Zubiri thanks public, senators for record high trust rating

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri (File photo / Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Sunday thanked the public and his colleagues after the 24-member chamber scored its highest satisfaction rating while keeping its rank as the most trusted state agency in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

“I thank our people for their trust, not only in their senators, but also the Senate as an institution,” Zubiri said, noting that the legislative body had always topped the opinion polls over the last three decades.

“We always strive to uphold the Senate as the ultimate bastion of democracy and it is good to know that we have thus far been able to live up to the public’s trust,” he said.

In a noncommissioned survey conducted in December 2022, which the SWS released on April 6, the Senate scored a “very good” net satisfaction rating of +68, topping the list of government institutions.

Of the 1,200 survey participants, nearly eight of out 10 said they were satisfied with the performance of the Senate.

The House of Representatives (+56) came in second, followed by the Supreme Court (+53) and President Marcos’ Cabinet (+50).

Zubiri pointed out that this trust rating was the highest for the Senate since such survey was first carried out in 1988.

The result of the SWS polls “inspires us more to work double time and do even better for the country,” according to the Senate leader.

“It heartens me to know that our people continue to approve of our work in the Senate,” he said.

“[This] shows that the Senate has cemented its place in the hearts of Filipinos as a trusted institution,” Zubiri said.

Since the 19th Congress opened in July last year, he said the Senate had passed five measures, among them Republic Act No. 11934, also known as the Subscriber Identity Module Registration Act and RA 11935, which postponed the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The chamber had also voted to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership deal and approved the committee reports on two major measures, including Senate Bill No. 1849 that would address the concerns of senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.