President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not surprised by the new Pulse Asia survey that showed a dip in his approval ratings, saying that he understood why the Filipinos gave him a lower rate.

Marcos made the remarks in a media interview in Taguig, saying that his approval rating is "not important."

A new Pulse Asia poll that came out on Monday showed that Marcos' popularity dropped in the third quarter of 2023.

It said that the number of people who liked Marcos' work decreased in all parts of the Philippines (-14 to -15 percentage points) and in all classes (-12 to -29 percentage points).

"(The survey results are) not surprising. People are having a hard time. Rice is a big deal, you know. It's a different story when it comes to rice, compared to other agricultural products," Marcos said.

"I fully understand this, and that's why we're working very hard to ensure that the situation improves – not because of the survey, which is not important to me. What matters to me is that we ensure people have enough food to eat and that it's affordable for them," Marcos added.

The President emphasized that his administration was focused on addressing the challenges surrounding rice affordability and availability. He underscored the significance of rice in the daily lives of Filipinos and assured the public that efforts were underway to stabilize prices and enhance distribution networks, especially in remote areas and the National Capital Region.

"You can't blame the people. They're really struggling. That's why we're taking all these actions. That's why we're doing everything we can to keep prices at a level that's affordable for the people. That's really all we need to do," President Marcos Jr. explained, outlining his government's commitment to the welfare of the citizens.

He also highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the distribution of rice, particularly in distant regions, acknowledging that there were areas needing enhancements in the supply chain. The President assured the public that his administration was already working on cost-effective methods to deliver rice promptly and efficiently, ensuring that every Filipino had access to affordable food.