The Manila Times
(UPDATE) PUBLIC satisfaction and trust in the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declined in the second quarter of 2026, according to a survey released on Thursday by the polling firm Tangere. The survey, conducted from April 9 to 11, showed a 7.87-percent drop in satisfaction ratings for the Cabinet compared with January figures, alongside a corresponding 9.74-percent increase in dissatisfaction. Trust ratings also fell by 4.39 percent, resulting in a 5.19-percent rise in distrust. Tangere said the decline was observed across all Cabinet members, reflecting what it described as a broader downward trend in the executive branch. The polling firm linked the shift to public reaction to ongoing national concerns, particularly the domestic impact of the Middle East energy crisis and rising cost of living. Despite the overall drop, five Cabinet officials maintained relatively strong performance ratings, which Tangere attributed to their active public engagement, especially through social media. Education Secretary Sonny Angara ranked highest in both trust and satisfaction, followed by Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, and Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. Tangere noted that these officials were able to sustain public confidence by promoting transparency and regularly communicating their programs and initiatives online. In contrast, the lowest satisfaction ratings were recorded by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. and Amenah Pangandaman’s successor, Rolando Toledo, as Budget chief. Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin and Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldequer-Roque posted the lowest trust ratings at 31 percent, which the firm said may be tied to concerns over oil price volatility. Tangere President and CEO Martin Peñaflor said the findings suggest that communication strategy plays a significant role in shaping public perception. “The data shows a clear ‘digital dividend’ for these top officials,” Peñaflor said, noting that those who actively engage the public online were better able to maintain trust despite the broader decline. The noncommissioned survey used a mobile-based application and covered 1,500 respondents nationwide, with a margin of error of ±2.48 percent at a 95-percent confidence level. Respondents were selected through stratified random sampling, with representation from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
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