Marcos trust dips to 34%, Duterte steady at 57%

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s public trust rating fell to 34% in the second quarter of 2026, extending a months-long decline a week before his fifth State of the Nation Address, while Vice President Sara Duterte held at 57%.

The figure came from a Stratbase Group-commissioned survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS), and was down 1 percentage point from 35% in March 2026.

Meanwhile, 45% of Filipinos said they had little trust in the President, while 19% were undecided.

The latest reading continued a downward trend from Marcos’s 64% trust rating in July 2024. His trust steadily declined through 2025, briefly recovering to 48% in June 2025 before falling again in the succeeding months to 34%.

Duterte sustained a comparatively higher level of public confidence, with 57% saying they had much trust in her in June 2026, unchanged from March.

The share of respondents who said they had little trust in the Vice President rose 5 percentage points to 27%, while 15% were undecided.

The survey came a week before Marcos was set to deliver his fifth, penultimate SONA, which Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said should be seen as a key opportunity for the administration to respond to growing public concerns and outline its priorities for the remainder of its term.

Manhit said the findings “should serve as a wake-up call for the administration…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 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.”

Manhit added that Marcos should also 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,” Manhit noted.

“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 through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire with visuals.

It carried an error margin of ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, at the 95% confidence level.