IRI Philippines Poll Shows Concerns About High Prices, Confidence in Electoral Integrity, and Unease About China

Manila, Philippines – A newly-released nationwide poll of the Philippines by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) shows Filipinos are concerned about the cost of living and high prices, have confidence in electoral integrity, and have strong reservations about China.   

On the eve of the May 2025 elections, the cost of living and high prices, especially for food, are the dominant issues facing the country, named by 62% as either the most or second most important problem, far ahead of unemployment (30%) and corruption (28%.)  

While the majority (57%) believe the midterm elections will be free and fair, and two-thirds (66%) are confident in the COMELEC’s ability to organize and supervise elections, some are apprehensive. Over half (51%) believe that candidates and parties always or mostly break campaign finance rules, and 83% are concerned about election-related violence. “These concerns are particularly pertinent as the country is going into preparations for the elections in the BARMM, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, later this year,” said Johanna Kao, Senior Director for Asia-Pacific at IRI.  

The United States is seen favorably by the vast majority of adults (88%), while only 30% hold a favorable view of China. Similarly, the US is considered an economic and political partner, while China is seen as a threat. According to Kao, “Filipinos are clearly aware of the destabilizing role China is seeking to play in the Philippines’ territorial waters and their domestic politics—this is something the government will need to react to.”   

The poll’s fieldwork coincided with IRI’s technical election assessment of the mid-term elections; the report for which can be found below.

Methodology

The survey was conducted on behalf of the International Republican Institute’s Center for Insights in Survey Research by ResInt Canada in partnership with their local counterpart Boomerang Advisory. ​Data was collected between April 17 and May 5, 2025 through CAPI administered face-to-face interviews in respondents’ homes. ​ 

The sample consisted of n=1,200 adults aged 18 and older. Residents of Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) and the BARMM were excluded from the sample due to accessibility or security concerns; this group consists of 7.1 percent of the total adult population. ​ 

The achieved sample was weighted for gender, age groups and education according to the 2020 Population and Housing Census. ​The response rate was 71%. ​The margin of error for the mid-range of the full sample does not exceed ±2.8 points. ​