MANILA — Malacañang played down the significance of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr..’s rising trust and performance ratings, insisting that governance will continue “regardless” of survey results even as the latest poll showed a notable rebound in public sentiment.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration remains focused on delivering services, emphasizing that public opinion — whether favorable or critical — will not dictate the President’s agenda.
“Magandang nakikita po at nararamdaman ng taumbayan kung ano ang ginagawa ng gobyerno. Pero muli, sasabihin po natin, ang Pangulo kahit tumaas o bumaba ang kanyang approval ratings, patuloy pong magtatrabaho ang Pangulo,” Castro said.
She also expressed appreciation for what the Palace described as growing public recognition of the administration’s efforts.
“Hindi po maapektuhan ng negatibo, positibo, ng mga approval rating… nagpapasalamat na rin po tayo dahil nakikita nila kung sino ba talaga ang nagtatrabaho at sino lang yung nagba-bakasyon,” said Castro.
The statement came after OCTA Research released its latest Tugon ng Masa survey covering the first quarter of 2026.
The poll showed Marcos posting a 54 percent trust rating, with 30 percent of respondents expressing distrust. His performance rating also improved to 55 percent, up from 51 percent in the final quarter of 2025.
Trust in the President likewise rose from 48 percent in the previous survey period, signaling a recovery in public sentiment at the start of 2026./PN
