THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology (DOST) ranked first in the University of Mindanao-Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO) survey on the level of trust and confidence among Davaoeños toward key national government agencies in the Philippines.
The DOST earned the highest net trust (41.30%). This was followed by the Department of Education (DepEd) with a net trust of 37%, while the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) trailed closely at third with a net trust rating of 36.90%.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also obtained net trust ratings of 34.80% and 30.50%, respectively, placing them fourth and fifth in the overall ranking.
The UM-IPO conducted an online survey from Jan. 9-26, 2026, targeting 1,200 Davaoeños from the three districts to assess their trust and confidence towards the key national government agencies (NGAs) in the country. The coverage of the survey asks whether they express much, little, or no trust, or undecided in their performances.
Since the survey was done online via sponsored ads on three Meta platforms (Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram), IPO relied heavily on online, pre-defined, targeted social media users, such as Davaoeños, who met the inclusion criteria and are targeted for contact within the defined geographical radius. Respondents were defined to be at least 18 years old, have valid/ active email address, and have resided in any district in Davao City. The survey was done at a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error.
Mid-tier departments
The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) fall within the middle ranks. These agencies exhibit moderate net trust but relatively high undecided responses, implying mixed views or limited public familiarity with their programs.
Lower-performing departments
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ranks last (16th) with a negative net trust of -13.10%, driven by a high level of distrust. Also, the Department of Justice records a 0.00% net trust, indicating an even split between trust and distrust. Meanwhile, the Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) posted low net approvals of 4.40% each, reflecting public concerns related to the performance of these two departments in terms of fiscal management and budget execution.
Synthesis
The results showed that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) emerged as the most-trusted government agencies. On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Health, Finance, Labor and Employment, and Justice, recorded the lowest trust and highest confidence deficits, reflecting public concern over their performance and service delivery.
