MANILA – The Pahayag 2024 End-of-Year Survey underscores the Filipino electorate’s demand for good governance, transparency, and accountability as the country approaches the 2025 midterm elections. The survey revealed overwhelming support for measures aimed at ensuring integrity among candidates and elected officials. Conducting lifestyle checks for officials and candidates received the highest approval at 80%, followed closely by neuro-psychiatric evaluations (79%) and hair follicle drug testing for the President, Vice President, Senate President, and House Speaker (73%).
Key government actions also gained public favor, with 72% approving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 74, which bans Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs). Transparency on the completion status of 5,500 flood-control projects and over 100 evacuation centers, as highlighted in the President’s 3rd State of the Nation Address, earned 65% approval. Similarly, the CREATE MORE Law, which lowers corporate income taxes to 20% and supports remote work arrangements, was viewed positively by 62%.
The judiciary’s initiatives also garnered attention, with 61% of respondents approving the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order halting further transfers of surplus PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury. Additionally, 52% supported the Court’s proposal to establish guidelines for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into court operations and management.
Investigations into controversial figures and past actions were a significant focus of public interest. The Senate investigation into Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and allegations of human trafficking and abuse within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) received 74% approval. Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s participation as a witness in Senate and House inquiries into allegations of extra-judicial killings during his administration was met with 61% and 58% approval, respectively.
Proposed budget adjustments for 2025 elicited mixed reactions. While 47% of respondents approved the House of Representatives’ reduction of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ budget from ₱898 billion to ₱825 billion, the significant cut to the Office of the Vice President’s budget—from ₱2.026 billion to ₱733 million—garnered the same level of support. However, issues such as the alleged ₱39.8-billion funding insertion for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) and the depletion of the Quick Response Fund (QRF) had lower approval ratings, at 44% and 27%, respectively.
Election management and reform efforts led by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) were another key focus for respondents. Measures such as considering the use of fake accounts, deepfakes, and “fake news” as election offenses gained 66% approval, while 64% supported requiring candidates and political parties to register their social media accounts and other online platforms with Comelec. The introduction of Internet-based voting for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) was welcomed by 59% of respondents, and limiting the period of candidate substitution until October 8, 2024, garnered 57% approval.
Overall, the survey highlights the public’s growing expectation for reforms and ethical leadership as the nation prepares for the 2025 elections. Voters continue to prioritize transparency, accountability, and a stronger focus on addressing pressing national issues.
PAHAYAG 2024 End of the Year survey (PEOY-2024), conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc., is an independent and non-commissioned survey. The survey period was from 29 November to 3 December 2024 using purposive sampling composed of 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 registered Filipino voters maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence.
For more information on the survey methodology and detailed results, please visit www.publicusasia.com/pahayag.
