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Marcos, Duterte trust ratings fall in latest SWS survey

Marcos, Duterte trust ratings fall in latest SWS survey

MANILA, Philippines — Public trust in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte continued to weaken, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the Stratbase Group released on Wednesday showed. The nationwide poll, conducted from September 24 to 30, 2025 among 1,500 respondents with a ±3 percent margin of error, showed both top officials losing ground in public confidence. Marcos’ trust rating dipped to 43 percent from 48 percent in June, while Vice President Duterte saw a sharper eight-point decline — from 61 percent to 53 percent — marking her steepest drop 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 “Dindo” Manhit. Despite maintaining overwhelming support in Mindanao, where her trust rating remains high at 82 percent, Duterte’s popularity fell in Balance Luzon (40 percent, from 49 percent), Visayas (56 percent, from 63 percent), and Metro Manila (44 percent, from 51 percent). The data point to a narrowing of her national base. Marcos’ regional performance was mixed. His trust rating rose slightly in Visayas — from 37 percent to 40 percent — but slipped in Metro Manila (46 percent, from 50 percent) and Mindanao (27 percent, from 33 percent). Analysts said the results underscore deepening regional divisions in political loyalties. Across socio-economic classes, Marcos held steady among Classes ABC at 38 percent but lost support among Class E, falling from 50 percent to 38 percent. Duterte’s ratings also dropped among Class D (52 percent, from 62 percent) and Class E (63 percent, from 68 percent), suggesting eroding trust among the working and lower-income groups. Both leaders saw weaker trust among younger Filipinos. Marcos continued to struggle with respondents aged 18 to 34, while Duterte, once popular with the youth, recorded declines across all age brackets, particularly among younger and middle-aged voters. Manhit said the movements in trust ratings 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. This reflects a maturing public that evaluates leaders more on performance than personality,” he said. “Governance performance is the ultimate driver of trust,” Manhit added.

Marcos, Duterte trust ratings continue to fall in 2 national surveys

Marcos, Duterte trust ratings continue to fall in 2 national surveys

(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.

Jennifer Aniston rejects idea of adoption amid infertility struggles

Jennifer Aniston rejects idea of adoption amid infertility struggles

Jennifer Aniston has opened up about her decision not to adopt amid her struggles with infertility, saying she always hoped to have a biological child no matter how “selfish” that might sound. Aniston justified her decision in an early-access episode of “The Armchair Expert” podcast released on Tuesday, Oct. 14.  “When people say, ‘But you can adopt,’ I don’t want to adopt,” she stressed. “I want my own DNA in a little person. That’s the only way, selfish or not, whatever that is, I’ve wanted it.”  The 56-year-old star admitted that she felt “peaceful yet emotional” about the idea that […]... Keep on reading: Jennifer Aniston rejects idea of adoption amid infertility struggles

Marcos: My SALN is open to anyone who wants to see it

Marcos: My SALN is open to anyone who wants to see it

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that he and his Cabinet members will comply if the Office of the Ombudsman requests access to their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs). He remarked in a brief media interview in Malacañang when asked whether he would take the lead and allow the release of his SALN following the Ombudsman’s recent lifting of restrictions on SALN access. READ: Ombudsman Remulla lifts SALN restrictions imposed by Martires “My SALN is… Again, it will be available to whoever would like to—if you give it—if the ICI [Independent Commission for […]... Keep on reading: Marcos: My SALN is open to anyone who wants to see it

'Yan din ang gusto namin': Speaker Dy cool with livestreamed budget bicam hearings

'Yan din ang gusto namin': Speaker Dy cool with livestreamed budget bicam hearings

