Marcos, Sara trust, performance ratings drop - survey

MANILA, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio saw their trust and performance ratings decline below the majority level in the latest Tugon ng Masa nationwide survey conducted by OCTA Research.The survey, conducted from July 4 to 11 among 1,200 adult Filipinos through face-to-face interviews, found Marcos' trust rating drop five percentage points to 49 percent from 54 percent in March, while satisfaction with his performance fell by eight points to 47 percent from 55 percent. Both figures fell below the majority threshold.Vice President Duterte trust rating fell eight percentage points to 47 percent from 55 percent and her performance rating slipped five points to 45 percent from 50 percent. OCTA said these were the lowest national trust and performance ratings recorded for the Vice President since the survey series began in October 2022.The polling firm said the President recorded the steeper decline in performance ratings, while the Vice President posted the larger drop in trust ratings.For Marcos, 32 percent of respondents said they distrusted him, while 19 percent remained undecided. On performance, 33 percent expressed dissatisfaction and 20 percent were undecided. The President retained majority trust and performance ratings only in Balance Luzon.The survey showed Marcos' largest drop in trust ratings in Mindanao by 19 percentage points and dissatisfaction with his performance by 25 percentage points compared with the previous quarter.Meanwhile, 33 percent of respondents said they distrusted Duterte, while 20 percent were undecided. Dissatisfaction with her performance reached 36 percent, with 19 percent undecided. Despite the national decline, she continued to enjoy strong support in Mindanao, where trust stood at 89 percent and satisfaction with her performance rose to 90 percent.OCTA said Duterte's losses were concentrated in the National Capital Region and Balance Luzon, while her Mindanao support remained largely intact.The polling firm noted that the survey was conducted during a period marked by several major developments, including the opening of Duterte's impeachment trial, the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, rising fuel and electricity prices, inflation concerns, and the effects of Typhoon Inday and the enhanced southwest monsoon.However, it stressed that respondents were not asked what influenced their assessments, making it impossible to attribute the changes in ratings to any specific event.OCTA said the findings should be viewed as a snapshot of public opinion during the survey period rather than evidence that any single political, economic or weather-related development caused the shifts in public sentiment.