MANILA, Philippines — Public trust and satisfaction ratings for the Philippine Senate declined in the second quarter of 2026, while the House of Representatives posted modest gains, according to the latest OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa survey.
The results reveal a shifting public mood toward the two chambers of Congress—with the Senate still holding slightly higher overall ratings than the House, but losing ground as the lower chamber begins to recover.
Senate Trust and Satisfaction Ratings Decline
Public trust in the Senate fell to 41%, down from 44% in the first quarter of 2026.
At the same time, distrust increased from 24% to 27%.
The Senate also saw a sharper decline in public satisfaction with its performance. Only 38% of respondents said they were satisfied with the chamber’s work, down from 42% previously.
Those dissatisfied with the Senate increased from 27% to 32%.
Nationwide, the survey found:
- 41% trust the Senate
- 27% distrust the Senate
- 32% remain undecided
On the Senate’s performance:
- 38% are satisfied
- 32% are dissatisfied
- 30% remain undecided
Despite the decline, the Senate continued to post slightly higher trust and satisfaction figures than the House.
House of Representatives Posts Modest Recovery
The House of Representatives moved in the opposite direction.
Public trust in the House increased from 36% to 38%, while distrust dropped significantly from 33% to 28%.
Satisfaction with the House’s performance also improved from 35% to 37%. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction declined from 35% to 32%.
The latest nationwide figures showed:
- 38% trust the House
- 28% distrust the House
- 33% remain undecided
On performance:
- 37% are satisfied
- 32% are dissatisfied
- 31% remain undecided
The gains are modest, but they represent a positive movement for the lower chamber at a time when public confidence in major government institutions remains closely watched.
Survey Conducted During Turbulent Period
The OCTA Research survey was conducted from July 4 to 11, 2026 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 Filipino adults.
The survey carried a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.
The timing is significant.
The polling period coincided with a turbulent stretch for the Senate, including leadership developments and the opening days of the Senate’s impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Sara Duterte, which convened on July 6.
Several news reports noted that the survey captured public sentiment during a period of intense political attention and developments involving the upper chamber. However, the survey itself measures public opinion and does not establish a direct cause for the changes in ratings.
House Leaders Welcome Improvement
House officials welcomed the improved numbers, with Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez attributing the increase in public confidence to the chamber’s focus on legislation and public service under Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.
The House leadership described the survey results as an encouraging sign that efforts to rebuild public confidence may be gaining traction.
That interpretation, however, represents the position of House officials. The OCTA survey itself shows that public opinion toward the chamber remains mixed, with large portions of respondents still undecided.
Different Surveys Show a More Complicated Picture
The latest OCTA results also come against the backdrop of other polling data showing that public sentiment toward Congress can vary depending on the survey period and methodology.
A Social Weather Stations survey conducted from March 24 to 31, 2026 reported 42% satisfaction and 31% dissatisfaction for the Senate, resulting in a net satisfaction rating of +11. The House recorded 42% satisfaction and 29% dissatisfaction, for a net satisfaction rating of +13.
The difference highlights an important point: survey findings should be compared carefully because polling organizations may use different questions, methodologies and fieldwork periods.
What the Numbers Really Mean
The Senate’s decline does not mean the public has completely turned against the institution.
At 41% trust, the Senate still has a higher trust score than the House’s 38%. Likewise, the Senate’s 38% satisfaction rating remains slightly above the House’s 37%.
But the direction of movement is what makes the latest OCTA survey significant.
The Senate went down in both trust and satisfaction.
The House went up in both categories.
And with roughly one-third of respondents remaining undecided about both institutions, the battle for public confidence is far from over.
The Senate may still be ahead—but if the current trend continues, will the House eventually close the gap?
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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