Senior Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon and Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo on Thursday said the latest Tugon ng Masa survey by OCTA Research affirms the strong and steady leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, whose approval and trust ratings rose significantly in the second quarter of 2025.
According to OCTA, Romualdez’s nationwide trust rating climbed three points to 57 percent, while his performance rating also went up by four points to 59 percent.
The Speaker is one of only two government officials, along with President Marcos, to post gains in the OCTA survey..
“These numbers are not just statistical gains. They reflect how Speaker Romualdez’s leadership of the House of Representatives is being felt on the ground,” Suarez said.
“A four-point rise in performance and a three-point rise in trust, across all major regions and socioeconomic classes, is clear validation that the Speaker’s focus on transparency and responsible budgeting is resonating with Filipinos,” he added.
Suarez said the Speaker’s consistent efforts to ensure that public funds are spent efficiently and that infrastructure projects are implemented without corruption have not gone unnoticed.
“From Metro Manila to the Visayas, across ABC to E classes, the data show a public that is paying attention and responding to the Speaker’s results-oriented leadership,” he said.
“You don’t earn these numbers with press releases. You earn them by doing the work,” Suarez stressed.
For her part, Garin, a former Health secretary, noted that the trust rating for Romualdez was highest in the Visayas at 66 percent, followed by 62 percent in the rest of Luzon and 59 percent in Metro Manila.
“This is especially telling for us in the Visayas. People in our region have seen the Speaker’s support for programs that truly matter, including basic services, social protections and responsive legislation,” she said.
“The 66 percent trust rating in the Visayas is not surprising. It reflects direct impact,” Garin added.
Garin also pointed out that among the poorest Filipinos in Class E, Speaker Romualdez posted a 61-percent trust rating and a 63-percent performance rating.
“These are the voices we cannot afford to ignore. They are saying, loud and clear, that they trust the Speaker and they are satisfied with his work,” Garin said.
“That kind of confidence cannot be manufactured. It comes from delivering on promises,” she emphasized.
Both Suarez and Garin vowed to support the Speaker’s legislative agenda, especially in the coming budget season, where reforms in procurement, social welfare and regional development are expected to take priority.
“The public’s support is not a trophy. It is a challenge. And under Speaker Romualdez’s guidance, we in the House intend to meet that challenge head-on,” Suarez said.
