MANILA, Philippines – A majority of Filipinos, or 59%, were satisfied with the performance of the Marcos government by the end of 2024, according to results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Wednesday, January 29.
Based on the results of the Fourth Quarter 2024 Social Weather Survey conducted from December 12 to 18, 2024, 23% were dissatisfied with the Marcos government’s performance, for a net rating of +36 — unchanged from September 2024.
“The National Administration’s steady net satisfaction rating from September 2024 to December 2024 was due to an increase in the Visayas, combined with a decline in Mindanao and small changes in Balance Luzon and Metro Manila,” the SWS said in a statement.
Among geographic areas, satisfaction in the government’s performance was highest in the Visayas: 65% satisfied, 21% dissatisfied, for a net rating of +44 — or 13 points higher than in September 2024.
The next highest was Balance Luzon (63% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied, for a net rating of +44), and the National Capital Region (57% satisfied, 26% dissatisfied, for a net rating of +31).
It was lowest in Mindanao, the bailiwick of Vice President Sara Duterte who split from the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when she resigned from his Cabinet in June 2024. In Mindanao, 47% were satisfied and 31% dissatisfied with the performance of the Marcos government, for a net rating of +16 — or 7 points lower than in September 2024.
Marcos report card
Among 17 performance subjects included in the SWS “Governance Report Card,” the national government got the highest or “very good” scores in the following areas:
- Helping disaster victims (+65)
- Improving the quality of children’s education (+60)
- Helping the poor (+57)
- Creating policies which will generate job opportunities (+51)
- Developing science and technology (+51)
The government got “good” scores on implementing housing programs for the poor (+49), ensuring food security (+46), ensuring an efficient public transportation system (+45), being prepared for strong typhoons (+44), preparing for problems being caused by climate change (+38), telling the truth to the people (+34), and defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (+32).
It scored a moderate +26 in terms of ensuring that no family will ever be hungry and have nothing to eat.
The Marcos government scored neutral on fighting crimes that victimize ordinary citizens, like killings, holdups, robberies, physical violence, etc. (+4); ensuring that oil companies do not take advantage of oil prices (-2); and eradicating graft and corruption (-3).
It scored lowest on fighting inflation, a “poor” -12.
The survey used face-to-face interviews of 2,160 adults nationwide: 1,080 in Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), and 360 each in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
The sampling error margins are ±2% for national percentages, ±3% in Balance Luzon, and ±5% each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
SWS said the survey items were non-commissioned, and “done on SWS’s own initiative and released as a public service.”
Among the dominant news in the weeks leading to and during the survey period were the Vice President’s threats against the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez; impeachment complaints against Duterte; rising prices of basic goods; and China’s continued incursions in the West Philippine Sea. – Rappler.com