SWS: Net satisfaction declines for Senate, House, Supreme Court in 2026 Q1

The net satisfaction ratings for the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court (SC) declined in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, conducted in March.

The nationwide survey was conducted from March 24 to 31 through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 Filipino adults. It has a sampling error margins are ±3% for national percentages, ±4% for Balance Luzon, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

According to the poll results issued Thursday, the Senate recorded a net satisfaction rating of +11, three points lower than its +14 ratings last November 2025.

Forty-two percent of respondents in the latest survey said they were satisfied with the Senate's performance and 31% expressed dissatisfaction.

The House of Representatives recorded 42% satisfaction and 29% dissatisfaction, resulting in a +13 rating, slightly lower than the previous period's net ratings of +14.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, slipped to net satisfaction rating of +11, with 42% of respondents satisfied and 30% dissatisfied. The institution reported +17 public satisfaction ratings in November 2025.

Despite the decline, the SWS said all three institutions maintained moderate ratings.

"Both the Senate and the House had previously reached 'good' net satisfaction levels in June 2025 before slipping to 'neutral' in September 2025 and recovering to moderate levels in November 2025 and March 2026. The SC also peaked at a good rating in June 2025 before settling at moderate levels in succeeding surveys," the poll body said.

Mindanao

According to the SWS, the net satisfaction for the three institutions were the highest in Mindanao.

The Senate received its highest net satisfaction score in Mindanao at +26, followed by the Visayas at +14, Balance Luzon at +9, and Metro Manila at -13.

SWS said the Senate’s overall decline was driven by decreases in most areas, except Mindanao, which posted a 14-point increase.

The House of Representatives recorded a similar regional pattern, with Mindanao at +26, followed by the Visayas at +18, Balance Luzon at +9, and Metro Manila at -5.

Gains in Mindanao were offset by declines in Balance Luzon and Metro Manila, while the Visayas remained largely stable, the SWS said.

The poll body also said the SC scored highest in Mindanao at +26, followed by the Visayas at +14, Balance Luzon at +9, and Metro Manila at -13. It attributed the court’s overall decline to lower ratings across all regions except Mindanao.

Senate received mixed ratings

The SWS said the Senate remained moderately rated among both men and women but declined in most age groups except those aged 55 and above, where it improved to +15.

Across demographic groups, the Senate maintained moderate ratings among both men and women, scoring +10 among men and +12 among women.

However, its rating declined among most age groups, except respondents aged 55 and above, where it improved from +6 to +15.

Among younger respondents, the Senate remained moderate among those aged 18 to 24 despite a 13-point drop from +29 to +17. It declined from moderate to neutral among those aged 25 to 34, falling from +17 to +3.

Respondents aged 35 to 44 and 45 to 54, although both groups posted lower ratings, maintained modest ratings for the Senate.

The survey was conducted before the recent chaos in the upper chamber, including the Senate shooting and lockdown and the subsequent leadership shakeups.

House of Representatives

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives maintained steady ratings among both men and women, remaining moderate for both, with women slightly rising from +15 to +16, while men fell from +14 to +10.

By age group, the chamber’s rating improved among respondents aged 55 and above but declined among younger groups.

The House fell from good to moderate among 18- to 24-year-olds and from moderate to neutral among those aged 25 to 34. It remained moderate among the 35-44 and 45-54 age groups despite decreases.

By education, the House improved from moderate to good among non-elementary graduates, rising from +23 to +32.

However, it declined among college graduates, falling from -3 to -18, and among those with some senior high school education, from +12 to +5.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court remained moderately rated among both women and men, although both groups recorded declines.

Its rating among women fell by eight points, from +20 to +12, while the rating among men declined by five points, from +15 to +10.

The court’s rating improved slightly among respondents aged 55 and above, rising from +13 to +15. However, it declined among younger age groups, including respondents aged 18 to 24, 25 to 34, 35 to 44, and 45 to 54.

Among those aged 25 to 34, the Supreme Court’s rating dropped to neutral at +3.

By educational attainment, the SC experienced its sharpest decline among college graduates, falling from +13 to -18. Ratings also decreased among junior high school graduates and elementary graduates.

Meanwhile, the Court net satisfaction ratings improved among non-elementary graduates, rising from +27 to +32, while remaining neutral among respondents with some senior high school education. — BM, GMA News