MANILA — Public dissatisfaction with the Marcos administration has overtaken approval, with its net satisfaction rating slipping into negative territory as Filipinos gave the government failing marks for its handling of corruption, inflation and rising oil prices, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
The administration’s net satisfaction rating fell five points to -4 in September from +1 in June, its second-lowest score since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022.
The September 21 to 27 survey found that 42 percent of Filipino adults were dissatisfied with the government’s performance, compared with 38 percent who were satisfied. Another 18 percent were undecided.
SWS classified the -4 rating as “neutral,” although it reflected a deterioration in public sentiment. The administration’s lowest rating was -13, recorded in March 2026.
More significantly, the survey showed declining government ratings across all 19 performance areas assessed compared with the previous survey.
The administration received “bad” ratings for combating corruption and controlling inflation, while its efforts to address rising oil prices, prevent oil companies from exploiting price increases (-25), and fight crimes against ordinary citizens were rated “poor.”
Despite these setbacks, education remained the government’s strongest-performing sector, earning a “very good” rating of +61 for providing basic education in public elementary and high schools and +50 for improving educational quality.
The administration also secured “good” ratings for assistance to the poor (+42), housing programs (+40), job creation (+40), disaster response (+36), and science and technology development (+30).
Its performance in food safety, public transportation and defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea received “moderate” assessments.
Geographically, Metro Manila registered the strongest dissatisfaction, posting a net rating of -21, followed by Mindanao at -17 and the Visayas at -2. Balance Luzon recorded the only positive regional rating at +7.
Compared with June, satisfaction dropped 10 points in Metro Manila, seven points in the Visayas and six points in Balance Luzon. Mindanao’s rating remained unchanged.
The sharpest demographic decline occurred among young Filipinos aged 18 to 24, whose net satisfaction plunged 26 points from +13 to -13.
College graduates also registered growing dissatisfaction, with their rating falling from -10 to -25, while respondents with some senior high school education through some college dropped from +4 to -16.
Among men, satisfaction slipped from -3 to -6, while women shifted from a positive +6 to -1.
However, respondents aged 35 to 44 gave the administration a slightly improved rating of -11 from -15, although still classified as “poor.”
Filipinos aged 55 and above remained the most satisfied age group, with their rating inching up from +17 to +18.
SWS interviewed 1,500 adults nationwide, including 600 from Balance Luzon and 300 each from Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.
The survey had a margin of error of ±3 percentage points nationally, ±4 points for Balance Luzon, and ±6 points each for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao./PN
