Senator Bam Aquino has once again emerged as the most favored senator in the country, leading the Publicus Asia PAHAYAG 2026 Second Quarter Survey for the third consecutive quarter.
The nationwide survey, conducted from June 28 to 30, 2026, among 1,509 respondents, showed Aquino earning a 57% net favorable rating. Of those surveyed, 29% rated him “very favorable,” while 28% described him as “favorable.”
Aquino also recorded the lowest unfavorable rating among all sitting senators at 19%, resulting in a +37 net favorability gap—the highest in the survey and more than double the score of the next highest-ranking senator.
Education Reforms Boost Public Approval
According to the survey, respondents cited Aquino’s work on education as the primary reason behind his strong public approval.
Among his most recognized accomplishments were:
- The passage of the Free College Law (Republic Act No. 10931), cited by 30% of respondents.
- Securing increased funding for public education, recognized by 23% of respondents.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Aquino played a key role in securing the historic ₱1.34-trillion education budget under the proposed 2026 National Budget, the largest education allocation in Philippine history.
The proposed funding includes:
- ₱67.9 billion for the construction of 25,000 new classrooms to help address the country’s estimated 166,000-classroom shortage.
- ₱37 billion to sustain the implementation of the Free College Law, ensuring continued access to tuition-free education in state universities and colleges.
Advocating for Safer Schools
Aquino is also pushing for the passage of the proposed School Safety Act, which aims to strengthen safety and security measures in schools following a series of violent incidents and bullying cases reported across educational institutions.
The proposed legislation seeks to create safer learning environments for Filipino students through stronger preventive measures and improved school security policies.
Seen as an Independent-Minded Leader
Beyond his legislative accomplishments, the survey found that 60% of respondents view Aquino as an independent-minded leader, believing he makes political decisions without being easily influenced by partisan interests.
During the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, where Aquino serves as a senator-judge, he called for greater transparency by urging that all evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense be made available to the public.
He also questioned the delayed implementation of the ₱67-billion classroom construction program, stressing the need for the timely rollout of projects intended to improve public education infrastructure.
Measures to Help the Working and Middle Class
Aquino continues to champion policies designed to ease the financial burden on Filipino families.
Among the measures he is advocating are:
- The suspension of the collection of excise taxes on petroleum products.
- Reducing the Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 12% to 10% on goods and services.
These proposals aim to provide relief from rising living costs and strengthen household purchasing power.
Supporting MSMEs and Job Creation
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, Aquino has also committed to advancing policies that support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
His initiatives focus on helping small businesses expand, improve market access, and generate more employment opportunities for Filipinos.
Strong Favorability Across Consecutive Publicus Asia Surveys
Aquino’s latest performance continues a consistent trend in Publicus Asia’s nationwide surveys.
He previously recorded:
- 59% net favorable rating in the PAHAYAG 2026 First Quarter Survey
- 54% net favorable rating in the PAHAYAG 2025 End-of-Year (PEOY-2025) Survey
In both earlier surveys, Aquino likewise registered the lowest unfavorable rating among all senators—17% in the first quarter of 2026 and 22% in the 2025 End-of-Year Survey.
Publicus Asia also stood out as the only survey firm that correctly projected Aquino would finish second in the 2025 Philippine senatorial elections, further boosting the firm’s credibility in tracking voter sentiment.
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