The recently released 2025 End-of-the-Year Survey delivers a sobering message: trust in the nation’s key institutions is eroding at an alarming pace.

The Senate’s approval rating has slipped from 28% to 24%, while the House of Representatives stagnates at a dismal 20%. These figures are not mere statistics; they are a blunt declaration from the public that Congress no longer represents their interests. The decline is not isolated.

The Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation, and Department of Finance have all suffered drops in credibility. 

This collapse of confidence comes against the backdrop of floods, soaring prices, and a decaying transport system—crises that demand urgent solutions yet continue to be met with bureaucratic inertia. The numbers reflect not just dissatisfaction, but disillusionment. 

And yet, amid the gloom, two institutions stand out. The Department of Public Works and Highways has earned renewed trust through visible flood-control and infrastructure projects. The Commission on Audit has been recognized for its intensified campaign against corruption. These examples prove that when citizens see action and accountability, trust can be rebuilt.

The question now is stark: How long will the public endure a Senate and House that steadily lose credibility? If leadership remains deaf to the people’s grievances, these institutions risk becoming irrelevant. 

This survey is not simply a snapshot of approval ratings—it is a warning. Trust is neither automatic nor permanent. Once lost, it is painfully difficult to restore. The numbers speak clearly: credibility is collapsing, and unless change comes, the people’s faith in their institutions may vanish altogether.