Pinoys back joint military exercises in West Philippine Sea – OCTA

MANILA, Philippines — A large majority of Filipinos support the conduct of joint military exercises in the West Philippine Sea, according to a commissioned survey by the OCTA Research group.

The March 19 to 25 survey, which was commissioned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), found that 71 percent of the respondents believe that joint military exercises or patrols in the West Philippine Sea will have a beneficial effect on the country.

Only 14 percent said it would be harmful, while seven percent said it will have no effect.

“The finding… carries notable implications for Philippine defense policy and public communication,” OCTA said.

“The survey data suggest that a substantial portion of the public views such activities as contributing to regional stability, which may be a relevant consideration as policymakers evaluate the scope and direction of existing defense arrangements,” it added.

OCTA said the variation in public opinion across geographic and socioeconomic indicators warrant attention, noting that “differences may reflect historical experiences, proximity to areas of tension or varying levels of access to information about the nature and objectives of these activities.”

“The findings point to a potential need for more inclusive and region-sensitive public communication efforts,” it added.

The survey was released upon the request of AFP, OCTA said.

It had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.