Pulso ng Pilipino
LATEST NEWS
PBBM Admin ratings take a dive as DPWH scandal floods public mindsets;
Media blitz vs Sara fails to gain traction
as Trust Rating rises to +41%;
Senate rebounds with TitoSen at the helm,
but Lower House trapped
in a web of negatives
PULSO NG PILIPINO ---- As expected, the yearend ratings of the Marcos Administration plunged to a new low as the P1-Trillion anomalous transactions entered into by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during this current year continue to hound the very innards of the government.
Public perception has dropped considerably for President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the Filipino people waits with bated breath how the government will wiggle itself out of this controversy that has shaken the foundations of the country’s social, political and economic sectors.
The Pulso ng Pilipino survey also shows how volatile the public’s perception can be and this is attributed to the uncontrolled flow of information available especially on social media platforms. The authenticity and or accuracy of such information available to the public is no longer material but what matters is that these pieces of information shape the public’s mindsets which, of course, is a minacious phenomenon.
PERFORMANCE RATING
The performance rating of PBBM dropped to a Net +08% during the period when the Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) conducted its non-commissioned independent Pulso ng Pilipino survey on Dec. 1 to 8, 2025 that covered the events that transpired in the last quarter of the year from Sept. 16 to Dec. 15, 2025. The survey has a Margin of Error of 3% and confidence level of in excess of 98%.
This was culled from the responses of some 1,800 respondents nationwide from all societal classes who were asked by The CENTER how they perceived the performance of the PBBM during the period in review. The respondents were asked if they are: Fully Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, or Not Satisfied with the way performance of PBBM.
Some 11% said they are Fully Satisfied with the performance of PBBM, 29% are Somewhat Satisfied as against 32% who said they are Not Satisfied for a Net nationwide rating of +08%. Although the Net Satisfaction Rating accorded to PBBM was on the positive side, it barely scratched the bottom floor as the people’s expectations over the investigation into the flood control scam had been dampened with uncertainties and frustrations. Though the rating remained on the positive side, this was a radical departure from the previous results of the Pulso ng Pilipino survey on the performance rating of PBBM that stood at + 49% in March of this year.
Interestingly, the Performance Rating of Vice President Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio hovered at a Net +32% from the 25% who said they are Fully Satisfied with the VP’s performance, 33% who said they are Somewhat Satisfied as against the 26% who claimed they are Not Satisfied with 16% saying they are Unsure or Don’t Know.
The CENTER said it considers the performance rating of the Vice President as startling given the fact that she doesn’t hold any Cabinet position from which her performance can be based upon, although she has been touring the country periodically and has been visiting areas struck by calamities as well as to foreign countries where there is a large concentration of Overseas Filipino Workers.
The Senate of the Philippines with Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III at the helm also scored a respectable Performance Rating of Net +25% from the 17% and 38%, respectively, who said they are Fully Satisfied and Somewhat Satisfied with Sotto’s performance as Senate President. Some 30% said they are Not Satisfied with Sotto while only 15% claimed they Don’t Know.
The rating of Sotto and the Senate as a whole come as a surprise in view of the many contentious issues faced by the Senate that are mostly related to the hearings into the flood control anomalies being handled by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the controversial insertions that found their way into the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
Sotto’s tenure as Senate President also faced scrutiny at the start as he had to weather a smear campaign thrown his way especially during the time when the hearings into the flood control anomaly reached fever pitch.
In contrast, the House of Representatives seem unable to rise out of the hole it was in as the Performance Rating of the Lower House nosedived to a new low at a Net +12% from the 10% who said they are Fully Satisfied with the performance of House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III, 36% who said they are Somewhat Satisfied versus the 34% who said they are Not Satisfied. The 20% of respondents who said they Don’t Know or are Unsure of how they perceive the performance of the Speaker is largely due to the fact that very few know who Dy was before he was plucked to replace Speaker Martin Romualdez who resigned after being linked to the flood control scam.
TRUST RATING
At the same time, the Trust Rating of PBBM plummeted to its lowest level since the President took over the presidency a little over three years ago. Based on the Pulso ng Pilipino survey for the period in review, PBBM appears to be losing his grip with regards to the public’s trust and confidence in his Administration that has been wracked by the biggest corruption scandal in the history of this country.
For the first time since the national elections in 2022, the Trust Rating of PBBM has sunk to a record low of +07%. This is based on the 15% who said they still have Complete Trust in the president and 32% who claims they have Slight Trust in his person and disposition as President.
But those whose perceptions have changed and who are now saying they Don’t Trust the president anymore climbed to 40% while some 13% are unsure of their views.
Against this backdrop, Vice President Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio who has been crisscrossing the country and touching base mostly with victims of calamities has earned the Trust of 41% of those surveyed by Pulso ng Pilipino, from the 27% who said they have complete Trust in the Vice President and 36% who claim they have Slight Trust in the vice president against the 22% who Do Not Trust Ms. Duterte-Carpio with only 15% saying they Don’t Know or Unsure.
For his part, Senate President Tito Sotto III remains as the second highest official who is trusted by the public with a Trust Rating of +23%, gleaned from 19% who have Complete Trust in the Senate President, 33% who have Slight Trust in Sotto III while 29% are saying they Don’t Trust him with 19% who are unsure.
Notwithstanding the negative publicity that has girdled the Lower House, Speaker Dy III still emerged with a +10 Net Trust Rating, from the 14% who have Complete Trust in the Speaker, 34% who have Slight Trust in him versus the 38% who said they Don’t Trust the House chief. Some 14% said they Don’t Know or are Unsure.
The CENTER which conducted the Pulso ng Pilipino survey said it expects a heightened media blitz will be directed against the Vice President in the coming days. In fact, the media and publicity campaign will probably double down with the keyboard warriors sympathetic to the Marcos Administration expected to throw everything at the Vice President as the campaign season begin to heat up.
This perceptible decline in the PBBM’s Trust Ratings can also be attributed to many campaign promises that have not been concretized and also largely due to the economic slowdown, unabated rise in the prices of basic commodities, the annoying corruption scandal in government, lower global demand, lower GDP growth, high domestic and foreign debt, income inequality, unstable currency exchange rate, and a host of other issues that the Administration had failed to address.
The downward spin in the Trust Rating of PBBM can also be his own undoing. Following his “Mahiya Naman Kayo” spiel in the last SONA, the Marcos Administration put together all the elements headlined by the creation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure that was principally tasked to act as an independent body to probe deeper into the flood control anomaly.
But the public’s enthusiasm and high expectation that the ICI will uncover the truth paled as the investigation appears to be getting nowhere since the ICI itself is not clothed with police and prosecutorial powers but is merely acting as a recommendatory body.
Recall too that the President went on a media binge when the scandal was exposed and even vowed to send to jail those involved before Christmas. But the public’s fervor to see positive results vanished when the investigation seems to be moving in a different direction and away from those who actually planned and benefited from the flood control project scandal.
The question that will probably be in the air is what happens now with all the perception indicators appearing to be on a downward spiral. Traditionally, the survey ratings for any sitting President take a dive on the last year of his term when the Chief Executive is largely regarded as a lame duck. This will be the first time that a President will face up to a declining perception index with more than two years into his presidency.
Given this current scenario, the PR and rah-rah boys of PBBM have to go back to the drawing board and look at the APB of its publicity projections. With two years remaining of his presidential term, there is enough time to develop an image engineering package that would provide PBBM with the elbow room to rebound from its current dilemma.
But PBBM needs a strong political will and muster all the political tools at his disposal to put together a government that is responsive to the needs of the people. He must bite the bullet if need be, distance himself from the irritants and non-performing assets that have influenced his administration in a negative way, and marshal all the resources of the government to deliver the deliverables – not through the anomalous disbursement of AKAP, TUPAD, AICS – but through positive governance. Such moves may perhaps also include a reunification of political ideologue with the camp of the Vice President. # # #
ICI INVESTIGATION INTO
THE FLOOD CONTROL ANOMALY
The Pulso ng Pilipino survey also asked the respondents for their view of the way the investigation into the flood control project anomaly is progressing. Survey respondents were asked if they are Satisfied or are Not Satisfied with the performance of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI).
