Malacañang Palace stated that government performance should not be measured solely by opinion polls, as it downplays reports of declining trust and support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin emphasized in a statement that true leadership often requires making the right decisions, not necessarily the immediately popular ones.
He stressed that every action of the Marcos administration is pursued in the interest of the public, not for high approval ratings.
"True leadership always carries the burden of pursuing the right but possibly unpopular courses of action," Bersamin said.
"Public interest is the sole driving force behind every administrative decision, not the pursuit of high approval ratings in the next opinion poll. High approval ratings are an extra reward, not the cornerstone of effective public service."
Bersamin acknowledged that the Pulse Asia survey results reflect a slight decline in the president's support and trust levels.
However, he pointed out that surveys are only a "litmus test" of public sentiment at a specific moment.
"We respect the view that surveys are a litmus test of public opinion," he said.
"But we believe that the governance scorecard should not be limited to opinion polls. Viewing surveys as the sole indicator can divert us from more important metrics, such as employment, which can reliably measure our progress as a nation," he said.
Presidential office officials added that the Marcos administration has been focused on key priorities, such as improving public sentiment, promoting economic growth, and ensuring the nation's future security.
Despite the survey results, the presidential office insists that the government is committed to continuing its work, and the president's leadership is determined by tangible results, not fluctuating support rates.
"The president's actions show that we have always been focused on our important mission of improving lives, developing the economy, and securing our future," Bersamin stated.
"Our achievements in these areas are more persuasive than any temporary fluctuations in survey results."
