After DepEd exit, Sara’s satisfaction rating plummets

MANILA, Philippines — Following her exit as education secretary, public satisfaction with Vice President Sara Duterte significantly dropped in the second quarter survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Results of the June 23 to July 1 survey released on Friday night showed that only 65 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the performance of the Vice President, down 10 points from the 75 percent she obtained in the March 2024 survey.

Some 21 percent of the respondents said they were dissatisfied, up from 13 percent, while 14 percent were undecided, up from 12 percent.

This gave Duterte a net satisfaction rating of +44, classified by SWS as “good.” It was down 19 points from the “very good” +63 that she obtained in the March survey.

The net satisfaction rating is derived by subtracting those who said they were satisfied from those who were dissatisfied with the performance of the government official.

SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of at least +70 as “excellent,” +50 to +69 as “very good,” +30 to +49 as “good,”+10 to +29 as “moderate,” +9 to -9 as “neutral,” -10 to -29 as “poor,” -30 to -49 as “bad,” -50 to -69 as “very bad” and -70 and below as “execrable.”

Although she suffered a significant drop, Duterte’s satisfaction rating was still higher than that of President Marcos, who obtained a net satisfaction rating of “moderate” +27 (55 percent satisfied, 28 percent dissatisfied) in the June survey.

But unlike Duterte, Marcos enjoyed a slight improvement from the “moderate” +20 (50 percent satisfied, 31 percent dissatisfied) he obtained in March.

Satisfaction with the Vice President decreased across areas, including in her bailiwick Mindanao, from 88 percent in March to 82 percent in June.

Some 66 percent of the respondents in the Visayas said they were satisfied with Duterte (down from 79 percent), followed by those in Metro Manila at 59 percent (from 67 percent) and the rest of Luzon at 56 percent (from 70 percent).

Dissatisfaction with Duterte was highest among those in Metro Manila at 27 percent (from 18 percent), closely followed by those in the rest of Luzon at 26 percent (from 14 percent), the Visayas at 19 percent (from 10 percent) and Mindanao at nine percent or same as in the last survey.

Net satisfaction with the Vice President also dropped across most age groups and across educational backgrounds.

Noteworthy

For Manila Rep. Joel Chua, the survey results have moved the country’s second highest official from the “very good” category to the “good” category.

Chua said the decrease is “noteworthy” for several reasons, particularly if she is considering a bid for the presidency in 2028.

He noted that Duterte “may be losing some of the political momentum she had built earlier in her term.”

“A 19-point decline is substantial and may indicate growing dissatisfaction or unmet expectations among certain segments of the population,” he added.

The survey, he said, also reflects the Vice President’s “regional vulnerabilities” as the decline is most pronounced in the “regions where she previously had strong support.”

Chua cited for instance that in the Visayas, her rating dropped by 22 points, and in Balance Luzon, by 26 points.

Even in Mindanao, which is considered her stronghold, there was a seven-point decline.

“This could signal vulnerabilities that her political opponents might exploit, especially in regions outside of her core base in Mindanao,” he added.

The lawmaker also underscored that the survey results indicate “demographic shifts,” as the drop was significant across various demographics, including a 21-point decline among men and notable decreases among both younger and older voters.

Chua said this suggests that the dissatisfaction is not limited to one group but is more widespread, potentially making it harder for her to reverse the trend.

He said “potential causes” such as the public perception of Duterte’s “performance in office, handling of specific issues or external events may have affected her popularity.”

“Without specific data on the causes, it’s challenging to pinpoint exactly why her ratings dropped, but it could be related to recent national issues or controversies,” he maintained. The survey has “political ramifications,” according to Chua.

If the trend continues, it could affect Duterte’s chances in the 2028 presidential race.

“A continued decline might embolden potential rivals and weaken her ability to secure early endorsements or support from key political allies,” he added.

It could also shift the dynamics within Duterte’s political base, leading to challenges from within her own party or coalition, he pointed out.

The drop in her ratings, he added, indicates the need for “strategic adjustment” and might prompt Duterte and her team to reassess their strategies.

This could involve more active engagement with the public, addressing key issues that are causing dissatisfaction or refining her public image.

Chua said that reversing this trend would be crucial for maintaining her viability as a top contender for the presidency.

He maintained that the significant drop in Duterte’s satisfaction ratings is “a critical development that could impact her future political trajectory.”

“It highlights potential weaknesses in her current standing and signals the need for strategic adjustments,” he added.

Chua underscored that if left unaddressed, the decline could weaken Duterte’s position in the run-up to the 2028 elections, “making her more vulnerable to political rivals and diminishing her appeal to the broader electorate.”

Chiz slightly better

In the same survey, Senate President Francis Escudero, who assumed the Senate leadership in May, obtained slightly higher net satisfaction ratings than the Vice President.

Some 64 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with the performance of Escudero, while 17 percent said they were dissatisfied. Another 17 percent were undecided. This gave Escudero a net satisfaction rating of “good” +47.

Meanwhile, the net satisfaction rating of Speaker Martin Romualdez improved from “moderate” +13 (39 percent satisfied, 26 percent dissatisfied) to “moderate” +29 (53 percent satisfied, 24 percent dissatisfied).

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo also improved his ratings, from “moderate” +13 (34 percent satisfied, 21 percent dissatisfied) to “good” +32 (51 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied).

The survey had 1,500 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.5 percent for national percentages. — Sheila Crisostomo