Some 48% of those asked said they are not satisfied with the way the ICI is conducting its investigation to unlock the truth behind the anomalous flood control projects while only 37% said they are satisfied with the work of the ICI. Fifteen per cent said they are unsure or don’t know.
Understandably so as the ICI was simply created by presidential edict and not through legislation which makes the ICI a mere investigative body with no power whatsoever to even hold witnesses in contempt.
MALASAKIT BACKER TOPS SENATE FIELD;
LEGARDA, ZUBIRI, SOTTO, HONTIVEROS
COMPLETE TOP FIVE IN SENATE SURVEY
Malasakit Center’s primary backer Sen. Bong Go leads the Pulso ng Pilipino survey into the performance and trust ratings of the 24 members of the Philippine Senate. Using the dichotomous system, the respondents were shown a showcard and were asked whether they are satisfied or not satisfied with the performance of the 24 incumbent Senators as well as their level of trust or distrust towards the Senate members.
As this was a quick top of the mind question, the respondents were simply asked to respond with either a yes (satisfied) or a no (not satisfied). In the same way, the respondents were also asked to respond with a yes (complete trust) or no (do not trust) to the question regarding their level of trust for the 24 Senators.
The Pulso ng Pilipino survey showed respondents giving Go a high performance rating of 39% and a 32% trust rating. In second is Sen. Loren Legarda with 32% of the respondents saying they are satisfied with her performance and 31% saying they trust her.
Coming in third in the list is Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri with a performance rating of 29% and a trust rating of 31%. Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III is fourth among his colleagues in the Senate with a performance rating of 25% and a trust rating of 23%.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros who is rumored to be among those who is eyeing the presidency in 2028 earned a performance rating of 23% and 20% of the respondents said they trust her.
Some 22% of those surveyed are satisfied with the performance of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and a similar 22% said they trust him. The others who figured prominently in the survey among the incumbent Senators are: Senators Win Gatchalian (22% and 20%), Alan Peter Cayetano (21% and 22%), Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson (21% and 22%), Maria Josefa Imelda ‘Imee’ Marcos (20% and 21%), Pilar Juliana ‘Pia’ Cayetano (19% and 21%), Rafael ‘Raffy’ Tulfo (19% and 20%).
Tulfo is also among those eyeing a higher electoral position in the 2028 national election with persistent reports he may form a tandem as the running mate of Senator Hontiveros.
The rest of the survey results are as follows: Senators Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino (performance rating of 19% and trust rating of 19%), Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan (18% and 17%), JV Ejercito (17% and 17%), Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa (16% and 17%), Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero (16% and 14%), Erwin Tulfo (15% and 14%), Jose Emmanuel ‘Joel’ Villanueva (15% and 14%), Jose ‘Jingoy’ Estrada (14% and 13%), Mark Villar (14% and 14%).
Senators Camille Villar (12% and 14%), Robinhood ‘Robin’ Padilla (12% and 12%) and, Manuel ‘Lito’ Lapid (09% and 10%) round up the survey on the performance and trust ratings for the Senators. # # #
For Reference, call @09209602293 or eMail at: edmalay@pulsongpilipino.com
ARCHIVE
Cabinet Revamp: Step In The Right Direction
In the aftermath of the May 12, 2025 mid-term polls, the Marcos Administration must now focus on the most important mission – to build a lasting legacy as it enters the final three years of its term.
With no significant accomplishments recorded in the last three years, which is of course debatable as the usual drumbeaters and rah-rah boys will be quick to point out that I am wrong, the President’s immediate task is to put his house in order lest it finds itself falling off the cliff with anxiety and restlessness written in
the faces of the business community and other sectors of society particularly that part on whose support the survival of the government rests.
Mr. Marcos must man up and take the helm of M/V Pilipinas to steer the government back on course. From here on, the President will have to make tough decisions beginning with a sweeping Cabinet revamp. He must appoint officials who are not just qualified and capable of the office they will hold but officials armed with impeccable character and integrity and not some sleazy local politician who is more of a liability than an asset.
Collectively, the President can seek counsel of well-meaning business and political leaders but at the end of the day the final decision on whom to appoint rests on the shoulders of the President. There are tough decisions to be made. But these have to be done for the good of the country and people. This is why it is said that the presidency is a lonely job.
The time for the settling of the debt of gratitude is over. That should have been done in the first two or three years. The final three years should be spent on the building of a legacy of accomplishments and achievements that would resonate throughout the nation for years to come.
The President has two choices – to just survive and finish his term wallowing in mediocrity or to establish a legacy that will be attached to his name – where every nook and cranny of the country will speak his name with honor, respect, esteem, admiration and reverence.
If the Marcos Administration want a continuance of its governance, it must make sure that it succeeds in regaining its bearings to achieve even half of what he promised he would do when he ran for President in 2022.
The 2028 national elections will be decided based on what this current administration has done and to date the country lies in ruins from political intramurals and from the abject greed of some political leaders who have started campaigning for the 2028 presidency even when the current President has yet to take his oath of office.
There is something that many political leaders in this country forget either by chance or design. When a President is sworn into office, all political leaders regardless of their creed or color must gravitate towards the presidency as a show of unity and solidarity. Everyone – the Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, Cabinet Members must stand and form a circle around the presidency. When all hands are on board then you can be assured of a sturdy ship that is ready to withstand even the perils of the North Sea.
I am speaking from what I saw and witnessed during the Ramos Administration in 1992-1998 which saw three Senate Presidents who belong from different political persuasion – Neptali Gonzales (1992-1993), Edgardo Angara (1993-1995), Neptali Gonzales (1995-1996) and Ernesto Maceda (1996-1998). Yet President Fidel V. Ramos was able to push with its priority legislation through dialogue and cooperation. FVR created the LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council) to serve as an advisory and consultative body to the President.
In contrast, instead of providing the President with the support he needs to further the national economic agenda, some political leaders who are driven by power and ambition began expanding their own political base by buying the loyalty of political opportunists.
A good starting point for the President is to discard the irritants that have dragged his administration to the bottom of the pit - especially those who dragged you down and caused your Approval and Trust Ratings to plummet. First and foremost, of these is to secure, safeguard and exercise prudence in government budgeting and spending, Sadly, the public coffers have been treated by some enterprising politicos as their own piggy bank. This must stop. This wanton graft and corrupt practice must end. And the only one who can do this is the President.
The national coffers belong to the people and not to a select few and to be brazenly apportioned into a wasteful spending spree in the guise of financial relief for the poor – a program that has only instituted mendicancy instead of inspiring fecundity.
You still have a chance Mr. President. The current political disequilibrium can still be salvaged but it has to give way to a disciplined, accountable, transparent, inspiring and transformational leadership. Your recent statement for all to put a stop to political bickering and focus on nation-building is a step in the right direction. So is your plan to sit down and dialogue with certain political groups that were formerly allied with you and your Administration.
If need be, also study the ways of the previous presidents before you including the governance style of your Uncle Fidel and even that of former President GMA. Pick up what is good and scrap those things you are not comfortable with. But the important thing is for you Mr. President to be the President that you were elected to. The 2022 polls gave you a chance at redemption.
The country is counting on you. Please don’t blow it!
Survey Projection Playing Out
In Pulso ng Pilipino Exit Poll
PULSO NG PILIPINO --- The same candidates who have been figuring in the pre-poll surveys are playing out in the real-time Pulso ng Pilipino Exit Poll conducted by the Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) which gathered a total of 1,200 respondents nationwide that were evenly distributed in the NCR (300), Luzon (300), Visayas (300) and Mindanao (300).
The Pulso ng Pilipino staff on the field interviewed the respondents as soon as they were within 50 meters away from the polling precincts. They were simply asked – who from the list (showcard) did they vote for and they were asked to choose 12.
This is the second time The CENTER conducted an exit poll. The first time was in 2004 which was the very first time that a real-time exit poll was conducted in the Philippines. In that exit poll, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo won with 43% of the votes cast against the 38% of voters who voted for the late actor Fernando Poe Jr.
As expected, there were no surprises in this year’s mid-term senatorial polls with the candidates who have dominated the pre-poll surveys seem to have taken advantage of their name recall as the exit poll reflected the same pattern as those indicated in the surveys.
