By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Monday said the government’s performance should not be measured solely by public opinion polls, as it downplayed the reported decline in the trust and approval ratings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stressed true leadership often requires making the right decision not immediately popular.
He underscored that the pursuit of public interest, not high ratings, drives every action in the Marcos administration.
“True leadership always carries with it the burden to pursue courses of action that are right but may not be popular,” Bersamin said.
“Public interest is the sole driver behind every executive decision, not the pursuit of high ratings in the next opinion polls. High popularity ratings are the bonus and not the bedrock of effective public service.”
Bersamin acknowledged the Pulse Asia survey results, which reflected a slight dip in the President’s approval and trust ratings.
However, he pointed out that surveys are merely “dipstick readings” of public sentiment at a specific moment in time.
“We respect the statement that surveys are dipstick readings of the well of public opinion,” he said.
“But we believe that the governance scorecard should not be confined to polling alone. To consider surveys as the sole indicator is to take our focus away from the more important metrics, like employment, that reliably measure our progress as a nation,” he said.
The Palace official added that the Marcos administration has remained focused on key priorities, such as improving livelihoods, fostering economic growth, and ensuring the country’s future security.
Despite the survey results, the Palace maintained that the government is committed to continuing its work and that the President’s leadership is determined by tangible outcomes rather than fluctuating approval ratings.
“The President’s actions show we have remained focused on our critical mission of uplifting lives, growing the economy, and securing our future,” Bersamin stated.
“Our achievements in these areas speak louder than any temporary fluctuations in survey results.”