SWS: Marcos administration's net satisfaction rating drops to -4 in September 2026

Filipino adults gave the national government a net satisfaction rating of -4 in September 2026, down from the previous survey, according to results released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) on Friday.

Although SWS classified the -4 rating as “neutral,” it represented a five-point decline from the +1 recorded in June 2026, making it the second-lowest net satisfaction rating of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration. The latest survey was conducted from September 21 to 27, 2026.

“Thirty-eight percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied, 18% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 42% were dissatisfied with the general performance of the current National Administration, for a net satisfaction rating of -4,” SWS said.

In March 2026, the Marcos administration recorded its lowest net satisfaction rating at "poor" -13.

Performance subjects

SWS said net satisfaction ratings declined across all 19 performance subjects compared with the previous surveys.

“The National Administration’s net satisfaction rating was very good on providing the youth with basic education in public elementary and high schools (+61) and improving the quality of children’s education (+50),” the survey said.

“It was good on helping the poor (+42, correctly rounded), implementing housing programs for the poor (+40), creating policies that will generate job opportunities (+40), helping victims of disasters (+36, correctly rounded), and developing science and technology (+30, correctly rounded),” it added.

The national government received “moderate” ratings for ensuring food safety, providing an efficient transportation system, and defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, the administration received “poor” ratings for generating solutions to rising oil prices, ensuring that oil companies do not take advantage of price increases (-25), and fighting crimes that victimize ordinary citizens. It was rated “bad” for eradicating graft and corruption in government and fighting inflation.

Regional ratings

The administration recorded its highest net satisfaction rating in Balance Luzon at neutral +7, followed by the Visayas at neutral -2, Mindanao at poor -17, and Metro Manila at poor -21.

"Compared to June 2026, net satisfaction with the National Administration fell by 10 points in Metro Manila, from poor -11 to poor -21. It fell by 7 points in the Visayas, from neutral +5 to neutral -2, and by 6 points in Balance Luzon, from moderate +13 to neutral +7. It stayed at poor -17 in Mindanao," SWS said.

The administration also recorded declines in net satisfaction ratings among 18- to 24-year-olds (+13 to -13), college graduates (-10 to -25), those with some senior high school through some college (+4 to -16), men (-3 to -6), and women (+6 to -1).

The net satisfaction rating improved but remained poor among those aged 35 to 44, rising by four points from -15 to -11. Meanwhile, it remained moderate among adults aged 55 and above, edging up by one point from +17 to +18.

The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults aged 18 and above nationwide: 600 in Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila) and 300 each in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins were ±3 percentage points for national figures, ±4 points for Balance Luzon, and ±6 points each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao. —VBL, GMA News