The Pulso ng Pilipino exit poll as of 5:00 p.m. of May 12, 2025 showed reelectionist Sen. GO BONG Go leading the pack with 53%. He followed closely by former Senate President Tito SOTTO with 49.5% who is in a share of the second to third spot with Party List Rep. Erin TULFO with 49%.
In a share of the fourth to fifth spot are Sen. Lito LAPID with 42.3% and Broadcaster Ben TULFO with 42%.
Two other candidates are in a share of sixth to seventh places. They are Sen. Bato DELA ROSA with 39% and Sen. Pia CAYETANO with 39%. Las Pinas Rep. Camille VILLAR with 36% shares the eighth position to ninth position with former Sen. Ping LACSON who checked in with 35.8%. Sen. Francis TOLENTINO is in solo 10th spot with 32%, Sen. Imee MARCOS is in 11th place with 31% and Sen. BONG REVILLA, Ramon Bautista is in 12th position with 29%.
Makati Mayor Abby BINAY is in 13th place with 27%, former Sen. Bam AQUINO, 14th with 26%, TV Host Willie REVILLAME, 15th at 23%, Rep. Rodante MARCOLETA at 16th with 23%, boxing legend Manny PACQUIAO is at 17th place with 21% and former Sen. Gringo HONASAN is at 18th place with 20%.
The CENTER said it is too early to say if this will be the final composition of the top 12 senatorial slots as the results will likely change in the next few hours. Electronic glitches and confusion in the list of voters also marked this year’s election with violence and massive vote-buying punctuating the voting process especially in the countryside.
Both sides – the Marcos Administration and the Opposition see this mid-term polls not only as a game-changer but a process that could help the Administration recover from its approval and trust ratings that crashed in recent weeks and focus on its efforts in the remaining three years on legacy building.
This election is also crucial for the Opposition as it will decide the survival of Vice President Sara Duterte who is faced with an impeachment trial that is set to be convened in July.
The CENTER Releases Its Sample Ballot,
Performance Records Used
As Yardstick In Selection
PULSO NG PILIPINO - After a 90-day campaign period for national candidates, we at the Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) have monitored not only how each candidate presented their platform of governance, but we tracked down the reaction of the Filipino public particularly on how the candidates and their advocacies were received.
We also looked at the past and current records of each of the senatorial candidates and used these as basis in our decision to choose the composition of the Magic 12 that we have included in our sample ballot that we have begun distributing to our Listening Posts throughout the major regional centers that we have in place.
If you’re wondering what the Listening Posts is all about, these are our trusted colleagues who monitor the economic, social and political state of affairs in every major regional centers throughout the country. As stated in our organization’s brief, the feedbacks we receive from these Listening Posts is what adds accuracy to the pre-poll surveys of Pulso ng Pilipino.
We do not only measure the sentiments of respondents but we compare it with what the reports of our intel network through these LPs which is why The CENTER is able to pick every nuance that influence the political scenarios in the country. this system was developed by the late President Fidel V. Ramos himself during the presidential campaign in 1992 which we have maintained and are now using as part of our research.
We must remember that the Senate is a legislative body and its primary task is to legislate or to craft the laws of the land, review existing laws for the purpose of enacting the necessary amendments to make these laws relevant with the times, to exercise its oversight functions relative to government spending and performance, and to examine and review the treatises entered into by the government with other foreign governments.
If ever the Senate decides to conduct a public hearing, its purpose and objective is that such hearings are to be in aid of legislation which means that the hearings must result in the formulation of a subsequent legislation that could be added to the laws of the land.
This is the reason that the names in our sample ballot was carefully screened and have left out of the list those whom The CENTER dubbed as non-performing assets or those candidates who will attend every Senate session just to answer the roll call but who will only sit in deafening silence for the next six years.
Also left out of the list of The CENTER are candidates who will deviate from their primary duties and responsibilities as legislators and who will only turn the Senate into an investigative arm rather than as a law-making body.
And so, following a review of the credentials of the 64 senatorial candidates using our own yardstick, The CENTER has narrowed down its choice to the following:
𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐲 (𝐍𝐏𝐂), 𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐏𝐈𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨 (𝐍𝐏), 𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐎 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚 (𝐏𝐃𝐏 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧), 𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐆𝐎 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐨 (𝐏𝐃𝐏 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧), 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐎 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 (𝐑𝐏), 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐬𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐧𝐝), 𝐑𝐞𝐩. 𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐚 (𝐈𝐧𝐝), 𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐄 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐬 (𝐍𝐏), 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐃𝐈 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐳𝐚 (𝐈𝐧𝐝), 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨 (𝐍𝐏𝐂), 𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐒 ‘𝐓𝐎𝐋’ 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐨 (𝐏𝐅𝐏) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐩. 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 (𝐍𝐏).
Remember also that elections are always a personal choice. You may or may not agree with our choices and that’s how democracy works. What is primary is the need for HOPE (Honest, Orderly, Peaceful Elections) to manifest itself on May 12, 2025 and for the Filipino voters to be wise in their decision. ###
PBBM’s approval and trust ratings rebound
in 2Q 2025 but still not enough to cross
the threshold between good and bad;
High ratings handed to VP Sara
an expression of public sympathy against
the conspiracy tied to PRRD’s arrest
PULSO NG PILIPINO ---- Despite claims of normalcy, the turbulent conditions precipitated by the ongoing political bedlam following the alleged illegal arrest and involuntary surrender of Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to The Hague has resulted in disparate levels of public perception towards the country’s top two highest officials.
In the 2nd Quarter non-commissioned Pulso ng Pilipino survey conducted by the Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) on April 30 to May 3, 2025 with some 1,800 respondents nationwide covering a broad spectrum of individuals belonging to different social classes who are all registered voters of the barangays where the survey was conducted.
The survey was conducted while the social and political environ is filled with (1) the never-ending debate over the alleged unlawful arrest and surrender of PRRD to The Hague which has filtered down to every nook and cranny of the country; (2) the recently concluded Senatorial hearing chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos that exposed and brought to light the evident flaws and irregularity in the way PRRD was arrested and taken into custody, (3) the discovery of the underwater drone that reportedly was sending signals to China as part of that country’s interference in the mid-term elections, (4) the high tariffs imposed by the United States and its impact on the local economy, (5) the planned distribution and sale of rice at P20.00 per kilo and, (6) the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, (7) unchecked inflation rate, (8) uncontrollable spike in the prices of basic commodities, (9) unabated incidence of graft and corruption in the government, (10) unfulfilled campaign promises of PBBM, and uncertainties related to the tension at the West Philippine Sea.
The CENTER noted that these issues and concerns all combined to trigger a noticeable decline in both the performance and trust ratings of two of the top four officials of the country. The downswing in the way the Filipino public perceive the country’s officials is reflected in both the Approval and Trust ratings of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. which rebounded from a dismal rating in another survey but not enough to cross the threshold between good and bad as the President’s rating took a monumental downward spin that was apparently dragged by the negative perception of respondents relative to the performance of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who heads the House of Representatives where most of the contentious issues emanate.
The low approval rating posted by Marcos, based on the feedback the Pulso ng Pilipino gathered was primarily caused by the “very poor” rating of the House of Representatives that was driven by issues related to the General Appropriations Act or the National Budget at which there was an initial attempt to pass a bundle of undefined unprogrammed appropriations that were in blank. Senate President Chiz Escudero barely survived the prevalent negative political atmosphere with a positive rating that is barely above the threshold.
The Pulso ng Pilipino for the period covered showed the rating of PBBM with 30% saying they approve and are satisfied with the performance of the President while 51% said they disapprove of the way he discharged his functions and 19% are non-committal or are unsure of their position. This translates into a negative -21% for the period when the survey was conducted.
In contrast, the approval ratings of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio remained on the high side with 61% saying they are in accord with how she performed and 21% saying they disapprove of her performance and, 18% saying they are unsure or do not know. This puts the Vice President at a high +40% during the same period.
Senate President Chiz Escudero posted a positive +19% approval rating from the 49% who said they are satisfied with the Senate President’s performance as against the 30% who disagreed and 21% saying they have no comment.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who has popularized the market-type political strategy continues to slide down to a negative -25% from the 24% who said they approve of his patronage type of leadership as against the 49% who disapprove and 27% have no comment.
