A non-commissioned survey conducted in the first quarter of 2024 found that most Filipinos believe the Marcos administration should prioritize “military action” to address issues in the West Philippine Sea.
The findings of OCTA Research's “Tugon ng Masa” survey, conducted from March 11 to 14, were revealed on Wednesday, May 8.
OCTA polled 1,200 respondents across the country about what measures the Marcos administration should prioritize to effectively address the West Philippine Sea conflict.
Seventy-three percent of respondents believe that the Marcos administration should prioritize military action, by “expanding naval patrols and troop presence” to assert the country’s territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea.
“Diplomacy and other peaceful methods” came in at a close second with 72 percent.
Meanwhile, 68 percent said “modernizing and strengthening the Philippine military’s capability to protect the country’s territories” should be the priority of the Marcos government.
Other responses included conducting joint maritime patrols and exercises with ally countries (43 percent), expanding diplomatic efforts with countries within and outside the region to reduce tensions (32 percent), and resolving disputes for joint economic development of the region (12 percent).
OCTA noted that the percentage of Filipinos who prefer asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights through military action is “almost the same” as the fourth quarter of 2023 Tugon ng Masa survey conducted in December last year (72 percent).
“It must be noted that this is the second time asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights through military action as a priority measure overtakes the top-ranked measure in previous TNM (Tugon ng Masa) surveys, which is asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights through diplomacy and other peaceful methods,” it said in its report.
“Based on the data, it is clear that over the last four quarters, the majority of Filipinos overwhelmingly support a more assertive stance in the West Philippine Sea,” it added.