Survey: Most Filipinos still unaware of ICI; trust split among those informed

MANILA — A new national survey reveals that many Filipinos remain unaware of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), and among those who are informed, trust in the commission is divided—although most support its recommendation to pursue charges over alleged corruption in flood control projects.

The findings are part of WR Numero’s Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, Volume 2025, Issue 5, released Thursday. The noncommissioned survey was conducted from Nov. 21–28 through face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,412 Filipinos.

It has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level nationwide, with subnational margins of ±7% in the National Capital Region, ±4% in the rest of Luzon, ±6% in the Visayas, and ±5% in Mindanao.

The ICI was formed on Sept. 11 by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as an ad hoc, independent fact-finding body tasked with investigating corruption in flood control and related infrastructure projects. It has since recommended criminal charges against several public officials.

Despite the commission’s high-profile mandate, nearly 2 in 5 Filipinos—37%—have not heard of the ICI. While 63% say they are aware of it, only 19% report being fully informed.

Among those aware of the commission, public trust is split. Roughly 37% say they trust the ICI to conduct a fair and impartial investigation, while 32% do not. Another 31% remain unsure.

Trust levels vary significantly by political affiliation. Among Filipinos who support the Marcos family and their allies, 67% say they trust the commission. In contrast, 50% of those who identify as pro-Duterte express distrust.

Opposition-aligned Filipinos are similarly divided, with 37% expressing trust, 27% distrust, and 35% saying they are unsure. Among politically independent respondents, 44% say they are uncertain about the commission’s credibility.

The ICI has recommended filing charges against several prominent figures, including Sens. Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, former Rep. Zaldy Co, and former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways. These charges are linked to alleged irregularities in government flood control spending.

WR Numero found that among Filipinos aware of the ICI, 69% agree with the commission’s recommendations to file charges. About 12% express disapproval, and 19% say they are undecided.

The survey results highlight both a growing awareness of infrastructure-related corruption and the challenges of building public trust in newly formed accountability bodies.

The WR Numero Philippine Public Opinion Monitor also measures Filipinos’ views on the performance of President Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte, the Senate, Congress, and the Judiciary, as well as opinions on international legal proceedings and policy priorities.

To receive the full report upon its release, interested readers can sign up at bit.ly/PPOMSignup or join the WR Numero Media Releases channel on Viber.