Much of the negative reaction that were extracted from the respondents by The CENTER are tied to basically four things – 1) the controversial arrest and surrender to The Hague of Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and, too much focus on eliminating all possible hindrances to its bid to dominate the 2028 national elections, 2) the non-delivery of the President’s campaign promises in 2022 even if three years has already passed, 3) the ill-timed decision to distribute rice at the promised rate of 20.00 pesos per kilo and, 4) fears of an armed conflict breaking out at the West Philippine Sea and dragging the Philippines in the process.
The low ratings suffered by the House of Representatives could be traced to the bias that has punctuated the public hearings conducted by the Lower House with resource persons invited to the hearings being treated and subjected to humiliation like criminal suspects.
At the same time, the Filipino public or at least those who were surveyed by the Pulso ng Pilipino have manifested their seeming distrust of the nation’s top officials although the numbers have not yet reached alarming levels. In the same survey, the trust ratings of President Marcos plunged to a low of 27% who said they still trust the President as against the 57% who said they distrust the President for a net negative -30% while 16% are unsure.
Conversely, the Vice President earned a positive +42% trust rating from the 65% who said they have complete trust in Vice President Duterte as against the 23% who said they don’t trust her while 12% said they are unsure.
Senate President Chiz Escudero also had a positive +15% trust rating from the 45% who said they trust him against the 30% who don’t trust him and 25% saying they don’t know.
Again, House Speaker Martin Romualdez is down to a negative -31% trust rating out of the 23% who completely trust the House Speaker as against the 54% who said they don’t trust him and another 23% saying they do not know.
Historically, the Lower House during the past administrations has always been in the low end with regards to the satisfaction and trust rating and this is because of the differences in the functions of the executive and legislative branches of government. The House of Representatives in fact always received low satisfaction and trust ratings during the past administrations. The same is true with the Senate, especially now that the Senate appears to be in the same league as the Lower House.
The Pulso ng Pilipino also said that one of the major factors in the perceptible decline in public confidence is due to the apparent lack of efficiency and competence in governance in the way the officials of the country have been performing their functions.
Most glaring of these slip-ups was when the President himself boasted about the completion of 5,500 flood control projects and a huge flood-control budget amounting to P5.5-billion was appropriated yet failed to mitigate the effects of the series of typhoons that slammed into the Philippines particularly in the Bicol region and Calabarzon leaving 22 people dead and causing widespread flooding, landslides, power outages and 600,000 people displaced.
The failure of the President to stamp his oversight functions over the warring factions within the government was seen by many as a sign of weak leadership particularly with regards the verbal onslaughts exchanged between the Vice President and several congressmen allied with Romualdez which has created an image of a government in disarray.
Midway into his term, the people have yet to see the retail price of rice drop at P20.00 per kilo which was seen as the primary reason why Marcos was elected in the first place. Notwithstanding the fact that the Philippines is a rice-producing country, yet rice production in the country falls short of the consumption level and the country continues to import rice and this is where corruption seeps in.
The Marcos Administration will soon sell rice at P20.00 per kilo and the plan was to have the rice distributed before the elections. This move was seen as a political ploy to drum up support for the flagging chances of the pro-Administration’s senatorial ticket that is running under the banner of the Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas. The low performance and trust ratings registered by the government is compounded by what the Pulso ng Pilipino regard as a government being run through rhetoric with no visible accomplishments whatsoever.
Ed Malay, director of The CENTER said the norm used in the Pulso ng Pilipino survey is the widely used standard MSAP or the multi-stage area probability sampling method that was combined with the random digital access which is now widely used in the United States.
Selective interviews were conducted considering the demographic requirements such as gender, age and socio eco classification as the main considerations. To ensure the accuracy of the sampling results, calls were checked back at random by the team leader and a unique layered system of review that The CENTER has devised and proven accurate since it was used during the 1992 presidential campaign of the late President Fidel V. Ramos.
Pre-poll surveys were still on its infantile stage in those years, but it became an important component of the Ramos presidential campaign with Crystal Research headed by Col. Simeon Ventura doing most of the political poll research for FVR who ran and was eventually elected as the 12th President of the Philippines. FVR depended largely on what the surveys show which dictated the tempo of his campaign.
The FVR presidential campaign in 1992 also gave birth to The CENTER and was made part of the Ramos Media Bureau that also provided some inputs that tracked the progress of the Ramos presidential campaign. In addition, the FVR campaign also made use of research that was available from the Social Weather Station which was also starting to create a mark in this field as well as the political survey research from the Ateneo de Manila University.
Ed Malay
The CENTER
HEAL Ph, Batang Quiapo barge
into the PL winners circle;
PULSO NG PILIPINO – A nationwide organization composed of medical practitioners led by former Health Undersecretary Dr. Eric Tayag who retired after more than 35 years as a government doctor is now hot on the campaign trail to get into the 20th Congress as a Party List.
Tayag who gained fame as the “dancing doctor” is campaigning as nominee of HEAL PH, a newly-organized party list that is offering a comprehensive healthcare program that is founded on (1) free and unlimited healthcare for all Filipinos, (2) universal health cards for comprehensive medical coverage, (3) the delivery of modern, complete public hospital services to
the poor and marginalized, and (4) a complete public hospital services for the poor.
HEAL PH which received 1.00% of those surveyed by the Pulso ng Pilipino also aims to transform healthcare accessibility in the Philippines which is inspired by Brazil's healthcare model. Their core mission is encapsulated in their tagline: "May pag-asa ka nang magka-healthcard! This health card offers unlimited coverage and will be handed out free to all qualified indigents that will provide them with modern and complete hospital services for free.
In the most recent survey of Pulso ng Pilipino conducted by The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) on April 28 to May 3, 2025 which polled some 1,800 respondents nationwide using the standard MSAP (multi stage area probability sampling) and random digital access (RDA) methodologies. The survey has a margin of error of + 3% and a confidence level of in excess of 98%.
A major component of its program is its proposal to put in place a universal health coverage that will grant every Filipino can receive healthcare services regardless of economic status. Heal PH will be targeting the urban poor communities and remote barangays to reach the most underserved populations.
HEAL PH will also roll out what it calls the G.O.A.L. program that will provide free medical services including free Gamot, free medical Operation, free, correct health Advice and free Lab tests.
Another Party List that bears watching is BATANG QUIAPO which posted a .95% of those surveyed by Pulso ng Pilipino. As a party list that works among the small business entrepreneurs, the Batang Quiapo nominee – Zofia Canlas has made it the primary program of their organization to support micro-entrepreneurs to help alleviate poverty by providing income opportunities for low-income individuals.
She said the Batang Quiapo party-list would move to help provide micro-entrepreneurs more benefits and support primarily in giving them more access to the loan windows of government financial institutions.
At the same time, ten Party List groups are sure of getting reelected under the Party List system on May 12, 2025 and one newcomer. These 11 Party List groups are assured of at least two seats each when the members of the incoming 20th Congress are sworn in on June 30, 2025.
Of the 11 Party List groups who may be assigned at least two seats in the incoming 20th Congress, one Party List group easily stands out as the most active in enacting its role that is synonymous to its name.
This Party List group is ANAK KALUSUGAN that has reportedly stamped its mark principally in Southern Luzon and in Western Visayas and has been very active in the distribution of wheelchairs and other medical paraphernalia in many areas in the regions mentioned.
The respondents were simply asked which of the 155 Party List groups will they vote for if the elections are held on the dates the pre-poll survey was conducted. A showcard or list of Party List groups were shown to the respondents who were all registered voters in the barangays where the survey was conducted at the time. The Pulso ng Pilipino survey for the Party List system has a margin of error of + 3.5% and a confidence level of in excess of 95%.
This early, however, at least three of these Party List groups that are in the winners’ circle will either end up with three seats. These are: Duterte Youth, the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support or (ACT-CIS) and the Pagtibayin at Palaguin ang Pangkabuhayang Pilipino or (4Ps). The rest will be allotted two seats and one seat each depending on the computation of the final results. (Ed Malay-09209602293)
2025 Mid-Term Final Senatorial Tracking Poll:
Alyansa Keeps Lead But Pro-Duterte
Bets Gain As Campaign Winds Down;
Pulso ng Pilipino Sees 7 Alyansa,
3 PDP-Laban And 2 Indies In Magic 12;
PULSO NG PILIPINO --- The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) which conducted its final Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll on April 28 to May 3, 2025 sees an exciting windup in this year’s mid-term polls that the Marcos Administration needs to dominate as it hopes to get back on its feet in the second half of its six-year term.
