(UPDATE) PUBLIC trust in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte continued to decline, as Filipinos remained most concerned about rising prices and governance, according to two nationwide surveys released this week. The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll, commissioned by the Stratbase Group and conducted from Sept. 24 to 30, showed both top leaders losing public confidence amid persistent economic challenges. President Marcos’ trust rating dropped to 43 percent from 48 percent in June, while Vice President Duterte saw a sharper decline from 61 percent to 53 percent — her steepest fall this year. “These results reflect a shifting public mood. Filipinos are reassessing their confidence in the country’s top leaders, with both experiencing dips in trust, though the vice president’s decline is more significant,” said Stratbase Group President Victor Andres Manhit. The survey indicated that Duterte’s trust remained high in Mindanao (82 percent) but fell across other major regions — Balance Luzon (40 percent, from 49 percent), Visayas (56 percent, from 63 percent) and Metro Manila (44 percent, from 51 percent) — signaling a narrowing of her national support base. Marcos’ ratings, meanwhile, rose slightly in the Visayas (40 percent, from 37 percent) but slipped in Metro Manila (46 percent, from 50 percent) and Mindanao (27 percent, from 33 percent). Both leaders also saw weaker trust among younger and lower-income Filipinos, with Marcos’ support among Class E dropping from 50 to 38 percent, and Duterte’s ratings declining among Class D (52 percent, from 62 percent) and Class E (63 percent, from 68 percent). Manhit said the movements in trust levels show how “governance performance directly influences public sentiment.” “When people see decisive, transparent action on the issues affecting their daily lives, confidence follows. When they don’t, it erodes — no matter how popular the leader once was,” he added. The erosion in trust comes as another nationwide poll found that economic pressures remain the top concern for Filipinos. The Pahayag 2025 Third Quarter Survey (PQ3-2025), conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. from Sept. 27 to 30, revealed that 27 percent of respondents cited inflation as their most urgent issue for President Marcos to address. It was followed by growing government debt (13 percent), underemployment (10 percent), natural disasters and climate risks (10 percent), and food supply disruptions (9 percent). Despite these challenges, the survey showed broad public backing for reform-oriented policies. Nine in 10 respondents supported initiatives such as lifestyle checks for officials, expanded PhilHealth coverage under the “No Balance Billing” policy, and increased fare discounts for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The same poll reflected strong demand for transparency in infrastructure spending, with 86 percent of voters supporting the public release of contractors allegedly cornering a fifth of the P545.65-billion flood control budget, and 84 percent backing the creation of an Independent Commission for Infrastructure. PUBLiCUS also reported high approval for the administration’s recent initiatives, including the launch of the “Sumbong ng Pangulo” platform (82 percent), Marcos’ warnings to erring officials during his State of the Nation Address (82 percent) and the recent change in Senate leadership (79 percent). Manhit said the convergence of declining trust and economic anxiety underscores the growing public demand for “accountability-driven governance.” “Filipinos today are no longer swayed by rhetoric alone. They expect results — especially on the economy,” he said. The SWS survey had 1,500 respondents and a ±3 percent margin of error, while the PUBLiCUS Pahayag survey covered an equal number of registered voters nationwide through its online research panel. Marcos not bothered The Palace said Marcos is not bothered by the drop in his trust rating in the latest survey of SWS. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos continued to do his job, including fighting corruption, to improve the lives of Filipinos, especially those affected by recent calamities that struck the country. “President Marcos Jr. is clearly seen as someone who is truly working and fighting against corruption,” Castro said in a statement. “He is relentless in his efforts to improve the lives of every Filipino, even amid the calamities we are facing,” she added. Castro said that people have become more aware of who was genuinely working and caring for them — and who was focused only on personal interests. “Even though he doesn’t mind the numbers in the surveys, he is glad that our fellow citizens are now feeling that the president and the government are there for them,” she added.