MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continued to post a negative net approval rating while Vice President Sara Duterte stayed positive in August, according to a nationwide survey by Momentum Research.
The National Momentum Survey showed that Marcos had a net approval rating of -18.9 percentage points, with 38.5 percent of Filipino adults saying they were satisfied with his performance and 57.4 percent dissatisfied.
Duterte, meanwhile, recorded a net approval of +29.5 percentage points, with 61.3 percent approving of her performance and 31.8 percent disapproving.
The survey was conducted from Aug. 18 to 23, 2026 with respondents asked whether they considered the performance of Marcos and Duterte “good,” “very good,” “poor” or “very poor.”
Momentum Research said the gap between the two officials’ ratings varied largely across political factions, regions and generations.
Marcos received stronger ratings among older Filipinos. His net approval was +8.6 percentage points among Generation X respondents and +16.5 percentage points among Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation.
His strongest support came from those identifying themselves as Pro-Marcos, who gave him a net approval of +62.7 percentage points.
His net approval was lowest among Gen Z, Pro-Duterte, middle-income and LGBTQIA+ respondents, as well as those in Mindanao, where the rating fell below -40 percentage points among each of those groups.
In the Rest of Luzon, Marcos' rating was nearly evenly split, with 48.7 percent approving of his performance and 46.3 percent disapproving, for a net approval of +2.4 percentage points.
Duterte, on the other hand, received generally favorable ratings across most demographic groups.
Her highest net approval ratings came from Millennials at +51.1 percentage points, Pro-Duterte respondents at +86.9 points, and those with no formal education at +59.6 points or with some or completed elementary education at +51.2 points.
Mindanao gave Duterte her strongest regional rating, with 87.3 percent approving of her performance and only 7.9 percent disapproving, resulting in a net approval of +79.4 percentage points.
Her weakest ratings came from respondents aligned with her family's political rivals.
Among pro-opposition respondents, only 33.7 percent approved of Duterte's performance, while 62.6 percent disapproved, producing a net approval of -28.9 percentage points.
Among pro-Marcos respondents, Duterte registered a net approval of -12 percentage points, with 37.2 percent approving and 54.4 percent disapproving.
The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,487 Filipino adults nationwide and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
Momentum Research said the approval ratings were measured against the backdrop of the flood-control corruption scandal, rising prices of basic goods and fuel, the proposed Pax Silica hub, the postponement of the village (barangay) and youth council (Sangguniang Kabataan) elections, and Duterte's ongoing impeachment trial.
