Malacañang reaffirmed its policy-driven stance on Tuesday, stressing that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains focused on governance despite a marginal rise in his public approval ratings.
The latest survey, conducted between March 19 and 25, showed the President’s trust rating climbing to 54% and his performance score reaching 55%, marking a steady increase from the final quarter of 2025.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that the President’s work ethic is not dictated by statistical trends.
“Magandang nakikita at nararamdaman ng taumbayan kung ano ang ginagawa ng gobyerno. Pero muli… ang Pangulo, kahit tumaas o bumaba ang kanyang approval ratings, patuloy (na) magtatrabaho,” Castro stated.
The Palace interpreted the survey gains as evidence that government initiatives are beginning to yield tangible results.
Castro, however, also drew a sharp contrast between the President’s activity and that of other officials.
“Nagpapasalamat na rin tayo dahil nakikita nila kung sino ba talaga ang nagtatrabaho at sino lang yung nagba-bakasyon,” she added.
The remark was widely perceived as a swipe at Vice President Sara Duterte, who has faced criticism over frequent international trips. The same survey reflected a more turbulent outlook for Duterte: while her trust rating held steady at 55%, her performance score dropped to 50% from 54%.
The shifting ratings come at a critical juncture for the administration, which continues to grapple with inflationary pressures and volatile fuel costs amid global geopolitical instability.