President Marcos’ approval stayed neutral at end-2025, SWS says

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s approval rating remained neutral at the end of 2025, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, amid an administration-led anti-graft push involving anomalous flood control projects.

The poll, conducted from Nov. 24 to 30, showed that 40% of Filipinos were satisfied with Mr. Marcos’ performance in the last quarter of 2025 and 43% were dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction rating of -3, classified as “neutral.”

This showed little change from a -5 score in September, SWS said.

The flat national figure masks widening geographic and social divides as the President entered the latter part of his six-year term, ending in 2028.

Mr. Marcos revealed a kickback scheme among high-ranking government officials and private contractors during his fourth State of the Nation Address last July 2025, which has since blown up into a nationwide scandal that weighed on the country’s economy and public sentiment.

Net satisfaction rose in Balance Luzon to +13 and improved in the Visayas to +2, while it fell to -17 in Metro Manila, and stayed deeply negative at -29 in Mindanao, the bailiwick of the Duterte family.

Urban voters drove much of the decline, with Mr. Marcos’ net rating in cities dropping 13 points to -14 from September. By contrast, satisfaction in rural areas climbed 17 points to +9.

Support also varied sharply by age. Filipinos aged 55 and above posted a moderate net satisfaction of +15, while younger cohorts remained dissatisfied, with a -14 rating among those aged 18 to 24 and -22 among those aged 35 to 44.

SWS said the President recorded notable rebounds among the youngest voters and those aged 45 to 54, though net satisfaction in both groups remained below levels seen earlier in his term.

By gender, Mr. Marcos’ net satisfaction rating was neutral among men at zero and slightly negative among women at -6.

Ratings improved modestly among women compared with September, while remaining largely unchanged among men.

SWS also observed divergent trends across varying education levels. Filipinos with little or no formal education registered the highest approval, with net satisfaction at +19, while college graduates and those with some senior high school education posted net ratings of -14.

The survey was based on face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide and has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points for national results.

Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, said a neutral approval rating masks a fragile political equilibrium for Mr. Marcos, reflecting ambivalence rather than endorsement.

Voters may tolerate the status quo or see him as the least objectionable option, but the reading points to shallow loyalty and limited prospects for a lasting legacy, he noted.

“This is the ‘balance’ of opinion that seems to explain where he is. It also suggests not enough of a following to maintain his legacy,” he added in a Facebook Messenger chat.

The result also reflected the erosion of the Duterte-backed coalition that propelled Mr. Marcos to power, with the collapse of the “Uniteam” alliance exposing the weakness of his personal brand, Mr. Juliano said, noting the political tandem of Mr. Marcos and Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio in 2022.

Constrained by impeachment dynamics and unable to rely on either the Dutertes or the opposition, Mr. Marcos’ main option is to deliver on policy — a challenge after years of unmet promises.

Both are now facing separate impeachment complaints before the House of Representatives.