The non-commissioned Pulso ng Pilipino tracking survey polled some 1,800 respondents nationwide with ages ranging from 18 years old and above representing the ABC, D and E social classes and were equally distributed across all educational levels.
Ed M. Malay, director of The CENTER, said that surveys represent the perception of respondents on the dates the survey was conducted. Such perception change over time and are influenced by events that are available in the various forms of media platforms particularly social media which has become the primary source of information by the digitally-educated public.
This is the reason why there has been a major shift in the conduct of political campaigns from advertising to social media as the Philippines and Filipinos in general have a very high percentage of mobile cellular phone screen time on a daily basis.
In fact, the Philippines is regarded as the texting capital of the world as around 400 million text messages are being sent through mobile gadgets by Filipinos regardless of their age. This is the reason why a big chunk of the political campaigns of political candidates and organizations have shifted to the use of SMS to send their campaign messages across.
The final Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll shows seven Alyansa official candidates, three PDP-Laban bets and two independents getting into the Magic 12. Suffice it to say, these are also the candidates who took advantage of the availability of digital gadgets and social media in their campaign.
Barring any unforeseen scenarios such as poll manipulation, Sen. BONG GO is assured of getting reelected and will most likely finish on top of the Magic 12 with 59%. In second position is former Senate President TITO SEN Vicente Sotto III (54%). Coming in third position is reelectionist Sen. BATO de la Rosa (49.3%). In a share of the 4th to 5th place are erstwhile leader and ACT-CIS Party List Rep. ERWIN Tulfo (47.6%) and Sen. PIA Cayetano with (45.7%)
Sharing the 6th to 7th spots are Makati Mayor ABBY Binay (43%) and another reelectionist Sen. TOL Tolentino (42.7%).
In 8th to 9th places are: Las Pinas Rep. CAMILLE Villar with (40%) and Sen. IMEE Marcos who is also running for reelection with (39.9%). Both Villar and Marcos were recently endorsed by Vice President Sara Duterte which basically explains the sudden spike in their ratings.
The 10th to 11th places are shared by Broadcaster BEN BITAG Tulfo with 39% and former Sen. PING Lacson with 38%.
At the tail end of the Magic 12 is Party List Rep. RODANTE MARCOLETA with 35%.
At least half a dozen candidates also have a statistical chance of making it to the Magic 12 with five days to go before the May 12, 2025 mid-term polls. These candidates who are within range at the lower end of the 12th to 14th places. They are: Former Sen. GRINGO Honasan (34%), TV personality KUYA WILL Revillame (33.5%), and lawyer-artist JIMMY Bondoc with 31% and who is in a share of the 15th to 18th places with Sen. LITO Lapid (30%), Sen. BONG Revilla (27%) and former Sen. MANNY Pacquiao (23.4%)
Others who are within range are: Action star IPE Salvador (23%), former Interior Secretary BENHUR Abalos (22%), former Sen. BAM Aquino (20.7%), Party List Rep. BONNIE Bosita (20%), former COA Commissioner HEIDI Mendoza (20%), former Executive Secretary VIC RODRIGUEZ (18%), former Sen. KIKO Pangilinan (17%) and, lawyer RICHARD MATA (15%), Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (15%) and lawyer RAUL LAMBINO (15%).
Malay also said that the Senate is a legislative body whose members are tasked with crafting the laws of the land and treaties with foreign governments. Thus, it follows that the public must be discerning in their choices and should elect only those with the educational capacity to comprehend the legislative bills and or documents before them.
The august halls of the Senate is also where its members are given the privilege to speak out on certain issues which affect the social and political environment and also as a platform where issues are debated upon especially when there are bills that could impact and affect the people’s way of life. This is something that we cannot see from certain candidates who’s only advantage is their name recall and celebrity status, added Malay.
The Pulso ng Pilipino survey which is conducted by The CENTER has been in existence since 1992 as an internal poll research organization during the presidential campaign and also during the administration of the late President Fidel V. Ramos.
Bong GO’s campaign gained traction from his patronage of sports development at the grassroots level and certainly from the beneficiaries of his Malasakit health program. SOTTO, on the other hand, used his vast experience as a four-term Senator who was never absent or late when the Senate was in session even during the pandemic. SOTTO is credited with having authored or co-authored some 259 laws, the most number ever recorded by a senator from the time of Quezon to the present. Sotto is also gunning to be the first senator to be elected to a record fifth term.
TOL Tolentino saw an upward swing in his reelection bid with the endorsement he received from political leaders in provinces and cities with huge voting population. Tolentino also picked up a lot of points from the recent Senate hearings he conducted on the attempts of China to influence the mid-term polls.
Senator IMME MARCOS, on the other hand, received a boost in her reelection campaign from the endorsement of Vice President SARA DUTERTE and when she succeeded in exposing the flaws in the manner with which Former President RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE was arrested and illegally transported to The Hague.
The CENTER also explained the huge drop in the ratings of Senators LAPID, BONG REVILLA and Pacquiao as reflective of the growing number of voters who are beginning to look at the quality of the candidates to sensitive and important national positions such as the Senate.
While Lapid has not been dragged into contentious issues such as plunder, still there have been some controversies raised with regards his alleged connection to the POGO operations and quarrying firms in Pampanga.
During the face-to-face interviews, a skip interval method was employed and selective interviews were conducted considering the demographic requirements such as gender, age and socio-eco classification as the main considerations. In such situations, proper physical distancing was still observed including disinfection of materials used.
A unique feature of the PnP survey is its use of actual intelligence information on the ground that are collected from the so-called Listening Posts (LPs). This layered system of intelligence gathering developed during the previous Ramos presidential campaign is what ensures the accuracy of the Pulso ng Pilipino survey.
The PnP survey during the period covered shows the race for the Magic 12 remains tight as current political developments can influence the mindsets of voters going into the May 12, 2025 polls. Anything can happen and the rankings may still change depending on how the current issues are managed by both the Administration and the Opposition. (Ed Malay @ 09209197878)
2025 Mid-Term Senatorial Tracking Poll:
Alyansa lead skids in latest Pulso ng Pilipino
tracking; 2 PDP Laban stalwarts,
5 other pro-DU30 bets shake up Magic 12;
Tolentino Holds Position, Imee Moves Up,
Voters Rethink Their Choice
Of Lapid And Revilla;
Shift in preferences seen in 2025 polls;
Bong Go, TitoSen still setting the pace.
PULSO NG PILIPINO --- What was touted as a walk in the park before the official campaign period for national candidates began in February is now teetering on the brink of an unprecedented colossal collapse and the Marcos Administration is leaving no stone unturned to salvage its political advantage as the party in power as its political survival is contingent on the results of this mid-term elections.
This is how the Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) views the current political turmoil following the decision of the Administration that led to the contentious arrest and involuntary surrender of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to The Hague, a move that was characterized by a confounding interpretation of the law that only exposed the idiocy of the country’s governing body.
In its latest Pulso ng Pilipino pre-poll survey conducted by The CENTER on April 11-15 and 19-22, 2025 using a combined face-to-face multistage area probability sampling (MSAP) and random digital access methodology that surveyed some 1,800 respondents nationwide who are registered voters and were distributed randomly through all the social classes. The survey has a margin of error of + 3% and a confidence level of in excess of 98%.
The results of the survey showed that while the pro-administration Alyansa continues to enjoy an advantage, the pro-Duterte senatorial ticket continues to inch its way into the winners’ circle. From the previous nine senatorial candidates in the Magic 12, the Alyansa advantage is now down to seven candidates while the other senatorial slots are shared by one independent candidate and four candidates who are identified with the pro-Duterte team.
