Public sentiment toward the country’s two legislative chambers moved in opposite directions in the second quarter of 2026. Trust and satisfaction in the Senate declined, while the House of Representatives recorded modest gains, according to the latest “Tugon ng Masa” survey by OCTA Research.
The results raise a key question: Why did public confidence in the two chambers move in different directions during the same period?
The Senate’s trust rating fell from 44% to 41%, while distrust increased from 24% to 27%. Satisfaction with the Senate’s performance also dropped from 42% to 38%, with dissatisfaction rising from 27% to 32%.
While the figures show a clear shift, the survey does not establish a single reason for the decline. The timing of the poll, however, provides important context.
Why Did Senate Ratings Decline?
The Senate was dealing with a series of high-profile political developments during the survey period.
OCTA Research noted that the poll overlapped with the Senate leadership row and the eventual change in leadership. It also coincided with the opening days of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with the Senate convening as an impeachment court on July 6.
Could these developments have influenced how Filipinos viewed the Senate? The survey results alone cannot definitively answer that question.
Still, the timing raises the possibility that heightened political tensions and the Senate’s increased visibility during the period may have shaped public perceptions.
Why Did the House Move in the Opposite Direction?
The House of Representatives, meanwhile, posted improvements across the same measures.
Trust in the lower chamber increased from 36% to 38%, while distrust declined from 33% to 28%.
Satisfaction with the House’s performance also rose from 35% to 37%, while dissatisfaction fell from 35% to 32%.
But another question emerges: What explains the House’s improvement while the Senate’s ratings declined?
The two chambers faced different political circumstances and public exposure during the survey period, which could have contributed to the contrasting results. However, OCTA Research’s figures do not identify which specific issues or events drove the changes.
Survey Captures a Politically Charged Period
The survey was conducted among 1,200 adult Filipinos from July 4 to 11, with a ±3 percentage-point margin of error at a 95% confidence level.
Because the fieldwork coincided with major developments in the Senate, the results offer a snapshot of public sentiment during a particularly politically charged period.
The numbers show what changed, but not necessarily why. Determining what drove the contrasting ratings of the Senate and House would require looking beyond the survey figures and examining the issues, events and public concerns shaping perceptions at the time.
