PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains the country’s highest‑rated public official, according to an independent, non‑commissioned survey released over the weekend.
Conducted by RPMD Foundation Inc. as part of its “Boses ng Bayan” poll, the President posted the highest Index of Governance (IOG) score among top officials at 57 percent, built from a 56 percent trust rating and a 58 percent approval rating. The IOG is calculated by combining trust and approval numbers equally to measure an official’s overall standing in governance. The survey was carried out from April 1 to 8, 2026, covering 5,000 randomly selected respondents nationwide across all social classes, with a margin of error of ±1 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
Analysts noted that Marcos’ numbers reflect sustained public confidence in his administration, with his strongest support recorded in Luzon — specifically at 58 percent in the Balance of Luzon area.
Significant gains were also observed in Mindanao, a region traditionally seen as a Duterte stronghold, while the Visayas region remains politically divided but shows a slight lean toward the President. In terms of socioeconomic breakdown, respondents from the ABC income classes expressed stronger support for Marcos, while the large Class D voting bloc was nearly evenly split between the two top leaders.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte registered an IOG score of 54 percent, based on 57 percent trust and 51 percent approval ratings.
While she still posted the highest trust rating among all officials surveyed, her approval figure was the lowest among senior political leaders included in the study, marking a decline amid ongoing political controversies and developments related to her impeachment proceedings. Despite the drop, Duterte continues to command solid backing in Mindanao at around 60 percent, and maintains a slight edge among respondents belonging to Class E.
Paul Martinez, RPMD executive director and global affairs analyst, emphasized that the results capture the prevailing political sentiment across the nation.
“This is the political mood of Filipinos now,” Martinez stated, highlighting the clear shift in preferences across different regions and social groups as the country navigates through a period of heightened political activity and institutional debates.
