Ranking congressmen view the results of the latest OCTA Research survey as an affirmation of stable majority approval for President Marcos at this stage in his term.

Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V and Assistant Majority Leader Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong were referring to OCTA findings that showed the President’s approval rating at 51 percent in the fourth quarter, easing slightly from 54 percent in the third quarter.

Trust ratings, on the other hand, registered 48 percent during the same period following the third-quarter result of 57 percent.

“Majority approval remains...The survey is clear: trust ratings can move, but approval reflects performance—and on performance, the President continues to have the support of a majority of Filipinos,” Ortega said.

He said the numbers point to sustained public backing for the administration amid the pressures of reform and governance.

“Even in the fourth quarter, 51 percent of adult Filipinos continue to approve of President Marcos’ performance,” Ortega said. “That majority approval matters. It speaks to governing legitimacy.”

“The data shows stability, not collapse,” says Adiong, who like Ortega is a stalwart of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD). “Approval remains above 50 percent, and that tells us Filipinos continue to judge the President on performance.”

“What we are seeing is a steady base that continues to give the President credit for delivery...As long as the majority continues to approve of the President’s performance, the mandate remains very strong,” reckoned Adiong.

Both Ortega and Adiong acknowledged that public trust was a different matter, although they pointed out that Marcos' numbers remained strong.

“Trust can fluctuate depending on the moment, but approval endures when people see government working. The OCTA survey shows that Filipinos continue to give the President a passing mark on performance,” Ortega said.

“The President is focused on governance—on addressing the daily concerns of Filipinos and pushing reforms forward. Surveys are snapshots, but the work of government continues,” he said.

Adiong argues that trust "is more sensitive to short-term pressures and sentiment".

“Approval reflects performance, and on performance, the President still has majority support...The administration is focused on governance, delivery, and long-term reforms,” he noted.