In the Magic 12 are: Mr. Malasakit and reelectionist Sen. Bong GO at No. 1 with 57%. Maintaining his second place finish and a share of the lead is former Senate President Tito SOTTO with 54.3%. Sen. Bato DELA ROSA whose reelection bid surged in recent days propelled the former PNP chief to a strong third place with 46%.
Sharing the 4th to 5th spots are Sen. Pia CAYETANO with 44.5% and she is followed closely by erstwhile leader Party List representative Erwin TULFO with 44%. Coming in at the 6th to 7th positions are Makati Mayor Abby BINAY with 40.7% and broadcaster Ben TULFO with 39%.
Las Pinas City’s lone Congresswoman Camille VILLAR shot up to 8th place with 37.9% following the endorsement of Vice President Sara Duterte and she is followed closely in a statistical tie for 8th to 9th place by Sen. Tol TOLENTINO with 37.5% and whose reelection bid got a shot in the arm following his startling revelation of the presence of underwater drones that are sending intelligence information to China on the country’s upcoming mid-term polls.
TOLENTINO is also credited with the creation and launch of the country’s ROTC Games that brings together college students nationwide who are attending the ROTC discipline as participants not only in various sports competition but the games also include academic contests.
Sharing the 10th to 11th spots are former Sen. Ping LACSON with 36% and Sen. Imee MARCOS with 35.8% whose reelection campaign was resurrected when the Senate committee she chairs was able to highlight certain flaws in the arrest and surrender of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to The Hague. Lacson’s ratings dropped by 7.3% from the Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll survey in March which stood at 43.3%.
In 12th to 14th places are Sen. Lito LAPID with 32%, a huge 14% drop from the 46% the Pampanga senator scored in Pulso’s survey in March. Also in this batch are Party List Rep. Rodante MARCOLETA with 30.5%, an 12% increment from the 18.5% that he scored in March. Former Sen. Greg HONASAN with 29.6% is also in this batch.
At 15th to 16th places and who still have a a chance to barge into the Magic 12 are TV variety host Willie REVILLAME with 27% and Sen. Bong REVILLA with 25%. Like Senator Lapid, this is also big 17.5% dive from the 42.5% the Cavite stalwart registered in March.
The Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll going into the homestretch of the mid-term polls also included three candidates at 17th to 19th positions. They are: Former Sen. Manny PACQUIAO with 23%, former DILG Secretary Benhur ABALOS also with 23% and actor Ipe SALVADOR with 22%. In 20th place is lawyer and artist Jimmy BONDOC with 21%. He is followed closely at 21st to 23rd places by former Sen. Bam AQUINO (20%), Party List Rep. Bonnie BOSITA (19%) and
former COA Commissioner Heidi MENDOZA (18%).
In 24th place is former Executive Secretary lawyer Vic RODRIGUEZ with 17% and former Sen. Kiko PANGILINAN at 25th place with 16%
The latest non-commissioned Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll was conducted on April 11-15 and 19-22, 2025 the gap in between was to give way to the country’s observance of the Holy Week. The entire stretch of the survey period effectively captured the events of recent weeks highlighted by the alleged illegal arrest and surrender of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Senate Hearing chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos that exposed several lapses in the manner the alleged warrant of arrest was served on the former President.
The survey polled some 1,800 respondents composed of registered voters nationwide with ages ranging from 18 years old to 65 years old and above and covered all social classes using the traditional MSAP method. The CENTER also used when applicable the random digital access methodology which is now commonly used in the United States. The Pulso ng Pilipino survey is conducted by The CENTER and has been in existence since 1992 as an internal poll research organization during the administration of the late President Fidel V. Ramos.
Bong GO’s campaign gained traction from his patronage of sports development at the grassroots level and certainly from the beneficiaries of his Malasakit health program. Sotto, on the other hand, used his vast experience as a four-term Senator who was never absent nor late when the Senate was in session even during the pandemic. Over the years, Sotto has built a considerable political network in almost all the political regions throughout the country.
The CENTER also explained the huge drop in the ratings of Senators LAPID and BONG REVILLA as reflective of the growing number of voters who are beginning to rethink their position on the candidacies of Lapid and Revilla as the public began looking at the quality of the candidates to sensitive and important national positions such as the Senate.
Many feedbacks that The CENTER received point to the fact that the Senate is a legislative body and notwithstanding the fact that Lapid and Revilla have been previously elected to the Senate there are still many who doubt the wisdom in electing them to the Senate and also amidst the issues related to both candidates. While Lapid has not been dragged in contentious issues such as plunder, still there have been some controversies raised with regards his alleged connection to the POGO operations and quarrying firms in Pampanga.
During the face-to-face interviews, a skip interval method was employed with five to seven houses in between calls in thickly populated villages to obviate any bias in the responses. Selective interviews were conducted considering the demographic requirements such as gender, age and socio-eco classification as the main considerations. In such situations, proper physical distancing was still observed including disinfection of materials used.
Calls were checked back at random by the Team Leader to ensure accuracy of data entered on the call cover and interview pages. A unique feature of the PnP survey is its use of actual intelligence information on the ground that are collected from the so-called Listening Posts (LPs). This layered system of intelligence gathering developed during the previous Ramos presidential campaign is what ensures the accuracy of the Pulso ng Pilipino survey.
The PnP survey during the period covered shows the race for the Magic 12 remains tight as current political developments can influence the mindsets of voters going into the May 12, 2025 polls. Anything can happen and the rankings may still change depending on how the current issues are managed by both the Administration and the Opposition. # # #
Ed M. Malay
Director
The CENTER
Anak Kalusugan Party List
Stamps Its Mark in SL, WV;
Three PL Groups Take Early Lead
PULSO NG PILIPINO – Ten Party List groups are sure of getting reelected under the Party List system on May 12, 2025 and one newcomer. These 11 Party List groups are assured of at least two seats each when the members of the incoming 20th Congress are sworn in on June 30, 2025.
Of the 11 Party List groups who may be assigned at least two seats in the incoming 20th Congress, one Party List group easily stands out as the most active in parlaying its role that is synonymous to its name.
This Party List group is Anak Kalusugan that has reportedly stamped its mark principally in Central Luzon and in Western Visayas and has been very active in the distribution of wheelchairs and other medical paraphernalia in many areas in the regions mentioned. The top two nominees of Anak Kalusugan which is gunning for reelection as a Party List are Rep. Ray Reyes who is the current nominee and former Lakas NUCD executive director during the Arroyo Administration and former Valderrama, Antique Mayor Ray Roquero who is the second nominee.
The final composition of the number of seats for the party list system will be known when the final count is tallied by the Commission on Elections using a complex formula to determine the structure of each party list group that will meet the threshold set under the law governing the party list system.
In the latest Pulso ng Pilipino pre-poll survey for the party list system conducted by the Issues and Advocacy Center on April 11-15 and on April 19-22, 2025, some 1,200 respondents were asked for their preferences and were shown the list of the 155 Party Listy groups that have been accredited by the Commission on Elections as having met the requirements for participation in the scheduled 2025 mid-term polls.
The respondents were simply asked which of the 155 Party List groups will they vote for if the elections are held on the dates the pre-poll survey was conducted. A showcard or list of Party List groups were shown to the respondents who were all registered voters in the barangays where the survey was conducted at the time. The Pulso ng Pilipino survey for the Party List system has a margin of error of + 3.5% and a confidence level of in excess of 95%.
Eleven (11) Party List groups have initially reached the required percentage that will serve as qualifier in the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives.
This early, however, at least three of these Party List groups that are in the winners’ circle will most probably end up with three seat each. These are: Duterte Youth, the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support or (ACT-CIS) and the Pagtibayin at Palaguin ang Pangkabuhayang Pilipino or (4Ps).
Topping the 11 Party List groups that have generated the required percentage that is representative of the sum total of the number of votes that are expected to be cast on May 12, 2025 is Duterte Youth with 10.8%. Not far behind is ACT-CIS with 9.3%. Third is 4Ps with 8.5%, followed in fourth position by the FPJ Panday Bayanihan with 5.7% and in fifth place is TGP with 4.3%, and Asenso Pinoy with 3.1%.
Also making it to the top 11 are Ako Bicol with 2.8%, COOP NATCCO in 8th spot with 2.5%, Senior Citizen is in 9th place with 2.4%, Anak Kalusugan is in 10th position with 2.3% and Bicol Saro with 2.0% and is in 11th place.
