What Filipinos Like About Stability—and What It Costs

By Cliff Potts, CSO, and Editor-in-Chief of WPS News

At a time of global uncertainty, many Filipinos say they value one thing above all else from their government: stability. After years of pandemic disruption, economic shocks, and political turbulence, predictability has become a form of public relief. For a large segment of the population, the absence of chaos is itself seen as progress.

But stability comes with trade-offs. As this first installment in a seven-day WPS News series shows, Filipinos broadly appreciate calm governance—while quietly questioning whether calm has begun to look like stagnation.

Why Stability Matters to Filipinos

Public opinion surveys over the past two years consistently show high approval ratings for the current administration, particularly on questions of leadership style and national direction. Respondents frequently cite a “less noisy” political environment and fewer public confrontations as positive changes.

For many households, stability means:

• Fewer sudden policy shifts
• A predictable business climate
• Less fear of abrupt lockdowns or emergency rules
• A government that appears orderly rather than combative

In a country where millions live paycheck to paycheck, uncertainty carries real costs. A calm political atmosphere makes it easier for families and small businesses to plan—even if conditions are still difficult.

The Appeal of Predictability

Economic managers have emphasized continuity in fiscal and monetary policy, signaling to markets that there will be no sudden experiments. This message resonates with middle-class workers, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and small entrepreneurs who rely on steady rules rather than rapid reform.

Many Filipinos also express relief that political rhetoric has softened. The reduction in public feuds, insults, and crisis language has lowered everyday political stress. For voters exhausted by years of conflict-heavy discourse, a quieter tone feels like a reset.

The Hidden Cost of Calm

Yet beneath this broad approval lies an undercurrent of concern. Stability, some Filipinos say, has started to feel like inertia.

While people appreciate predictability, they also report frustration with:

• Slow movement on inflation relief
• Limited wage growth
• Persistent transport and housing problems
• A sense that powerful interests remain untouched

In interviews and survey commentary, Filipinos often draw a careful distinction: they do not want upheaval—but they do want visible progress. Stability is welcome, but only if it leads somewhere.

Stability vs. Accountability

One of the most delicate tensions is between calm governance and accountability. Many Filipinos say they are uneasy about the lack of high-profile consequences for past abuses or corruption cases. While there is little appetite for political drama, there is also little enthusiasm for silence when wrongdoing is suspected.

This creates a balancing act for the government: maintaining order without appearing indifferent. Stability that shields elites while everyday costs rise risks eroding public trust over time.

A Conditional Approval

The prevailing public mood can best be described as conditional support. Filipinos are not demanding radical change. They are asking, instead, for steady leadership that delivers measurable improvements—especially on prices, services, and jobs.

As one survey respondent summarized it: “Tahimik na, pero sana gumagalaw.”
(It’s calm now, but I hope it’s moving.)

This tension—between the comfort of stability and the need for progress—will shape how Filipinos evaluate their government in the months ahead.

Tomorrow’s installment will examine how this dynamic plays out in the economy, where approval remains high even as daily costs continue to rise.

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References

Pulse Asia Research Inc. (2024). Ulat ng Bayan: National survey on governance and public satisfaction. Quezon City, Philippines.

Social Weather Stations. (2024). Public attitudes toward national leadership and economic conditions. Manila, Philippines.

Asian Development Bank. (2023). Philippines economic outlook and policy continuity. Manila: ADB.