President Duterte's soaring approval rating is testament to the "responsiveness" of his administration this late into his tenure.

Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles had this to say Friday, Dec. 31 as he highlighted the President’s 72 percent approval rating based on the latest Pulse Asia survey results.

"The President has an approval rating of 72 percent, the highest among the top officials in government. This is in our view reflects the sentiments of our people who recognize and acknowledge that under the leadership of the President, the government has responded to the concerns and issues relevant and important to our citizenry," Nograles said.

The nationwide survey was conducted from Dec. 1 to 6, 2021, or when new daily cases of COVID-19 were plummeting.

It should be noted that the survey period didn't cover the post-typhoon "Odette" relief efforts of the administration. Odette struck the country on Dec. 16, ravaging several provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao in the process.

"Bagama’t marami po tayong challenges na kasalukuyang hinaharap ay mabilis naman po ang aksiyon ng Pangulo, ang pagtugon niya sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. At siyempre nakikita po ng taumbayan ang tunay na malasakit ni Pangulo para sa bawat Pilipino dito sa ating bansa (Although we continue to face many challenges, the President has acted quickly and responded to the needs of our people. And of course our citizens have seen this genuine concern of the President for every Filipino in this country)," Nograles said.

"We assure our kababayans that the President along with this Cabinet will continue to work hard in the months with come the interest and the welfare of the Filipino people foremost in his mind," Nograles further said.

Duterte, 76, will step down from Malacañang on June 30, 2022.

The Palace earlier said that Duterte's lofty ratings at this stage in his term proves that he is not a lame duck president.