin Romualdez experienced a drop from 25 percent to 20 percent approval.
In comparison, the ratings of Vice President Sara Duterte (40% to 37% approval) and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo (28% to 25% approval) also declined but to lesser degrees.
PUBLiCUS summed up its observations by saying “Unresolved controversies have significantly affected the public perception of President Marcos and Vice President Duterte.”
The firm traced the President’s lackluster ratings to allegations of corruption (19%) and the impact of inflation (17%), which continue to strain households.
The same survey also indicated that the Vice President’s ratings were pulled down by “her remarks perceived as threats against the President and others (20%), the Commission on Audit’s Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) regarding the Office of the Vice President (19%), and her controversial comment on the exhumation of the late President Marcos Sr. (15%).”
Marked declines in the ratings of other notable legislators were also revealed.
“Among senators, Raffy Tulfo remained the top performer but saw his approval rating fall to a new low of 60%. Other senators also experienced declines, including Joel Villanueva (50% to 40%), Win Gatchalian (52% to 43%), and Loren Legarda (48% to 42%),” the company’s latest survey showed.
“Risa Hontiveros, who had previously shown consistent gains, saw a notable 12-point drop from 63% to 51%, possibly linked to reduced public visibility following the conclusion of a Senate investigation,” the firm’s report also stated.
Meanwhile, among government agencies, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) achieved the highest approval rating at 65 percent, alongside a trust rating of 47 percent.
TESDA was closely followed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with 57 percent approval and 46 percent trust, and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) with 57 percent approval and 39 percent trust.
On the opposite end, the House of Representatives, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) were the least approved and trusted agencies, the survey also showed.
PUBLiCUS said its non-commission survey was conducted from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, and involved some 1,500 respondents.