MORE than 50 percent of Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of the Senate, the upper chamber’s Public Relations and Information Bureau said yesterday.
The PRIB said the Pulse Asia survey conducted in June showed that 53 percent of Pinoys surveyed approved of the Senate’s performance, an 8-percentage-point increase compared to a 45 percent approval rating in March 2024.
The number of Filipinos who were “undecided” on the Senate’s performance decreased to 28 percent from 34 percent, while disapproval ratings dropped to 18 percent from 21 percent during the same period.
The increase in the Senate’s approval rating was in all three regions, with the National Capital Region registering 64 percent, Visayas, 64 percent, and Mindanao at 52 percent. There were no data provided for Balance Luzon.
On social classes, the Pulse Asia survey said social Classes AB and C registered 37 percent to 46 percent approval rating, 45 percent to 55 percent among Class D, and 46 percent to 54 percent among Class E.
The improved rating coincided with a surge in the productivity of the Senate in the 19th Congress.
Under the leadership of Sen. Francis Escudero, the Senate passed 216 measures during the Third Regular Session, which was almost triple the 73 measures during the First and Second Regular Sessions combined.
The Senate has also produced 96 measures that are awaiting the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Third Regular Session, which is more than four times the 23 measures approved in the First and Second Regular Sessions.
Measures approved on third and final reading increased from 14 in the first two regular sessions to 42 during the Third Regular Session.
The 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 11.
The Senate is now preparing for the official opening of the 20th Congress on July 28, with the senators filing their respective priority bills.
