A late-November Social Weather Survey (SWS) commissioned by Stratbase Consultancy shows a sharp regional divide in public trust between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
The Fourth Quarter 2025 SWS, conducted from November 24 to 30 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide, found Marcos posting net negative trust ratings in three of four major areas. His trust score was minus 8 in Metro Manila, plus 18 in the rest of Luzon, minus 7 in the Visayas, and a steep minus 37 in Mindanao.
Presient Marcos’ trust rating was plus 7 percent in September and plus 18 percent in June.
Duterte, by contrast, posted consistently stronger numbers across all regions, dominating especially outside Luzon. She recorded a net trust rating of plus 2 in Metro Manila, plus 12 in the balance of Luzon, a robust plus 43 in the Visayas, and a commanding plus 74 in Mindanao—her traditional political stronghold.
The nationwide survey covered respondents aged 18 and above, with 300 interviews each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Sampling error margins are ±3 percentage points for national figures and ±6 points for each area. Regional results were weighted using the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2025 medium-population projections to derive national estimates.
The findings underscore Duterte’s enduring dominance in Mindanao and her broad appeal in the Visayas, while highlighting Marcos’ continued struggle to build trust outside parts of Luzon—an emerging fault line that could shape political dynamics heading into the next election cycle.
