MANILA, Philippines – Internet browsing and social media remain leading sources of political news and current events among Filipino registered voters, with television and information shared through personal networks also playing significant roles, according to the latest PAHAYAG survey.
Results showed that 58% usually access political news and current events by browsing the internet, while 53% turn to Facebook and 52% watch television. Meanwhile, 28% rely on information shared by friends, acquaintances, co-workers, or neighbors, and 24% get news from relatives.
Other sources include newspapers and tabloids, AM and FM radio, cable television, and X, formerly Twitter. The findings indicate that Filipinos continue to use a mix of digital, traditional, and interpersonal channels to keep up with political developments.
Social media has become an essential component of daily media habits among Filipinos. While 46% rely on social media platforms for daily news updates, an additional 50% engage with social media for non-daily news or other purposes.
Among individual platforms, Facebook (77%) and YouTube (69%) lead in usage, followed by TikTok (57%) and Instagram (41%). Facebook also plays a central role in messaging habits, with Facebook Messenger (76%) showing substantially greater use than other messaging applications included in the survey.
The prominence of these platforms underscores how online spaces have become important channels for accessing news, following public affairs, and exchanging information.
With 52% of respondents citing traditional television as a regular source for political news and current affairs, it continues to serve as a key news outlet. Findings showed 34% tune in to television for news on a daily basis, whereas 55% use the medium without accessing news daily.
Streaming platforms are similarly prominent: 31% of respondents reported getting news through streaming platforms daily, while 59% use them for purposes other than daily news. Daily news consumption across both streaming platforms and television showed a marked concentration in the National Capital Region compared to other regions.
Print and radio have smaller daily news audiences compared with social media and video-based platforms. The findings nevertheless show that traditional media continue to form part of Filipinos’ broader media habits.
The survey also identified differences in media use across geographic areas and demographic groups. Internet browsing, Facebook, and television remain widely used, although their reach varies across regions, age groups, and household income categories.
Overall, the results show that Filipinos’ access to political news is shaped by a combination of online browsing, social media, television, streaming services, and personal networks. While digital platforms lead in everyday media habits, traditional channels and word-of-mouth remain part of how the public encounters and shares current events.
PQ3-2026 is an independent, non-commissioned nationwide purposive sampling survey conducted from October 1-4, 2026, comprising 1,581 respondents who are registered Filipino voters, randomly selected from the market research panel of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with global operations and a regional office in Singapore. The national margin of error is +/- 3%.
PAHAYAG is a CSR of PUBLiCUS Asia Inc., which has tracked key metrics since 2017, while Vox Opinion Research is its commissioned research arm since 2013.
For more information on the survey methodology and detailed results, please visit www.publicusasia.com/pahayag.
