SWS: 30% of Filipinos disagree that they are unable to reduce corruption

Only 30% of adult Filipinos disagree with the statement, “A person like me cannot do anything to reduce corruption in the government," according to the Social Weather Survey (SWS) on personal efficacy against corruption conducted in June 2026.

In the most recent quarterly national survey, conducted from June 20 to 29, 2026, the respondents were asked whether they agree of disagree with the statement “Ang isang taong katulad ko ay walang magagawa upang mabawasan ang korupsyon sa gobyerno (A person like me cannot do anything to reduce corruption in the government”).

At least 17% are undecided and a majority or 52% agree with the phrase.

The resulting net disagreement score (% disagree minus % agree, correctly rounded) was –22, classified by SWS as moderately weak (–10 to –29).

The result of the latest survey is close to -23 score from the one conducted in March 2026, which indicates, according to SWS, "no meaningful shift in personal efficacy against corruption during 2026 itself."

Before March 2026, the question on personal efficacy against corruption had been fielded nationally in November 2006 (moderately weak –11), March 2008 (neutral –9), and December 2009 (neutral net zero).

It was also asked in the October 19–22, 2025 SWS Mega Manila Survey (neutral –3), ahead of its return to the national quarterly survey in March 2026.

"With net disagreement twice as negative as in any earlier reading, 2026 continues to be the worst year for personal efficacy against corruption in the whole series," the SWS showed.

The non-commissioned Second Quarter 2026 Social Weather Survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide with 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins are ±3% for national percentages and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Net disagreement is highest in the Visayas

As of June 2026, net disagreement that a person cannot do anything to reduce corruption was highest in the Visayas (moderately weak –10), followed by Mindanao (moderately weak –21), Balance Luzon (moderately weak –23), and Metro Manila (very weak –37).

Compared to March 2026, net disagreement rose from very weak to moderately weak in Mindanao, up by 10 points from –31. It stayed moderately weak but edged up slightly in Balance Luzon, up by 3 points from –26.

However, net disagreement fell from neutral to moderately weak in the Visayas, down by 10 points from net zero. It fell but stayed very weak in Metro Manila, down by 6 points from –31.

Net disagreement based on education

As of June 2026, net disagreement was highest among those who either had no formal education or some elementary education (or non-elementary graduates) (neutral –2), followed by those who are college graduates or post-graduates (or college graduates) (moderately weak –14).

The survey also showed moderately weak (–20) for those who either finished elementary or had some high school education (or elementary graduates), and moderately weak (-29) for those who either finished junior high school, had some vocational schooling, had some senior high school, finished senior high school, completed vocational school, or attended some college (or junior high school graduates).

Compared to March 2026, net disagreement rose from moderately weak to neutral among non-elementary graduates, up by 17 points from –19. It edged up but stayed moderately weak among elementary graduates, up by 3 points from –23.

However, net disagreement fell sharply from neutral to moderately weak among college graduates, down by 17 points from +3. It fell slightly but stayed moderately weak among junior high school graduates, down by 2 points from –27.

The SWS also showed that personal efficacy against corruption also varies by how adult Filipinos rate the National Administration’s own performance in eradicating graft and corruption in government.

The June 2026 survey found 36% of adults satisfied, 13% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 50% dissatisfied with the performance of the current National Administration in eradicating graft and corruption in the government.

Those who said they were dissatisfied with the National Administration in fighting corruption posted a net disagreement of moderately weak –13 that “a person like me cannot do anything to reduce corruption in the government,” and moderately weak –14 among those who were undecided, compared with very weak –37 among those who were satisfied.

The same pattern held in March 2026: net disagreement was moderately weak –13 among those dissatisfied with the government’s anti-corruption performance, moderately weak –27 among those undecided, and very weak –34 among those satisfied.

"In other words, adult Filipinos who are dissatisfied with the government’s performance are somewhat more likely to feel they can still make a difference, while those who already think the government is doing well against corruption are, if anything, somewhat more likely to feel personally powerless to reduce it," the survey showed. — BAP, GMA News