MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. suffered a significant decline in both his performance and trust ratings, while Vice President Sara Duterte continued to enjoy majority approval and trust among Filipinos, according to the latest Pulse Asia Research Inc. survey released Monday.

The July 2026 Ulat ng Bayan Survey, conducted from June 28 to July 6, found that only 29 percent of Filipino adults approve of Marcos’ performance, while 50 percent disapprove and 21 percent remain undecided.

Pulse Asia noted that the President continues to fail to secure majority approval in any geographic area or socioeconomic class covered by the survey.

In contrast, Vice President Duterte registered a 56 percent approval rating, with 29 percent disapproving and 15 percent undecided, giving her a clear majority approval nationwide.

Marcos’ trust rating declines
The survey also showed a widening trust gap between the country’s two highest-ranking elected officials. Only 28 percent of respondents said they trust President Marcos, while 51 percent expressed distrust. Another 21 percent remained undecided.

Vice President Duterte, meanwhile, obtained a 58 percent trust rating, with 27 percent expressing distrust and 16 percent undecided.

Pulse Asia said distrust toward Marcos remained prevalent across several major geographic and socioeconomic groups, while Duterte continued to command majority trust, particularly in Mindanao and the Visayas.

Mindanao delivers strongest verdict
Regional data revealed stark differences in public sentiment. Marcos posted his lowest approval rating in Mindanao, where only 6 percent approved of his performance while 79 percent disapproved.

His trust rating in the region was likewise only 8 percent, compared to a 77 percent distrust rating.

Duterte, on the other hand, remained overwhelmingly popular in Mindanao, recording 89 percent approval and 95 percent trust. She also enjoyed majority approval in the Visayas at 61 percent, while 65 percent of Visayan respondents expressed trust in the Vice President.

Ratings compared with March
Compared with Pulse Asia’s March 2026 survey, Marcos experienced notable declines in public perception. His approval rating dropped from 36 percent to 29 percent, while his trust rating fell from 35 percent to 28 percent.

During the same period, his disapproval rating climbed from 45 percent to 50 percent, while distrust increased from 44 percent to 51 percent. Pulse Asia reported that the President’s approval declined sharply in the rest of Luzon and among respondents belonging to Class ABC.

Meanwhile, Duterte’s national ratings remained relatively stable. Her approval rating slightly increased from 55 percent to 56 percent, while her trust rating improved from 54 percent to 58 percent.

Inflation remains top concern
Aside from evaluating government officials, respondents were also asked to identify the country’s most urgent national concerns. The survey found that controlling inflation remains the public’s highest priority, cited by 57 percent of respondents.

Other top concerns included:
• Fighting graft and corruption and holding officials accountable (43%)
• Increasing workers’ wages (36%)
• Reducing poverty (26%)
• Fighting criminality (22%)
• Combating illegal drugs (19%)
• Creating more jobs (15%)
• Lowering fuel prices (13%)
Contrasting public perception

The latest Pulse Asia survey reflects contrasting public assessments of the country’s two highest officials. While President Marcos registered declining approval and trust ratings alongside increasing disapproval and distrust, Vice President Duterte maintained majority public approval and trust, with particularly strong support from respondents in Mindanao and the Visayas.

The survey also suggests that economic issues—especially inflation, corruption, wages, and poverty—continue to dominate the concerns of Filipinos, outweighing other national issues as the administration enters the second half of its term.