MANILA – Malacañang Palace has downplayed the reported decline in the trust and approval ratings of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., saying that his government’s performance should not be measured solely by public opinion polls.
According to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, true leadership often requires making the right decision and that the pursuit of public interest drives every action in the Marcos administration.
“True leadership always carries with it the burden to pursue courses of action that are right but may not be popular,” Bersamin said in a statement.
“Public interest is the sole driver behind every executive decision, not the pursuit of high ratings in the next opinion polls. High popularity ratings are the bonus and not the bedrock of effective public service,” he added.
Bersamin further said that the Pulse Asia survey results, which reflected a slight dip in the President’s approval and trust ratings, are merely “dipstick readings” of public sentiment at a specific moment in time.
“We respect the statement that surveys are dipstick readings of the well of public opinion,” Bersamin said.
“But we believe that the governance scorecard should not be confined to polling alone. To consider surveys as the sole indicator is to take our focus away from the more important metrics, like employment, that reliably measure our progress as a nation,” he added.
Bersamin further stressed that the Marcos administration has remained focused on key priorities, such as improving livelihoods, fostering economic growth, and ensuring the country’s future security.
“The President’s actions show we have remained focused on our critical mission of uplifting lives, growing the economy, and securing our future,” Bersamin said.
“Our achievements in these areas speak louder than any temporary fluctuations in survey results,” he added./PN
