President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saw an improvement in both his trust and performance ratings for the second quarter of 2025, according to a non-commissioned survey conducted by Octa Research in early July. In contrast, Vice President Sara Duterte experienced a noticeable decline in her ratings during the same period.
Based on Octa Research’s Tugon ng Masa survey, conducted from July 12 to 17, Marcos garnered a trust rating of 64 percent, a four-point increase from 60 percent in the previous quarter. His performance rating also improved by three points, rising from 59 percent to 62 percent, remaining within the survey’s margin of error.
Octa Research noted that the President’s latest ratings mark a rebound from the downward trend observed since late 2024. “These gains in trust and performance ratings represent an apparent reversal of the downward trend observed since the fourth quarter of 2024. They underscore a renewed confidence in the President’s leadership,” the research firm stated.
Among the country’s top officials included in the survey—Vice President Duterte, Senate President Francis Escudero, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez—Marcos emerged with the highest trust and performance ratings for the second quarter of 2025.
In contrast, Vice President Sara Duterte’s ratings declined. Her trust rating dropped from 58 percent in the first quarter to 54 percent, while her performance rating saw a more significant dip, falling six points from 56 percent to 50 percent.
The survey revealed that the decline in Duterte’s ratings was broad-based, with notable drops observed in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Balance Luzon. All socioeconomic classes reportedly registered lower ratings for the Vice President compared to the previous quarter.
Despite the contrasting trends, Octa Research emphasized that both Marcos and Duterte “continue to enjoy majority backing,” with their ratings still above the 50 percent threshold. This suggests that while Duterte’s popularity may be wavering in some sectors, she retains substantial public support overall.
Political analysts suggest that the uptick in Marcos’ ratings could be tied to recent policy efforts, public appearances, and messaging that resonated with the general public. Duterte’s decline, meanwhile, may reflect public dissatisfaction over recent controversies or perceived underperformance.
Octa Research has not disclosed the total number of respondents, but the survey maintains a ±3% margin of error.