All top government officials’ performance and trust ratings fell significantly in the first quarter of 2024, based on the Publicus Asia survey results, which were released on Tuesday, April 2.

It said President Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo all had the lowest approval ratings since the third quarter of 2022.

“No one is spared,” Publicus Asia said in its report.

The performance ratings of the top five officials in March 2024 compared to December 2023 are: President Marcos, 44 percent versus 58 percent; Vice President Duterte, 53 percent versus 59 percent; Zubiri, 42 percent versus 47 percent; Romualdez, 25 percent versus 36 percent; and Gesmundo, 29 percent versus 37 percent.

“Disapproval is apparent outside the National Capital Region (NCR), with the steepest nosedive in Mindanao for PBBM’s (President Bongbong Marcos) approval,” Publicus Asia pointed out.

“PBBM’s decline in approval is more widespread this quarter compared to Q3 ‘23 (third quarter of 2023). VP (Vice President) Sara’s is slightly less so but still pulled down to her lowest rating in seven quarters,” it added.

Publicus Asia also noted that the least affected was Zubiri, whose approval rating only returned to what it was in the third quarter of 2023, while nearly all demographic groups pushed further declines in the approval ratings of Romualdez and Gesmundo.

Trust ratings

“With the drop in approval for the top officials, weakened trust is also expected,” Publicus Asia said.

The top five officials’ trust ratings in March 2024 compared to December 2023 are: President Marcos, 33 percent versus 47 percent; Vice President Duterte, 46 percent versus 55 percent; Zubiri, 29 percent versus 33 percent; Romualdez, 18 percent versus 25 percent; and Gesmundo, 20 percent versus 28 percent.

“Similar to approval [rating], NCR is the only area showing non-significant shift versus last quarter,” Publicus Asia said.

“PBBM is hardest hit with [significant] declines from NCL (North Central Luzon) to MIN (Mindanao). VP Sara deteriorates in NCL, SL (South Luzon), while HS Romualdez and CJ Gesmundo are spared in SL. SP Zubiri is least hit driven by VIS (Visayas),” it added.

Comparing the drop two quarters ago to the current trend of declining trust in President Marcos, it was observed that a greater number of sociodemographic groups joined the bandwagon.

While slightly less than President Marcos, Vice President Duterte also experienced marked declines in trust in a number of sectors.

Moreover, Publicus Asia said Romualdez’s trust rating has dropped to less than half of his highest rating, making him the lowest of the top five officials, followed by Gesmundo, who is only two percentage points higher.

Zubiri’s drop, however, was primarily driven by high-income households and the self-employed.

The “Pahayag 2024 First Quarter Survey” is an independent and non-commissioned survey conducted from March 14 to 18, with 1,500 respondents nationwide.