Top-ranking congressmen hailed the apparent restoration of public trust in the leadership of President Marcos during what could be described as a very challenging political period.
House Deputy Speakers Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun and La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V pointed to the results of the OCTA Research 2026 first quarter (Q1) survey, which showed Marcos gaining in both trust and performance figures while public uncertainty around him declined.
“Malinaw ang sinasabi ng numero. Habang maingay ang pulitika at magulo ang mundo, mas dumarami ang Pilipinong nagsasabing may direksyon ang Pangulo (The numbers speak clearly. While there is a lot of political noise and the world is chaotic, more Filipinos are saying the President has direction),” Khonghun said.
“Hindi ito sympathy vote. Hindi ito palakpakan lang. Ito ay pagtaas ng tiwala at pagtaas ng performance rating sa panahon na mahirap manalo sa isip ng publiko,” said the “Young Guns” bloc member.
(This is not a sympathy vote. This is not mere applause. This is a rise in trust and a rise in performance rating at a time when it is difficult to win over the public’s mind.)
For his part, Ortega said: “The public is clearly recognizing steady leadership. The direction is clear, and the results are beginning to be felt on the ground.”
He expressed optimism that the President’s ratings would be maintained or even improve further in the next survey period.
“The next opinion poll will already reflect the administration’s comprehensive oil crisis response that is benefiting millions of farmers, fisherfolk, public utility drivers, commuters, and low-income households through ayuda or financial aid, fuel subsidies, fare discounts, and the suspension of excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene,” said Ortega, also a member of the Young Guns.
Ortega says that the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) excise tax suspension alone is expected to benefit at least eight million households.
Released on April 21, the OCTA Q1 survey results showed that Marcos’ trust rating jumped to 54 percent from 48 percent during the fourth quarter of 2025.
The Chief Executive’s performance rating also climbed to 55 percent from 51 percent in the previous quarter.
“Sa madaling sabi, kumakapal ang kumpiyansa at numinipis ang alinlangan. Kapag ganyan ang takbo ng survey, ibig sabihin hindi lang napapansin ang Pangulo. Mas malinaw na ring pumapanig sa kanya ang tingin ng taumbayan,” Khonghun said.
(In simple terms, confidence is growing and doubt is disappearing. When a survey moves in that direction, it means the President is not just being noticed. It also shows more clearly that the people’s sentiment is siding with him.)
OCTA described the shift as a rebound in both trust and performance, accompanied by declining ambivalence, and said this may point to a consolidation and stronger alignment in how the public views the President’s leadership.
The survey was conducted nationwide from March 19 to 25, 2026 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above.
