Urban Filipinos show up to vote but largely tune out of politics the moment ballots are cast, a new study from the Philippine Observatory on Democracy (POD) recently revealed.
According to the POD study, eight in 10 urban Filipinos say they vote in presidential elections, while only six in 10 discuss politics with family.
The report added that four in 10 Filipinos attend local meetings or engage in community issues while three in 10 Filipinos report feeling disconnected from their communities.
The data, collected between late 2024 and early 2025, raises alarms about the country’s democratic health. Experts warn that treating democracy as a one-day event undermines its long-term vitality.
“A narrow focus on elections in political participation among urban Filipinos may be concerning,” POD wrote in its report.
“Deliberative democracy entails the engagement of people as equals in shaping policies that affect their lives. Without such dialogue, meaningful political engagement and accountability weaken,” it added.
The 2024 study covered several urban areas, including Naga City, Metro Manila, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, and Zamboanga City.
It used a multi-stage random sampling design with 842 respondents. The margin of error is ±5.2%, with a 95% confidence level. (TCSP)
