Public acceptance and approval ratings for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have significantly declined and remain largely negative. Despite the administration’s publicized drives targeting the youth and marginalized, recent major opinion polls highlight growing public dissatisfaction.
For the drives toward the youth and the poor to reflect positively on the President’s ratings, the administration must transition from launching programs to producing tangible, felt relief regarding basic public commodities and economic security.
Impact across demographics
1. The Poor and Vulnerable Sectors
Although the administration has actively pushed anti-poverty policies and sub-programs, these efforts have not successfully insulated the poor from shifting economic conditions.
a) Cost of Living Overwhelms Aid: Analysts from institutions like the Stratbase Institute emphasize that ordinary, low-income Filipinos still do not feel the impact of the administration’s reforms.
b) Primary Concern: Roughly 30 percent of Filipinos cite the lack of affordable food and inflation as their most urgent issues. Because families are still struggling to cope with food security, public satisfaction has tended downward.
2. The Youth Demographics
Drives focused on young Filipinos have also faced clear skepticism.
a) Concentrated Dissatisfaction: Data indicates that younger age groups — particularly Millennials and Gen Z voters and below — show highly concentrated levels of dissatisfaction.
b) Accountability on Infrastructure: Younger demographics have increasingly held the presidency directly accountable for domestic and infrastructural oversights. These sentiments are tied heavily to public perceptions surrounding budget spending and suspected corruption.
Before we view the most recent polls on the President’s acceptance and approval ratings let us review the most recent drive for the poor.
The Philippine government’s expanded UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) assistance program reaches approximately 7.5-million households (37.5-million Filipinos) nationwide. It provides up to P2,000 cash aid to help vulnerable sectors cope with the economic impacts of global energy and price shocks. The program’s reach extends across three targeted beneficiary groups:
Group 1 (4Ps and Walang Gutom): Some 3.5-million households receive one-time additional assistance of up to P2,000.
Group 2 (Poor and Near Poor): Around 2.5 million households receive P2,000 per month for six months.
Group 3 (Low-income SSS Members): Around 1.5-million low income workers and their families identified through SSS records receive P2,000 per for six months.
Because UPLIFT program beneficiaries are pre-selected by the government and coordinated via digital platforms, they do not need to apply directly.
Recent major opinion polls, however, highlight growing public dissatisfaction despite the drives targeting the youth and marginalized.
Public acceptance and approval ratings for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have significantly declined and remain largely negative. Despite the administration’s publicized drives targeting the youth and marginalized, recent major opinion polls highlight growing public dissatisfaction.
Overall Trend:
While the President historically registered positive scores early in his term, major polling firms record a sharp downward trajectory.
1. Pulse Asia (July 2026). His national approval rating dipped to 29 percent, while his disapproval rating surged to 50 percent. His trust rating fell to an all-time low of 28 percent.
2. Social Weather Stations (June/July 2026): SWS registered a small minor rebound in net satisfaction to -7 (neutral) in late June. However, this followed a historic personal record — a score of -15 (poor) in March 2026. More Filipinos remain outright dissatisfied with his performance than satisfied.
3. Publicus Asia (Q2 2026): The firm’s Pahayag second quarter survey noted his approval rating plateaued at a low 18 percent, with a trust score of only 12 percent.
