Insider Spotlight
Why it matters
The findings underline how closely Filipinos connect economic hardship with governance failures, especially as rising prices continue to strain household budgets.
The big picture
The survey, conducted from December 12 to 15, shows that 38 percent of respondents identified affordable food prices as the most urgent action government leaders should take in their communities. Reducing or eliminating corruption followed at 31 percent, while creating more jobs and livelihood opportunities ranked third at 21 percent.
Across regions and classes
These three issues emerged as the highest-ranked concerns across regions and socio-economic classes, pointing to broad-based pressure on leaders to deliver tangible economic relief rather than symbolic reforms.
What they’re saying
Stratbase Group founder and CEO Victor Andres Manhit said the results show Filipinos increasingly view corruption as an economic issue rather than a purely moral one.
“Filipinos recognize that corruption has direct consequences on their daily lives,” he said in a statement issued Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
Between the lines
While food prices topped the list nationwide, corruption ranked alongside economic priorities, reflecting public awareness that governance failures directly affect service delivery, household expenses, and job prospects.
Zoom in
“When public funds are misused, people feel it through higher prices, weaker public services, and fewer job opportunities,” Manhit added, emphasizing how corruption translates into everyday costs for ordinary households.
No either-or
The Stratbase chief noted that respondents are not asking government to choose between economic relief and accountability.
“The public is not presenting an either-or choice,” he said. “They expect government leaders to address urgent economic concerns while at the same time ensuring accountability through investigation, arrest, and prosecution of those involved in corruption.”
What’s next
The data points to rising public scrutiny of governance performance, with Filipinos increasingly judging leaders based on visible improvements in economic conditions alongside credible action against corruption.
The bottom line
“The message from the survey is clear,” Manhit said. “People want concrete economic relief alongside credible action against corruption, because these issues are deeply interconnected in everyday life.”
— Edited by Daxim L. Lucas
