(UPDATE) PUBLIC trust and approval ratings for the country’s top leaders declined further in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting growing dissatisfaction and pessimism amid economic uncertainty and governance concerns, the latest Pahayag survey by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. showed.
The nationwide poll, conducted from March 21 to 24 among 1,509 registered voters, shows eroding confidence across key officials, even as broader public sentiment turns increasingly pessimistic.
Marcos, Duterte ratings slide
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval rating dropped to 19 percent, down from 22 percent in the previous quarter, while his trust rating fell to 13 percent.
Respondents cited three main issues behind the decline: perceived failure to ensure accountability in flood control controversies, backlash over developments involving former president Rodrigo Duterte and the International Criminal Court, and dissatisfaction with rising fuel prices
Vice President Sara Duterte, while still the highest-rated among top officials, also posted significant declines. Her approval rating fell to 28 percent (from 34 percent), and trust dropped to 26 percent (from 31 percent).
Her numbers were weighed down by impeachment complaints, political tensions and developments linked to the ICC case involving her father.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III showed relative stability but recorded slight declines, with approval at 23 percent and trust at 14 percent.
House Speaker Faustino Dy III continued to struggle with low public visibility, posting 11 percent approval and 6-percent trust ratings.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo registered a mixed trend, with approval falling to 16 percent while trust remained relatively steady at 10 percent.
Public pessimism surges
The decline in leadership ratings comes alongside a sharp rise in public pessimism.
Seventy-four percent of Filipinos now express a negative outlook for the coming quarter, up from 58 percent previously. Half of the respondents describe the country’s current condition as weak, while only 23 percent see it as strong.
Nearly half (48 percent) believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Economic anxiety intensifies
Expectations for the national economy deteriorated markedly. A majority (56 percent) now anticipates further decline in the next quarter, a sharp increase from the previous survey period. At the household level, financial anxiety is deepening, with 36 percent respondents expecting their personal finances to worsen compared with last year.
Overall optimism has dropped significantly, with only 23 percent expecting an improvement.
At the household level, concern is rising, with 36 percent anticipating worsening personal finances — more than double last year’s figure.
Corruption, cost of living
Corruption remains the top concern, cited by 20 percent of respondents, alongside reported experiences of graft in public offices.
Economic pressures are also widespread, including rising fuel prices, difficulty affording basic goods, and insufficient wages and unmet needs.
These point to a crisis in governance and the economy shaping public sentiment.
Service agencies
Frontline government agencies continued to perform better in public perception. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority led in both approval (65 percent) and trust (45 percent), followed by the Department of Science and Technology, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. In contrast, institutions associated with politics and infrastructure, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, posted the lowest ratings.
Half of the respondents disapproved of Cabinet members’ overall performance, indicating continued dissatisfaction with the administration.
Opposition figures in the Senate performed relatively well in public perception. Sen. Bam Aquino posted the highest net favorable rating, followed by Senators Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros. In contrast, strongly negative sentiment was recorded for Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Camille Villar, Ronald Dela Rosa and Mark Villar.
Strong support for reform, transparency
Across policy issues, Filipinos overwhelmingly support tax relief measures, greater transparency in infrastructure spending and political reforms, such as banning dynasties.
Respondents were divided, however, on membership in the International Criminal Court, same-sex property rights and impeachment-related actions.
