The majority of Filipinos want the country’s two highest-ranking officials to stay put in their respective roles, even while the latest survey by campaigns management firm PUBLiCUS Asia showed that they want better performance from their president and vice president.
In the firm’s PAHAYAG Second Quarter 2024 survey, it was revealed that the rising prices of prime commodities remains the top concern of the masses, with the worsening territorial dispute with China following at a distant second.
“Persistent issues surrounding inflation (25%) remain the primary challenge for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (PBBM), significantly impacting his overall performance rating. Other notable concerns include the dispute in the West Philippine Sea (13%) and ongoing corruption within government agencies (11%),” PUBLiCUS stated in its survey report.
Still, 60 percent of the respondents believe that president’s struggle with inflation, geopolitical tensions and corruption is not reason enough for him to resign.
The survey also showed that awareness of the “Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge” is high, with about 80 percent of Filipinos familiar with the initiative.
“Among those aware, sentiments are nearly split, with 44 percent in favor and 38 percent not in favor of reciting the new hymn and pledge during weekly flag ceremonies,” according to the survey.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio finds herself being weighed-down specters of her father’s administration.
“Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio faces challenges largely tied to issues from her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, affecting her performance rating (56%). Her role as the Department of Education Secretary also contributes to public perception (44%),” the PAHAYAG survey stated.
At the time the survey was conducted, slightly more than half, or 56 percent of the respondents nationwide wanted her to continue on as secretary of the Department of Education.
“In Mindanao, support (for Duterte-Carpio) was even stronger, with 71 percent against her resignation,” the survey further revealed.
The vice president nonetheless resigned from her role as Education Secretary on June 19.
Furthermore, the survey revealed that Duterte-Carpio’s response to a recent statement by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos “has received significant agreement from the public, with 61 percent in favor and only 11 percent in disagreement.”
The PAHAYAG 2024 Second Quarter (PQ2-2024) is an independent and non-commissioned survey.
The survey was conducted from June 15 to 19, using purposive sampling composed of 1,507 randomly drawn respondents, according to PUBLiCUS.