The other Party List groups that made it to the winners’ circle are: Agimat (1.9%), Tingog (1.85%), SSS-GSIS Pensiyonado (1.7%), Edukasyon (1.6%), 1-Rider Party List (1.33%), Murang Kuryente (1.32%), Malasakit@Bayanihan (1.28%), AGAP or Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (1.26%), Kabataan (1.24%), Manila Teachers (1.23%), Trabaho (1.2%), Trabaho (1.2%,), Magsasaka (1.18%), PBBM (1.17%).
The nationwide survey, conducted from January 25 to 31, 2025, utilized face-to-face interviews with 1,200 male and female respondents aged 18 and above. The survey has a margin of error of ±3 percent at a 95-percent confidence level and provides subnational estimates with a ±6 percent margin of error for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. (Ed Malay-09209602293)
2025 Mid-Term Senatorial Tracking Poll - March 22-29, 2025:
Survey Shows 9 Alyansa, 2 PDP Laban and 1 Independent in Magic 12;
Duterte Bets In Striking Position,
Surge May Happen When
Block Voting Takes Effect;
Voters Taking Into Consideration
Mediocrity Of Some Candidates;
Bong Go, TitoSen Angling
For Top Honors
PULSO NG PILIPINO --- Some nine candidates from the pro-administration’s Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas showed their political grit by maintaining their standings in the Magic 12. making it to the Magic 12.
Joining them are two candidates from the PDP-Laban and one independent but political analysts from the Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) that conducts the Pulso ng Pilipino survey say this current standings may not last for long once the effects of the political events in recent weeks begin to take traction and pulls the pro-Duterte senatorial bets into position for the surge going into the final stages of the campaign.
The latest non-commissioned Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll was conducted on March 22 to 29, 2025 which effectively captured the events of recent weeks highlighted by the alleged illegal arrest and surrender of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Senate Hearing chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos that exposed several lapses in the manner the alleged warrant of arrest was served on the former President.
The survey polled some 1,800 respondents composed of registered voters nationwide with ages ranging from 18 years old to 65 years old and above and covered all social classes using the traditional MSAP or Multi Stage Area Probability Sampling method which is the norm that is commonly used by survey firms. The Pulso ng Pilipino survey is conducted by The CENTER and has been in existence since 1992 as an internal poll research organization during the administration of the late President Fidel V. Ramos.
Sen. Bong GO topped the latest Pulso ng Pilipino survey with 57.6%, up by 2.3% from the February survey of Pulso ng Pilipino. He is in a tie with former Senate President Vicente ‘Tito Sen’ Sotto III who polled 56.3%, down by a minuscule .02% which left him with enough steam to remain in a tie for top honors.
GO is running for reelection and is banking on the huge following of the Malasakit Center that provides financial and medical assistance to indigents as well as the Senator’s Sports para sa Masa program that promotes sports development in the countryside. The survey also showed that voters seem attracted to the self-less and down to earth brand of public service extended by GO whose office has assisted thousands of marginalized Filipinos with their medical and hospital needs.
Sotto, on the other hand, used his vast experience as a four-term Senator who was never absent nor late when the Senate was in session even during the pandemic. He will be gunning for a record-breaking five terms as an elected Senator of the country who boasts of some 259 laws that Sotto principally authored and sponsored which is regarded as unequalled in Senate history from the time of Quezon to the current Senate President Francis Escudero.
In sole third place with 51% is erstwhile leader Erwin Tulfo who shared top honors in the February survey and who still enjoys a large following owing to his media platform that is linked to the Act-CIS Party List that he represents. But his campaign for a Senate seat ran into some accountability problems with the voters with regards to his American citizenship.
In 4th position is Sen. Pilar Juliana ‘Pia’ CAYETANO with 47%. She is a lawyer by profession and is only one of five lawyers in the current 19th Senate. The other senators who are lawyers are: Senate President Chiz Escudero, Senate Minority Floor Leader Koko Pimentel, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Francis ‘TOL’ TOLENTINO who is also running for reelection.
In 5th place is Sen. Manuelito ‘LITO’ LAPID with 46%, down by 2.1% from the February survey. Sharing the 6th to 7th spots are former Sen. Panfilo ‘PING’ LACSON with 43.3% and Sen. BONG REVILLA with 42.5%.
Many of the survey respondents frowned on the change of name of Revilla from his baptismal name as Ramon Bautista Jr. to RAMON BONG REVILLA with his erstwhile political name BONG REVILLA now accepted as his official surname which was done through a petition which a local court approved. His former surname BAUTISTA is now his middle name. The name change apparently was aimed at getting a lower number in the list of candidates in the official ballot to be printed by the Commission on Elections.
Sharing the 8th to 9th spots are Makati Mayor Abigail ‘ABBY’ BINAY with 38.7% and reelectionist Sen. Francis ‘TOL’ TOLENTINO with 37.5% up by 4.1% from the last PnP survey. BINAY will be remembered for instituting a transparent and fully accountable type of governance when she took over as Mayor of Makati.
TOLENTINO, on the other hand, gained traction in his campaign from his patronage of the 1st ROTC Games which gathered thousands of college students towards a regional competition aimed at the development of the academic, disciplinary and sports potential of today’s Filipino youths.
Three candidates share the 10th to 12th places. They are: Reelectionist Sen. Ronald ‘BATO’ DE LA ROSA, 35%, independent candidate Benjamin ‘BEN BITAG’ TULFO with 34.7%, and former Sen. Emmanuel ‘MANNY’ PACQUIAO with 31.5%, down by 4.5% from the last PnP survey. Again, similar to the negative sentiments of voters with regards to Bong Revilla, the present-day voters who are mostly from the youth sectors do not look kindly at the evident lack of experience of the boxing icon every time they watch in soc-med platforms the bumbling performance of Pacquiao at the Senate floor.
DELA ROSA’s ratings gained 3% from the PnP survey in February owing to the controversies surrounding the arrest and reverse extradition of the former President.
The other candidates who are within striking distance at 13th to 16th positions are: variety show host Willie ‘KUYA WIL’ REVILLAME with 30.1%. Las Pinas Rep. Camille VILLAR with 28% and, former Sen. Paolo Benigno ‘BAM’ AQUINO with 24.7%, up by an outstanding 8.7% from the 16% he posted in the last PnP survey and, former Sen. KIKO PANGILINAN with 24%.
Hugging the 17th to 19th places are: former DILG Secretary BENHUR ABALOS (23%), former Sen. GRINGO HONASAN (22.7%) and reelectionist Sen. IMEE MARCOS (22.5%). There are some self-proclaimed political pundits who claim that IMEE MARCOS will lose in the coming elections are either unaware of the electoral process or are simply ignorant of the factors that contribute to winning an election.
With almost a month before the scheduled May 12, 2025 polls, The CENTER said that even candidates in the 20th to 24th place bracket still have a chance of barging into the winning circle. Electoral victory, said The CENTER, is dependent on many factors primary of which is adequate funding to finance the so-called sample ballot operation.
This operation is not only about producing the needed sample ballots but hinges on the systematic distribution of these campaign paraphernalia and only a well-organized and well-oiled campaign organization can launch such an operation and make it count.
Occupying the 20th to 24th slots are: actor Philip ‘IPE’ SALVADOR (19.3%), Party List Rep. Rodante MARCOLETA (18.5%), Party List Rep. Bonifacio ‘COLONEL’ BOSITA (17.8%), lawyer James Patrick ‘JIMMY’ BONDOC (16.3%) and former Executive Secretary Vic RODRIGUEZ (15.9%). It will be recalled that Rodriguez was once the most rabid supporter of PBBM but who was unceremoniously ousted by a cabal of political operators inside the Office of the President.
With the ratings of the pro-administration Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas skidding and those of the pro-Duterte PDP-Laban bets developing into an upward spin, it will only be a matter of time before the Magic 12 is shaken to the core. The CENTER noted that the country and principally the voters are seemingly divided as information on the irregularity of the arrest and extradition of former President Duterte continues to flood the various social media platforms.
These social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter X, Tiktok, and You Tube have now become the primary sources of uncensored information by the people as the mainstream media appeared to have been coopted by the administration and its backers.
