President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said that the results of the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) were “very encouraging.”

This comes as the SWS survey showed that the Marcos administration maintained a “good” satisfaction rating, with 59 percent of Filipinos expressing approval of its overall performance.

“Of course, it’s always good to see that what we are doing is reaching most — the majority of people — and they feel what we are doing,” Marcos said in an interview in Pasay City, adding that with the feedback, the administration will have more courage to strengthen its work.

In the same manner, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin also welcomed the survey results but maintained that “polls are mostly a weathervane for public opinion.”

Bersamin stressed that while the administration welcomes the support it continues to receive, it still wants to focus on improving people’s lives.

“The truest measure of public service is whether we improve our people’s lives. This remains the primary standard by which we measure our work,” Bersamin said.

The Marcos administration was rated “very good” in disaster response, improving children’s education, helping the poor, generating job opportunities, as well as developing science and technology.

Respondents rated the government as “good” in implementing housing programs for the poor, ensuring food security, ensuring an efficient public transportation, preparing for strong typhoons and the effects of climate change, as well as telling the truth to the public and its efforts in defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, the administration was found to be “moderate” on the issue of hunger and “neutral” on fighting crimes such as killings, holdups and robberies.

The same results were also seen with the response on oil companies taking advantage of oil price adjustments and on the issue of eradicating graft and corruption in the country.

The administration was rated “poor” in fighting against inflation.

In other developments, the President has rejected calls for him to undergo a hair follicle drug test, saying it has no connection to public trust.

This comes following the challenge of former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez for the President to do a hair follicle drug test to dismiss allegations of drug use, citing the Constitutional principle that public office is a public trust.

“No, no. Why should I do that? What is he saying — public trust, public office…. [it] has nothing to do with a follicle test. Please. There is no connection to what he is saying,” Marcos said in a chance interview.

Marcos also criticized his former chief-of-staff for making such statements, noting that it was Rodriguez’s “weakness” during the time the two worked together.

“He’s always had that weakness every time… when he was still working for me. If you believe in what he was saying, why did he work for me?” the President said.

Rodriguez first called for Marcos to commit to a credible drug test in 2024. Prior to his appointment and resignation as Executive Secretary, Rodriguez served as spokesperson for Marcos.