Jamaine Punzalan

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. PCO/Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17736248092412-Composite (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. PCO/Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Less than half of Filipino adults expressed appreciation for the work done by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the past three months, while approval is the predominant sentiment regarding Vice President Sara Duterte’s quarterly performance, according to a Pulse Asia survey released Monday. </p><p>Out of 1,200 adults polled by Pulse Asia from Feb. 27 to March 2, 36 percent approved of Marcos’ work, while 55 percent appreciated Duterte’s performance.</p><p>“Across geographic and socioeconomic subgroupings, the only majority approval score of the President is recorded in the rest of Luzon (54%). In contrast, disapproval for the latter’s work prevails in the Visayas (61%), Mindanao (73%), and Class E (60%),” the pollster noted. </p><p>“Almost half of those belonging to Class D (47%) also have a negative assessment of presidential performance. While the same approval and disapproval ratings are posted by the President in Metro Manila (both at 42%), a three-way divide may be observed in Class ABC (41% approval, 29% indecision, and 30% disapproval),” it added. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17736245500731773624548236.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>Meanwhile, Duterte “enjoys small to big majority approval ratings in the Visayas (72%), Mindanao (95%), Class D (57%), and Class E (81%),” Pulse Asia said. </p><p>It said half of Metro Manilans are appreciative of Duterte’s work while a big plurality of those in the rest of Luzon disapproved of her performance. </p><p>“Practically the same approval and disapproval figures are recorded in Class ABC (36% versus 44%),” it said. </p><p>&quot;Lagi akong nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kababayan sa patuloy nila na suporta at pagtitiwala sa akin, sa aking mga kasamahan sa Office of the Vice President,&quot; Duterte said of her approval ratings.</p><p>&quot;Wala kasi akong macomment sa mga survey dahil hindi ko alam kung paano siya ginawa. Sino ang nagpakumisyon noong survey,&quot; Duterte also said.</p><p>&quot;Pero ako, may survey man o wala, nagpapasalamat dahil ‘yung pagtitiwala at paniniwala ng taumbayan sa akin ay nandyan pa rin,&quot; she added. &quot;At lagi ko sinasabi tulad kanina, sabi ko, ‘yung power ko kasi o ang gahum nako ay galing iyon sa tao.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TRUST RATINGS</strong></div><p>Forty-four percent of respondents said they distrusted Marcos, while 35 percent said they trusted him and 21 percent were unable to express their sentiment. </p><p>In Duterte’s case, most adults or 54 percent trusted her, while 26 percent distrusted her and 20 percent were ambivalent.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NATIONAL CONCERNS  </strong></div><p>The need to control <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/5/inflation-quickens-to-2-4-pct-in-february-0910">inflation </a>continued to be the leading urgent national concern of Filipinos at 59 percent, Pulse Asia said. </p><p>Inflation is followed by graft and corruption in government at 47 percent and workers’ pay 36 percent.  </p><p>Corruption is the leading third-mentioned response at 19 percent.</p><p>The national administration scored its only majority approval rating for its work in protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers at 53 percent. </p><p>In contrast, small to big majorities were critical of administration efforts to reduce poverty at 53 percent;  fight corruption in government, 67 percent; deal with the problem of illegal drugs, 68 percent; and control inflation, 73 percent.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17736246580431773624656305.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>Around the time that the survey was conducted, the House of Representatives found two <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/15/wrap-deadline-for-duterte-to-answer-impeachment-complaints-draws-near-2237">impeachment complaints </a>against the Vice President “sufficient in substance”, while her father, former president<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/11/a-year-into-duterte-arrest-sara-still-insists-father-rodrigo-was-kidnapped-1059"> Rodrigo Duterte</a> faced a confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court. </p><p>Other developments around the time of the survey included anti-corruption protests and the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/14/fuel-prices-set-for-another-sharp-increase-some-drivers-consider-halting-operations-2325">surge in oil prices </a>due to the war in the Middle East. </p><p>The survey had a ± 2.8 percent error margin at the 95-percent confidence level.  -- <strong>with a report from Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><iframe width="1023" height="575" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I6d9HC0XXMI" title="Marcos announces fuel subsidies, mulls cut in oil excise taxes" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1023" height="575" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKgrZw0EFAM" title="LIVE: PSA holds press briefing on February 2026 inflation" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Out of 1,200 adults polled by Pulse Asia from Feb. 27 to March 2, 36 percent approved of Marcos’ work, while 55 percent appreciated Duterte’s performance.</p>

Out of 1,200 adults polled by Pulse Asia from Feb. 27 to March 2, 36 percent approved of Marcos’ work, while 55 percent appreciated Duterte’s performance.

Pulse Asia approval ratings: Marcos at 36; Duterte at 55

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Pulse Asia approval ratings: Marcos at 36; Duterte at 55

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 16, 2026 09:38 AM PHT

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Updated Mar 16, 2026 04:02 PM PHT

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Pulse Asia

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