Ramdam ang Discontent: Survey Says Trust in Top PH Leaders Fell Again

A new national survey is painting a rough picture for the country’s top officials, with approval and trust ratings slipping again in the first quarter of 2026. The Pahayag survey by PUBLiCUS Asia, conducted from March 21 to 24 among 1,509 registered voters, also showed a much darker public mood about where the country is headed.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. posted an approval rating of 19 percent, down from 22 percent, while his trust rating fell to 13 percent. Respondents linked the decline to issues such as accountability questions over flood control projects, backlash tied to developments involving former president Rodrigo Duterte and the ICC, and frustration over rising fuel prices.

Vice President Sara Duterte remained the highest-rated among top officials, but her numbers also weakened. Her approval went down to 28 percent from 34 percent, while trust dropped to 26 percent from 31 percent, with the survey report pointing to impeachment complaints, political tensions, and developments connected to the ICC case involving her father.

The same poll found a strong rise in pessimism among Filipinos. Seventy-four percent of respondents said they had a negative outlook for the coming quarter, 56 percent expected the national economy to deteriorate further, and 48 percent believed the country was moving in the wrong direction.

The survey suggests that public frustration is no longer just about politics in the abstract. Halo-halo na siya ngayon — corruption concerns, cost-of-living pressure, fuel prices, and doubts about governance are all feeding a wider sense that everyday life is getting harder instead of better.

Source: The Manila Times