By ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

Filipinos’ trust in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declined, while trust in Vice President Sara Duterte remained unchanged in the Pulse Asia’s second quarter of 2024 survey results released on Wednesday, July 17.

The survey, conducted from June 17 to 24, found that President Marcos' trust rating declined to 52 percent from 57 percent in March, while Vice President Duterte's remained stable at 71 percent.

Pulse Asia noted that both officials enjoyed “small to big majority” trust ratings. 

However, distrust levels were notably higher towards the President (21 percent) than the Vice President (8 percent).

According to Pulse Asia, “public opinion regarding the trustworthiness of the Vice President is basically constant between March 2024 and June 2024,” while “the only changes experienced by the President during the said period are the increase in the level of distrust in him at the national level (+6 percentage points) and the rest of Luzon (+13 percentage points).”

Vice President Duterte received majority trust ratings across all geographic areas, ranging from 56 percent to 95 percent, and among different socio-economic classes, ranging from 59 percent to 80 percent.

Meanwhile, President Marcos garnered majority trust scores in specific regions, such as Metro Manila (59 percent), the rest of Luzon (58 percent), and the Visayas (54 percent), as well as in socio-economic Class D (53 percent). 

His trust ratings were described as "near majority" in Class ABC (50 percent) and Class E (48 percent).

Mindanawons showed mixed views on President Marcos' trustworthiness, with 35 percent expressing trust, 33 percent undecided, and 32 percent expressing distrust in him.

Performance ratings ‘statistically unchanged’

During the survey, the performance ratings of President Marcos and Vice President Duterte were revealed to be "statistically unchanged," considering the survey's ±2 percent margin of error.

Pulse Asia noted that “appreciation” continues to be the prevailing sentiment toward the work done by the President (53 percent in June 2024 from 55 percent in March 2024) and the Vice President (69 percent from 67 percent). 

The President’s approval rating went up in Metro Manila (+14 percentage points). 

He recorded majority approval ratings in Metro Manila (61 percent), the rest of Luzon (57 percent), Visayas (56 percent), Class D (53 percent), and Class E (52 percent).

However, in Mindanao, opinions on President Marcos' work are divided into three groups—38 percent appreciate his work, 34 percent are undecided, and 28 percent criticize his performance.

Pulse Asia said the Vice ­President also experienced improvements in her approval scores in Metro Manila (+12 percentage points), Visayas (+16 percentage points), and Class E (+17 percentage points).

Vice President Duterte was the sole official among the country’s top four government leaders to gain majority approval ratings across all geographic areas and socio-economic classes, ranging from 54 percent to 95 percent and 57 percent to 82 percent, respectively.

Trust, approval scores other officials

A small to big majority trust rating was also enjoyed by Senate President Francis Escudero (69 percent) in June.

Meanwhile, Pulse Asia noted that the “plurality opinion regarding the trustworthiness of House Speaker [Martin] Romualdez is one of indecision (42 percent).”

Indecision means being unsure whether to approve, trust, disapprove, or distrust an official.

In the June survey, Romualdez’s trust rating was 35 percent.

Pulse Asia said that distrust towards Romualdez is notably higher at 23 percent, compared to just 5 percent for Escudero.

Meanwhile, indecision is the plurality sentiment towards the performance of the Speaker (45 percent).

Romualdez received a performance rating of 35 percent in June, up from 31 percent in March.

His only majority approval rating is granted by Visayans (59 percent), as ambivalence towards his performance is the plurality sentiment in Metro Manila (46 percent), the rest of Luzon (48 percent), Mindanao (48 percent), and Class D (46 percent). 

Those in Class ABC are divided, with 38 percent being undecided regarding the lawmaker’s work, 34 percent having a positive assessment, and 27 percent being critical. 

In Class E, Romualdez recorded essentially the same approval and indecision figures (41 percent versus 40 percent).

Escudero was not included in the performance survey since he became the Senate President only on May 20.

Pulse Asia’s June 2024 “Ulat ng Bayan” nationwide survey on the performance and trustworthiness of the top Philippine government officials was conducted using face-to-face interviews with 2,400 adults, aged 18 and above.