Manila - More than half of Filipinos distrust Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo amid unresolved political and economic controversies, a survey showed on Wednesday.

According to an October poll by Pulse Asia Inc, 51 per cent of 1,200 respondents nationwide have "small or no trust" in Arroyo, who has been struggling with low ratings for the past three years.

Only 24 per cent have "big trust" on Arroyo, while the rest were undecided, Pulse Asia said.

The distrust rating was down from 57 per cent in October 2007 and 53 per cent in March 2008. The rating was the same in July 2008.

The survey also showed that 46 per cent of the respondents disapprove of Arroyo's performance in October, compared to 27 per cent who approve.

"These negative sentiments dominate all geographic areas and socio-economic categories within the country," Pulse Asia said in a statement.

It added that "more noteworthy" was a significant change in the president's disapproval and distrust rating in in the central region of Visayas, which had traditionally been pro-Arroyo.

"At present, a big plurality (43 per cent) has turned critical of presidential performance while a small majority (53 per cent) already distrusts President Arroyo," Pulse Asia said.

The survey was conducted at a time when the Philippines began to feel the impact of the global financial crisis and a new impeachment complaint was filed against Arroyo.

Arroyo's ratings have been down since 2004, when she won a fresh six-year term as president amid allegations of massive fraud during the presidential election.

She has also been accused of corruption and human rights abuses.

Arroyo's term ends in 2010, but some analysts have warned that her allies in Congress appear to be determined to amend the constitution to allow her to prolong her stay in power. (dpa)