Based on the pre-poll PnP survey conducted on March 22-29, 2025, there are nine pro-administration candidates who made it to the Magic 12. They are: Tito SOTTO (NPC), Erwin TULFO (Lakas-CMD), Lito LAPID (NPC), Ping LACSON (IND), BONG REVILLA (Lakas), Pia CAYETANO (NP), Abby BINAY (NPC), Manny PACQUIAO (PFP) and Tol TOLENTINO (PFP).
The three other senatorial candidates in the 2025 mid-term polls who belong to other parties are: BONG GO (PDP-Laban), Ben TULFO (IND), and Bato DELA ROSA (PDP-Laban).
During the face-to-face interviews, a skip interval method was employed with five to seven houses in between calls in thickly populated villages to obviate any bias in the responses. Selective interviews were conducted considering the demographic requirements such as gender, age and socio-eco classification as the main considerations. In such situations, proper physical distancing was still observed including disinfection of materials used.
Calls were checked back at random by the Team Leader to ensure accuracy of data entered on the call cover and interview pages. A unique feature of the PnP survey is its use of actual intelligence information on the ground that are collected from the so-called Listening Posts (LPs). This layered system of intelligence gathering developed during the previous Ramos presidential campaign is what ensures the accuracy of the Pulso ng Pilipino survey.
The PnP survey during the period covered shows the race for the Magic 12 remains tight as current political developments can influence the mindsets of voters going into the May 12, 2025 polls. Anything can happen and the rankings may still change depending on how the current issues are managed by both the Administration and the Opposition. (Nothing follows)
Ed M. Malay
Director
The CENTER
2025 Mid-Term Senatorial Pre-Poll Survey
Conducted on Feb. 17-22, 2025:
Survey Shows 9-3 For Now In Favor
Of The BBM Administration,
But Standings Can Still Change
As The Campaign Progresses;
Three-Way Tie For Top Honors With Sotto
Gunning For Unprecedented Record
TITO SOTTO BONG GO ERWIN TULFO LITO LAPID PING LACSON BONG REVILLA
PIA CAYETANO BEN TULFO ABBY BINAY MANNY PACQUIAO TOL TOLENTINO BATO DELA ROSA
PULSO NG PILIPINO --- A three-way tie for top honors in the 2025 mid-term Senatorial elections has emerged in the latest pre-poll survey of the Pulso ng Pilipino (PnP) conducted by The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) which shows a dominant pattern with nine pro-administration candidates in the winners circle at the time the survey was conducted with two from the opposition and one independent forming the Magic 12.
The non-commissioned PnP survey was conducted from Feb. 17 to 22, 2025 a week after the official campaign period for national candidates commenced on Feb. 10, 2025. The survey polled some 1,200 respondents nationwide composed of registered voters with ages ranging from 18 to 65 years old.
The PnP survey adopted the standard multi-stage, area probability sampling (MSAP) where the village (barangay) population center served as the first layer staging area, proceeding in either direction along the major streets at the discretion of the Researcher.
During the face-to-face interviews, a skip interval method was employed with five to seven houses in between calls in thickly populated villages to obviate any bias in the responses. Selective interviews were conducted considering the demographic requirements such as gender, age and socio-eco classification as the main considerations. In such situations, proper physical distancing was still observed including disinfection of materials used.
Calls were checked back at random by the Team Leader to ensure accuracy of data entered on the call cover and interview pages. A unique feature of the PnP survey is its use of actual intelligence information on the ground that are collected from the so-called Listening Posts (LPs). This layered system of intelligence gathering developed during the previous Ramos presidential campaign is what ensures the accuracy of the Pulso ng Pilipino survey.
The PnP survey during the period covered shows the race for the top position is too close to call as three equally prominent candidates are in a statistical tie for top place as the difference between the three candidates angling for top honors are well within the range of the so-called margin of error (MOE).
The survey shows former Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ SOTTO in the lead with 56.5%. Sotto is tied with reelectionist Sen. GO BONG GO with 55.3% and Party List Rep. Erwin TULFO with 54%.
For the record, Sotto is about to carve his name in political history as he guns for a record-breaking five-term run for the Senate if he succeeds in getting elected on May 12, 2025. Sotto was first elected as a Senator in 1992 and was reelected in 1998. He went on sabbatical in 2004 after serving two terms. He ran again and won in 2010 and got reelected in 2016. He ended his second two-term service as Senate President and he also holds the distinction of piling up some 259 principally authored and sponsored laws which is regarded as unequalled in Senate history from the time of Quezon to the current Senate President Francis Escudero. As an aside, Sotto was never absent nor late when the Senate was in session even during the pandemic.
As usual, the unassuming brand of public service extended by Sen. Bong Go remained etched in the minds of voters particularly with regards the Malasakit Program which is being coordinated by Senator Go’s senate office which has assisted thousands of indigent Filipinos with their medical and hospital needs. Sharing top honors in a tight race was also due to Senator Go’s sponsorship of various sports programs at the barangay level.
Erstwhile leader Erwin Tulfo as usual rode high on his media platform that is linked to the Act-CIS Party List that he represents. His Senate campaign, however, has been impacted by the issues related to his American citizenship for which there is a pending case for disqualification that was filed against him before the Commission on Elections.
Sharing the 4th to 6th positions are Sen. Lito LAPID with 48.1% with his reelection bid boosted by his regular appearance as “Ang Supremo” in the hugely popular TV series Ang Probinsiyano and Batang Quiapo. Also in this bracket are former Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ LACSON with 46% and also Sen. BONG REVILLA who is running for reelection with 45.7%. Revilla attracted a lot of attention when a judicial court ruled in his favor when he filed a change of name from Ramon Bautista Jr. to Ramon Bong Revilla.
In 7th to 8th spots are Sen. Pia CAYETANO with 41% and TV personality Ben ‘Bitag’ TULFO with 39.8%.
Perched in 9th to 10th positions are Makati Mayor Abigail ‘Abby’ BINAY with 35.5% and boxing icon former Sen. Emmanuel ‘Manny’ PACQUIAO with 35%.
Rounding up the Magic 12 are Sen. Francis ‘TOL’ TOLENTINO in 11th place with 33.4%. It will be recalled that it was TOL TOLENTINO who created and organized the now popular ROTC Games which brings together all college students who are enrolled in the ROTC curriculum in an inter-ROTC games that features not only sports competition but also character building. And in 12th spot is Sen. Ronald ‘BATO’ DELA ROSA with 32%.
The other candidates who are within striking distance at 13th to 15th positions and who has a mathematical chance to barge into the winners’ circle include: TV host Willie ‘KUYA WILL’ REVILLAME (30%), Las Pinas Rep. Camille VILLAR (29%), and Sen. Imee MARCOS (25%).
Hugging the 16th to 19th places are: Former Interior Sec. Benhur ABALOS (21%), former Sen. Kiko PANGILINAN (19%), former Sen. Gregorio HONASAN (17%) and former Sen. Bam AQUINO (16%).
In 20th to 22nd positions are: Party List Rep. Bonifacio ‘COLONEL’ BOSITA (14.5%), Action star Philip ‘IPE’ SALVADOR (14%), and Party List Rep. Rodante MARCOLETA (14%).
Bringing up the rear on the 23rd to 25th spots are: Artist Jimmy BONDOC (11%), Brig. Gen. Ariel ‘MARINES’ QUERUBIN (10.3%) and activist lawyer Vic RODRIGUEZ (9%).
Based on the pre-poll PnP survey conducted on Feb. 17 to 22, 2025, there are nine pro-administration candidates who made it to the Magic 12. They are: Tito SOTTO (NPC), Erwin TULFO (Lakas-CMD), Lito LAPID (NPC), Ping LACSON (IND), BONG REVILLA (Lakas), Pia CAYETANO (NP), Abby BINAY (NPC), Manny PACQUIAO (PFP) and Tol TOLENTINO (PFP).
The three other senatorial candidates in the 2025 mid-term polls who comprise the Top 12 and who belong to other parties are: BONG GO (PDP-Laban), Ben TULFO (IND), and Bato DELA ROSA (PDP-Laban). # # #