House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has expressed his full backing to the proposed livestreaming of the Bicameral Conference Committee meetings on the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. “‘Yan din naman ang gusto namin ever since noong tayo ay na-elect bilang Speaker. ‘Yan ang ating commitment sa ating mga kababayan — maging accountable and transparent ‘yung ating budget for next year,” Dy said in a radio interview Wednesday, Oct. 13 (That’s what we’ve wanted ever since we were elected as Speaker. That’s our commitment to our fellow citizens — for our budget for next year to be accountable and transparent.) The proposal to open the traditionally closed-door bicam hearings to the public was first floated by Dy\'s predecessor, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, earlier in the ongoing 20th Congress. The move was meant to dispel long-standing suspicions "insertions" during the final stages of the budget process. The bicam hearings are jointly held by select House members and senators. Dy said the House has already implemented similar pro-transparency measures through the creation of the Budget Amendment and Revision Subcommittee (BARSc), which replaced the old “small committee” that used to privately review amendments to the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or budget measure after plenary approval in the House The BARSc, Dy explained, institutionalized the process and made budget deliberations more open to public scrutiny by allowing broader participation from House members, agencies, and even civil society representatives. “Kaya naman doon din naitatag ang BARSc — unang pagkakataon na naging mas bukas at transparent ang ating pagdinig sa budget (That’s also why the BARSc was established — the first time our budget hearings have been more open and transparent),” Dy said. “Kasi nakikinig din po kami sa mga kahilingan at daing ng ating mga civil society kung papaano pa po natin maibabalik ang pagtitiwala ng ating mga mamamayan. ‘Yan naman ang gusto namin — ang atin pong Kongreso ay pagkatiwalaan nila,” added the Isabela 6th district congressman. (Because we also listen to the requests and pleas of our civil society on how we can restore the trust of our people. That’s what we want — for our Congress to be trusted by them.) The proposed 2026 outlay was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives last Monday, Oct. 13. Unprogrammed appropriations Dy, in the same interview, assured the public that the ₱249-billion unprogrammed appropriations (UA) under the 2026 GAB will be lawful, transparent and strictly regulated. He said it would act only as a fiscal reserve that can be used when government revenues exceed targets. “Ang [UA] ay reserbang pondo ng ating pamahalaan. Hindi po ito kasama sa kabuuan ng proposed budget for next year na nagkakahalaga ng ₱6.793 trillion (The [UA] are reserve funds of our government. These are not included in the total proposed budget for next year, which amounts to ₱6.793 trillion),” Dy clarfied. He said the amount—equivalent to around 3.6 percent of next year\'s GAB—is well within the 5-percent ceiling set by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) These funds, Dy noted, may only be tapped if there are excess revenues, new taxes or finalized foreign loan-assisted projects. He said the House has already removed infrastructure projects like roads, bridges and flood control from the unprogrammed list and reallocated the funds to education, health and social protection. He gave assurances that the UA will not be subject to abuse or misuse, noting that the House has imposed multiple layers of safeguards. “May mga control measures po tayong inihanda (We\'ve readied control measures),” the Speaker said.

Marikina to use local funds to complete super health center amid delay in DOH funding

Marikina to use local funds to complete super health center amid delay in DOH funding

The local government of Marikina City on Wednesday, Oct. 15, said it will fully fund the construction and completion of the Concepcion Dos Super Health Center after the Department of Health (DOH) flagged it among 297 Super Health Centers (SHCs) nationwide as non-operational and unfinished years after construction began. It released the statement after DOH Sec. Teodoro Herbosa on Wednesday led an inspection of the Marikina SHC and found that the supposed four-story health center remains stuck at Phase 1—a steel foundation now overgrown with weeds and bushes. The city government explained that Phase 1 of the project started in 2023 and was completed in 2024. P21 million was allocated for the first phase, under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), which only covered foundational works. In an earlier statement, Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro said that the funds provided by the DOH covered only the first phase of the project\'s construction, which the city government had already completed in full, including the foundation and structural works, as certified by the DOH itself. “Wag sanang iligaw ng DOH ang taumbayan sa katotohanan. Kapag nagbigay sila ng pondo, dapat buo na. Kawawa ang tao sa ginagawa ng DOH (DOH should not mislead the public from the truth. When they release funds, they should provide the full amount. The people are the ones who suffer from what the DOH is doing),” she said. “The facts are clear! The funds released by the DOH were only for the first phase of construction. It is therefore false to claim that the entire facility could have been completed with such limited funds,” she stressed. The mayor added that despite repeated follow-ups, the DOH has not released the additional funding needed for the succeeding phases of the project, which caused the delay in completion. In a letter sent to Sec. Herbosa dated October 9, 2025, the city government wrote, “The project commenced in 2023, successfully implemented and completed the Phase 1 works in 2024. Since the completion of Phase 1 in 2024, the City Government has requested the release of funds for the completion of the facility. However, up to this date, no additional funds have been downloaded by the Department.” **media[50804]** The letter also stated, “In view of this, and given the importance of ensuring continuous and accessible healthcare services for our residents, the City Government has decided to proceed with the construction and completion of the facility using locally-sourced funds or our own LGU funds.” “Dahil kailangan ng tao ang serbisyong medikal, kami na ang kusang nagdesisyon mag-allocate ng P200 million budget dito sa aming budget for 2026 (Because people need medical services, we have voluntarily decided to allocate a P200 million budget for this in our 2026 budget),” Teodoro said. “The super health center will not just give basic health services, but also integrate an autism center for people with special needs,” she added. The city government said it had already sent letters to the DOH in 2024 requesting an additional P180 million to complete the four-story Super Health Center, but no funds have been given to date. “To be clear, we have done our part as the local government to complete the first phase of the project in line with the budget provided by the DOH. Ang DOH ang may pagkukulang (It is the DOH that has yet to fulfill its part),” Teodoro stated.