Public satisfaction with the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has fallen to its lowest level since he assumed office in 2022, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in late March.
The nationwide poll found that only 32 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the government’s performance, while 46 percent expressed dissatisfaction and 21 percent remained undecided. The results translated to a net satisfaction rating of -13, which SWS classified as “poor.”
The latest rating marks a sharp decline from the administration’s previous net satisfaction score of +14 recorded in November 2025, reflecting a 27-point drop in just four months.
SWS said the March 24-31, 2026 survey represents the lowest satisfaction rating recorded by the Marcos administration so far and the weakest performance rating for a Philippine administration since the final months of the Arroyo government in 2010.
The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 respondents nationwide and carried a margin of error of ±3 percent.
Despite the decline in overall public sentiment, respondents gave the administration favorable marks in several key sectors.
Improving the quality of education emerged as the government’s strongest-performing area, earning a “very good” net satisfaction rating of +52.
Other initiatives that received positive evaluations included assistance to poor families (+45), housing programs for low-income communities (+45), job generation efforts (+42), science and technology development (+40), and food security measures (+32).
Several other areas received moderate ratings from the public, including the government’s efforts to defend Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea, public transportation services, transparency in governance, dissemination of information on government programs, and protection of overseas Filipinos in conflict-affected areas of the Middle East.
The survey also highlighted issues that continue to weigh heavily on public perception of the administration.
Among the lowest-rated concerns were efforts to curb corruption, regulate oil companies’ pricing practices, and address inflation.
Inflation control registered the weakest score at -15, making it the administration’s poorest-performing issue area in the survey.
Meanwhile, respondents gave neutral assessments on tax collection, tax enforcement, crime prevention, and government efforts to address rising fuel prices.
SWS reported that satisfaction ratings declined across all major geographic areas, age groups, and educational backgrounds.
Balance Luzon recorded the highest regional rating at net zero, while Mindanao posted the lowest score at -27.
Younger Filipinos registered some of the sharpest drops in satisfaction. Among respondents aged 18 to 24, the net rating fell from +18 in November 2025 to -17 in March 2026. Those aged 25 to 34 saw a similar decline, dropping from +12 to -18.
By educational attainment, college graduates recorded the steepest decrease, with satisfaction plunging from +5 to -35, a 40-point decline over the four-month period.
According to SWS, the findings indicate growing public concern over economic issues, particularly inflation and governance-related challenges, despite continued approval of several social and development programs being implemented by the administration.
