Filipinos are more inclined to trust leaders and government institutions that deliver accountability and “concrete and measurable outcomes,” according to the 2024 Philippine Trust Study conducted by the EON Group and the Department of Development Studies at Ateneo de Manila University.
The study, which surveyed 1,800 respondents from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, covered a broad spectrum of ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
In addition to the survey, in-depth focus group discussions were conducted to gain further insights about their trust towards relevant economic, political, and social institutions.
Findings reveal that Filipinos strongly desire accountability and a consultative approach in leadership. Filipinos demand their leaders and institutions to act with integrity and deliver meaningful results.
“As you can see, Filipinos really appreciate consultative leadership across various contexts. So, when it comes to government leaders, a strong 70.1 percent prefers leaders who are engaged and consults with others,” Malyn Molina of EON Group said.
“Similarly, when it comes to organizational settings, 71.6 percent of respondents prefer consultative leaders, reinforcing the idea that Filipinos value collaboration and inclusive decision making,” she added.
The study also reveals that local government units (LGUs) enjoy a high trust rating of 95.4 percent. In contrast, trust in national institutions is lower, with the Office of the President at 82.3 percent and Congress at 81.6 percent.
The data suggest that while Filipinos strongly trust local governments, they are more cautious to do the same with national institutions—influenced by concerns about transparency, competence, and consistency.
Dr. Kevin Go from Ateneo de Manila University explained that trust in government is shaped by specific factors, with 38.4 percent of respondents prioritizing good intentions, 36.9 percent emphasizing competence, and 34.9 percent valuing consistent behavior.
These elements impact how Filipinos perceive reliability and effectiveness in governance. However, in the discourse of elections and candidate preference, Go clarified that trust does not always equate to credibility.
He noted that while Filipinos look for qualities like integrity, advocacy for marginalized communities, and trustworthiness, these may not necessarily mean they would choose those who have better credibility.
“Somebody who knows international relations is not necessarily [worthy of trust]. Somebody who knows economics, supply and demand, and all of that—the things that they associate with competence as middle-class Filipinos—that’s not necessarily there,” Go explained.
“So, for us, this candidate may not be trustworthy. But for most 71 percent Filipinos, maybe that’s what they’re looking for,” he added, emphasizing that while “track record” is a measure of trust for some Filipinos, it is not always the deciding factor in candidate preference for many.
