President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has emerged as the country’s most approved top government official, securing the highest score among the nation’s leading leaders in a new nationwide poll.
According to the “Boses ng Bayan” survey conducted by the RPMD Foundation Inc. from April 1 to 8, the President’s top ranking was propelled by a strong combination of public trust and job approval metrics.
The non-commissioned survey, which engaged 5,000 respondents across all socioeconomic classes throughout the country, maintained a margin of error of \pm1\% at a 95% confidence level.
Marcos locked in a 57% Index of Governance (IOG) score, buoyed by a 56% trust rating and a 58% approval rating. RPMD highlighted that public confidence in the Chief Executive has held steady despite high-profile political developments, such as the swirling talks of an impeachment bid against Vice President Sara Duterte and the potential arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Geographically, Marcos registered 58% support in the Balance of Luzon, cementing it as his most solid political base. He likewise made noticeable inroads in Mindanao—historically a stronghold for the Duterte family—while voters in the Visayas remained politically fragmented but showed a slight lean toward the President.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte logged a 54% IOG score, driven by a 57% trust rating and a lower 51% approval score. While she retained robust support in Mindanao, her job approval dipped below those of other top-tier leaders evaluated in the study.
Among other top officials, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III recorded a 55% IOG rating (54\% trust and 56\% approval), while former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III obtained a 52% IOG score (51\% trust and 53\% approval).
In the Cabinet category, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the pack of top performers with an 87% IOG score. He was trailed closely by Education Secretary Sonny Angara at 85%, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla at 82%, and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon at 80%.
Other Cabinet executives making the upper tiers included:
- Executive Secretary Ralph Recto (78%)
- Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida (76%)
- Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (75%)
- Trade Secretary Cristina Roque (73%)
- Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. (72%)
- Special Assistant to the President Secretary Anton Lagdameo (70%)
RPMD executive director and global affairs analyst Paul Martinez observed that the data points toward a highly dynamic, evolving electorate focused heavily on governance performance and stability.
“This is the political mood of Filipinos now. The electorate are becoming more politically divided, but also more engaged and more discerning. Regional and class-based preferences are becoming more pronounced, reflecting a more competitive and evolving political environment,” Martinez said.