Public trust in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has dipped among Filipinos, according to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on November 11.
The Third Quarter 2026 survey, conducted from September 21 to 27 among 1,500 adults nationwide, found that 46 percent of Filipinos expressed much trust in the regional bloc, while 21 percent reported little trust. This yielded a “moderate” net trust rating of +25, calculated by subtracting the percentage of those with little trust from those with much trust.
The latest figure marks a decline from previous SWS readings, which recorded a “good” net trust rating of +30 in September 2013 and +41 in June 2017 when the Philippines last chaired the organization.
“Net trust in ASEAN was a good +30 (50 percent much, 20 percent little) in September 2013 and a good +41 (56 percent much, 14 percent little, correctly rounded) in June 2017, higher than the moderate +25 in September 2026,” SWS said.
Regionally, ASEAN scored a moderate net trust rating of +29 in Metro Manila, +28 in Balance Luzon, +24 in the Visayas, and +18 in Mindanao.
The survey findings come ahead of the Philippines’ hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from November 16 to 18. Despite the drop in trust, a separate March survey found that 91 percent of Filipinos still expect the country to benefit from hosting the regional leaders’ meetings.
When asked what issues the country should prioritize during its ASEAN chairmanship, respondents most frequently cited rising prices and inflation at 19 percent. This was followed by the West Philippine Sea dispute at 16 percent, oil prices and supply at 12 percent, poverty at 9 percent, and economic and financial crises at 6 percent.
Regional concerns varied across the country, according to SWS:
“Rising prices of goods and inflation was the most mentioned issue in Mindanao at 23 percent and in Balance Luzon at 20 percent,” SWS noted, adding that “[meanwhile,] the West Philippine Sea was the most mentioned in Metro Manila at 22 percent and in the Visayas at 16 percent.”
Additional issues raised by respondents included jobs and livelihood (5 percent), war and conflict (4 percent), crime and illegal drugs (3 percent), food supply and hunger (3 percent), and security and safety (2 percent).