52% of Filipinos feel helpless against corruption: SWS

A majority of Filipinos feel helpless about corruption in the government, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed. The survey, conducted from June 20 to 29, found 52 percent agreeing with the statement: “a person like me cannot do anything to reduce corruption in the government.” Thirty-percent disagreed with the statement while 17 percent were undecided. SWS said the net score, obtained by subtracting those who disagreed from those who agreed with the statement, remained at a “worse-on-record” -22. It hardly moved from -23 obtained in a similar survey in March (51 percent agree, 29 percent disagree). Across areas, respondents who felt helpless about corruption were highest among those in Metro Manila at 64 percent, followed by those in the rest of Luzon at 55 percent, Mindanao at 47 percent and Visayas at 42 percent. Before this year, the last time a similar survey asked the same question was in December 2009, when 41 percent said they could not do anything to reduce corruption. Another 41 percent disagreed with the statement. A 2012 survey, meanwhile, found that 60 percent of the respondents agreed to the statement: “it is too difficult for someone like me to fight corruption in the government.” Nineteen percent disagreed with the statement, while 20 percent were undecided. The latest poll had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent. Corruption has long been recognized as a deep-rooted societal issue in the Philippines, contributing to a lack of public trust in governance. Issues such as public officials' misconduct and misappropriation of public funds by politicians have been frequently cited. While remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) significantly support the economy, improving domestic employment opportunities and living standards remains a major challenge for many citizens, with corruption perceived as an impediment to progress. In relations with Japan, ensuring transparency and anti-corruption measures will continue to be crucial points for economic cooperation and investment promotion.