By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Senior Reporter
MANILA dropped seven spots within the 2026 Smart City Index by Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Center (WCC), as residents continued to stress about corruption and traffic congestion.
The Philippine capital ranked 132nd out of 148 countries, down seven spots from the 125th spot a 12 months prior.
The study evaluates cities based on how they use technology and infrastructure to enhance the lives of its residents.
Manila also ranked last amongst major Southeast Asian cities Singapore (9th); Kuala Lumpur (65th); Bangkok (90th); Hanoi (97th); Ho Chi Minh City (105th); and Jakarta (106th).
In line with the WCC, a wise city “strikes an excellent balance between its economic prowess (e.g., jobs and business activity), applied technology, environmental concerns, and inclusiveness to facilitate a prime quality of life for its residents.”
It surveyed 120 residents per city based on key indicators like health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance.
In line with the survey results, 71% of Manila residents perceived corruption/transparency as probably the most urgent concern in town; followed by health services (51.6%); road congestion (49.2%); security (44.4%); and unemployment (41.1%).
In a briefing late Monday, WCC Director Arturo Bris said Manila’s low rating is tied to residents’ concerns on corruption.
“Corruption hinders every other potential improvement of town. Within the Manila survey, we see that individuals should not willing to supply data to authorities,” he said.
Mr. Bris said that corruption is more of a country-level problem than a city-level issue.
“So long as the country resolves those corruption and government problems, then cities will do the exact same,” he said.
Manila’s residents also raised concerns over air pollution (39.5%): reasonably priced housing (37.9%); basic amenities like water and waste (37.1%); public transport (36.3%) and fulfilling employment (29%).
Other issues revolved around school education (19.4%); green spaces (15.3%); recycling (13.7%); citizen engagement (3.2%); and social mobility/inclusiveness (3.2%).
On town’s availability of technologies for health and safety, Manila scored the very best (67 out of 100) on arranging medical appointments online, and on the supply of CCTV cameras (65.8). It scored the bottom on the presence of an internet site or application to watch air pollution (42.5).
By way of mobility, Manila received a rating of 61.9 for online scheduling and ticket sales for public transport, and scored 46.3 on the supply of apps that may direct residents to available automobile parking space.
On the supply of structures for mobility, Manila received its lowest rating of 11.7 on traffic congestion. It also scored low on corruption of city officials (14.9) and air pollution (15.3).
Manila received a rating of 78.9 on the activities indicator, particularly on the supply of online platforms to simply buy tickets for shows and museums.
Under opportunities for work and faculty, Manila received the very best rating (76.6) on the supply of job listings online; but scored the bottom (55.8) on web speed and reliability.
On governance, Manila received a rating of 68.5 on the web processing of identification documents, which residents said has helped reduce waiting times. Town also had low scores on online voting (53.6), and the supply of a web-based platform (50.8) where they will propose ideas to enhance city life.
Manila scored 40.5 on online public access to city funds, which respondents thought should reduce corruption.
Nonetheless, town scored the very best for job generation by businesses (69.2) and the supply of cultural activities (66.9).
In line with the survey, 78.2% are comfortable with using face recognition technologies to lower crime; and 71% are willing to supply personal data to enhance traffic.
“Essentially the most advanced urban centers, where residents feel happiest, should not necessarily those distinguished by their utopian skylines, visible sensor networks, or pure technological sophistication,” Mr. Bris said.
“As an alternative, they stand out for a way effectively they align governance structures, sustainability priorities, public investment decisions, and maybe most significantly, the cultivation of citizen trust.”