Marcos trust rating drops to record-low 34%; Duterte steady at 57%

Vice President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. MANILA, Philippines — Ahead of his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) next week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trust rating continued to decline, reaching a new record low in the second quarter of 2026, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by think tank Stratbase Group. Vice President Sara Duterte, on the other hand, maintained a stronger level of public confidence amid her impeachment trial. Released on Sunday by Stratbase, the SWS survey, conducted from June 20 to 29, showed that 34 percent of Filipinos said they had “much trust” in Marcos, down 1 percentage point from the previous survey in March. Article continues after this advertisement This was the lowest trust rating Marcos has received since July 2024, when he posted his highest rating of 64 percent. Another 45 percent said they had “little trust” in the president—the highest level of distrust Marcos has received since 41 percent in November 2025. The remaining 19 percent of respondents were undecided. This resulted in a net trust rating (computed by subtracting the “little trust” percentage from the “much trust” percentage) of -11, breaking his previous record low of -4 in April 2025. It was the first time Marcos received a “poor” net trust rating, which SWS defines as between -10 and -29. Article continues after this advertisement Marcos’ trust rating has steadily declined since July 2024, when he and Duterte were on nearly equal footing, with high trust ratings of 64 percent and 65 percent, respectively. The president’s numbers briefly recovered in May and June last year, posting high trust ratings of 38 percent and 48 percent, respectively, before slumping in the succeeding months to a new low of 34 percent in the latest survey. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Palace: Marcos unfazed by ups and downs in approval rating Such was not the case for Duterte, who maintained a comparatively high level of public trust despite the controversies surrounding her. The survey found that 57 percent of Filipinos said they had much trust in the vice president in June 2026, unchanged from March. Twenty-seven percent said they had little trust in her, while 15 percent were undecided. This translated to a net trust rating of +30, considered “good” (+30 to +49) under SWS standards. The survey results came a week before President Marcos is set to deliver his fourth Sona on July 27. The House of Representatives has yet to confirm whether Duterte would attend Marcos’ Sona this year after skipping it in the past two years. Malacañang said on July 16 that Marcos was already finalizing his Sona speech but declined to disclose specific details or the key themes to be highlighted by the president. READ: Dissatisfaction over inflation For Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, the latest survey results should be seen as a key opportunity for the Marcos administration to respond to growing public concerns and outline its priorities for the remainder of its term. While Malacañang has dismissed the survey results, Manhit said the findings should serve as a “wake-up call” for Marcos. “As President Marcos prepares to deliver his fifth Sona, Filipinos will be looking not for rhetoric but for a clear plan to address the issues that affect their daily lives,” he said. Manhit urged the president to “demonstrate stronger political will in bringing down the cost of food and other basic commodities, ensuring stable prices, creating quality jobs, and improving the delivery of essential public services.” He also advised the president to use the Sona to reassure the public that the government is serious about strengthening accountability and good governance. “Recent controversies, including questions surrounding flood control projects and the ongoing impeachment proceedings against the vice president, have heightened public demand for transparency and responsible leadership,” he said. “The president has an opportunity to show that no one is above accountability and that public resources will be protected. Restoring public confidence begins with delivering meaningful solutions to the everyday concerns of the Filipino people,” he added. The survey polled 1,200 respondents and had a margin of error of ±3 percent for national percentages and ±6 percent for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, at a 95-percent confidence level. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. It used face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire containing visuals. /mcm