Manila: Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday downplayed the decline in the Senate's public approval rating, saying the chamber will continue to perform its duties with diligence and integrity, regardless of survey results.

According to Philippines News Agency, Sotto conveyed in a Viber message to reporters that surveys should be viewed only as a snapshot of public perception at a particular time, noting that they do not dictate how the Senate carries out its legislative work. He emphasized that "as always, surveys serve as guides to perceptions in that particular moment. In other words, a snapshot of the past. The Senate will do its work diligently no matter what."

His statement came in response to a Pulse Asia survey that showed the Senate's performance approval rating dropped by 11 percentage points from 53 percent in June to 42 percent in September. The same survey, conducted from September 27 to 30 among 1,200 respondents, found that those who disapproved of the Senate's performance increased from 18 percent to 28 percent, while those undecided rose from 28 percent to 30 percent.

The House of Representatives recorded a steeper decline, with approval ratings falling by 17 points from 47 percent in June to 30 percent in September. Disapproval of the lower chamber's performance climbed from 21 percent to 34 percent, while those undecided increased from 32 percent to 36 percent.

The survey was conducted weeks after the leadership change in both chambers and amid reports linking some lawmakers to alleged irregularities in infrastructure projects.