POVERTY AND HUNGER have taken the backseat as more Filipinos have grown “anxious” on the unabated corruption in the government, says a survey administered by the University of the Philippines-Octa Research Group.
According to Octa Research, the corruption malaise that gripped the entire system of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has landed in the Top 5 urgent concerns of Pinoys.
Citing data based on a survey, fighting corruption has risen alongside that of rising cost of commodities in the consciousness of Filipinos across the country, when before Pinoys took corruption as a fact of life.
Since the President spewed the list of Top 15 DPWH contractors engaged in kickbacks, incomplete, substandard and ghost flood control projects, people have become unforgiving and demanding jail term, heavy penalties, restitution of stolen money by the DPWH people, contractors and legislators behind budget insertions and unprogrammed funds.
Based on the latest Tugon ng Masa survey administered by Octa from during the last week of September, 31 percent of adult Filipinos now consider corruption as an urgent national concern– an 18-point jump from 13 percent in July 2025.
FIRST IN RECENT YEARS
The unprecedented rise indicates a major shift in public priorities from purely economic issues to questions of integrity and accountability in governance, reported Business Mirror.
“This is the first time that corruption has entered the top five national concerns,” OCTA said, noting that the surge reflects a growing public demand for honesty and transparency in government.
Despite the rise in corruption concerns, controlling the prices of basic goods and services remains the top national issue, cited by 48 percent of respondents—down slightly from 50 percent in July.
This was followed by fighting corruption (31%), access to affordable food (31%), improving wages (27%), and reducing poverty (23%).
Concern over job creation, which previously ranked among the top five, fell sharply to 19% this quarter—a seven-point decline from 26% in July. OCTA said the drop may suggest “a perceived improvement in employment conditions or a redirection of public focus toward governance issues.”
NCR AS BOILING POINT
The call to fight corruption is strongest in the National Capital Region (53%), while Mindanao (18%) registered the lowest concern. The issue resonates most among Class ABC (40%), compared to Class D (31%) and Class E (24%).
Meanwhile, concern over rising prices remains highest in Mindanao (53%), but least cited in NCR (17%), while access to affordable food is most pressing in Balance Luzon (36%).
The call to increase wages is most pronounced in NCR (33%), the Visayas (29%), and Balance Luzon (28%), with Class D (29%) leading this concern.
Reducing poverty is most often cited in Balance Luzon (27%) and among Class E respondents (28%), reflecting continuing struggles among lower-income households.
PERSONAL CONCERNS
Despite changing national priorities, Filipinos’ personal concerns have remained stable.
The most urgent personal concern continues to be staying healthy and avoiding illness (63%), followed by having enough to eat every day (49%), finishing schooling or providing education for one’s children (49%), having a secure and well-paying job (46%), and avoiding being a victim of crime (38%).
“While national anxieties are shifting toward governance, everyday worries—health, food, and education—still define the lived reality of most Filipino families,” OCTA said.
Health concerns remain highest among Class ABC (80%), while food security is most pressing in Mindanao (56%) and Visayas (55%).
“Overall, these results indicate that personal priorities among Filipinos have mainly remained stable through the third quarter of 2025, with only minor shifts across categories. While national concerns have shifted toward issues of governance and corruption, personal concerns continue to center on health, food security, and education—core pillars of family welfare and daily stability,” OCTA added.