Fragile confidence, hard choices: What 2026 demands from us
It is always good to have big aspirations for the new year. By setting our sights far, we are able to achieve many great things. Filipinos, known for our resilient spirit, do not let ourselves get defeated by the problems that test us. Aren’t we often depicted as the kind of people who manage to smile and laugh despite our troubles?
But in the area of the national economy, mere good spirits and high aspirations will not suffice. Here, some grounded realism and hard evidence are necessary.
Truth be told, 2025 was not the stellar year we had hoped it would be last January. We were cautiously optimistic at the start, but the explosive corruption scandal that came to light in the second half of the year dented the targets we set at the beginning. Even as our growth prospects remained solid, the opportunities were tempered by the challenges that stemmed from the blow to accountability and governance brought about by the flood-control mess.
This erosion of confidence was reflected in public sentiment. A Stratbase-commissioned national survey conducted from November 24 to 30, 2025 showed a decline in public trust, with confidence levels softening since midyear—a period that coincided with the escalation of the controversy at the Department of Public Works and Highways. Notably, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trust rating fell to 38% during this period, a five-percentage-point drop from his 43% rating in September.
Economic anxiety remains foremost in the minds of Filipinos. Another Stratbase-commissioned survey conducted from December 12 to 15, 2025 revealed that when asked to choose only one issue, a plurality of respondents (38%) wanted government leaders to prioritize addressing rising prices of basic goods, particularly food affordability. This underscores that economic concerns continue to be the public’s top priority.
Given all these negative developments, one thing is clear: drastic measures are needed to reverse the adverse effects of the corruption scandal, which has scared away investors aside from diverting precious public funds that could have given real help to Filipinos.
“Infrastructure” is a word that has taken on an unsavory connotation lately.
And yet, infrastructure remains critical to economic performance. Large-scale projects such as railways, bridges, and flood control are central to supporting growth and connectivity. As of the third quarter of 2025, the Philippine government has expanded its list of infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) to 209, with a combined value of P10.5 trillion, with 140 projects focused on physical connectivity, such as transport and logistics, accounting to nearly P9 trillion.
However, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was allocated P529.6 billion for 2026, 40% less than the P881 billion originally proposed. This reduction may impact infrastructure projects, as the DPWH will need to reassess and potentially delay some initiatives due to limited funding. This reduction may affect the implementation of about 10,000 projects, according to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon. This is now an opportune time to revive Public-Private Partnerships on infrastructure and not merely rely of government funding.
Thus, a balance in the way we regard infrastructure – recognizing its central role in our economy while guarding against excesses and abuses in its implementation – is key to treading a decisive yet cautious path toward economic development.
We must move beyond past project failures and create real impact. With substandard and “ghost” infrastructure projects exposed over the past few months, the focus now must be on delivering projects that truly benefit Filipinos. Prioritizing high-impact initiatives like railways, bridges, and flood control ensures that public funds translate into safer roads, faster commutes, and stronger regional development—projects that citizens can see, use, and rely on.
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A direct result of the revelation of massive corruption is the increased public awareness of the need to monitor how public funds are being spent. For the first time in Philippine history, the bicameral conference committee opened its FY 2026 budget deliberations to public livestreams.
This transparency allows citizens and investors to follow budget discussions, understand trade-offs, and monitor decisions affecting infrastructure spending and public programs. Open hearings signal a government increasingly responsive to public cry, helping rebuild trust after high-profile corruption scandals.
A good companion to this is the CADENA Act, which was recently passed on third and final reading by the Senate. President Marcos had also urged Congress to make this legislative measure a priority. A way to strengthen transparency in public spending, the CADENA Act requires government agencies to publish budget allocations, contracts, and project spending on a secure, tamper-proof and centralized Digital Budget Platform. This empowers citizens to monitor government projects, ensures public funds are used properly, and gives investors confidence that large projects will be executed fairly and efficiently.
We go into the new year with a heightened awareness of what our country needs to get back on track in terms of economic development. We encountered serious challenges last year – the revelation of corrupt practices, which had likely been going on for many years and across different administrations.
Yet there is also cautious optimism. A Social Weather Stations survey conducted from November 24 to 30, 2025 found that 89% of Filipinos are entering 2026 with hope rather than fear. This hope stems from growing frustration with institutional inaction—most notably, prolonged delays with the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. With more decisive leadership with the new Senate majority, accountability can finally move forward.
Justice, too, no longer feels unattainable. The arrest of former President Duterte last year marked a long-awaited acknowledgment for victims of injustice and served as a powerful reminder that accountability is possible.
This is our impetus to work at making transparency more permanent in our institutions and our systems. To be sure, this will not be easy. We have to prepare ourselves for frustration and even greater revelations. Let us strengthen our resolve and work collectively toward building a future where government transparency, integrity, and openness drive genuine and shared economic prosperity.
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