As the controversy surrounding alleged anomalous flood control projects continues to unfold, the approval ratings of the country’s two highest officials — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte — have both declined sharply, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.
The nationwide poll, conducted from September 27 to 30, 2025, among 1,200 respondents with a ±2.8% margin of error, showed that Marcos garnered an approval rating of 33%, while Duterte obtained 55%.
President Marcos’ approval rating dropped by 9 percentage points, while Duterte’s rating fell by 4 points compared to the previous quarter.
Regional breakdowns reveal that Marcos scored 40% in the National Capital Region (NCR), 50% in Balance Luzon, 23% in the Visayas, and a strikingly low 4% in Mindanao — traditionally considered a Duterte stronghold.
Vice President Duterte, meanwhile, maintained strong support in Mindanao with a 97% approval rating, while recording 42% in NCR, 36% in Balance Luzon, and 56% in the Visayas.
Institutional trust also took a hit, with the Senate’s approval rating dropping to 42% (down by 11 points) and the House of Representatives sliding to 30% (down by 17 points).
Analysts link the dip to the flood control corruption scandal, which has implicated several lawmakers, including former Senate President Chiz Escudero, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva, and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
The results suggest growing public discontent over corruption issues that have tainted major infrastructure projects and cast a shadow on the country’s political leadership.