MANILA,, Philippines — More Filipinos see the United States and Japan as the Philippines' most important economic partners, according to a September survey conducted by Pulse Asia.
Commissioned by Stratbase Group, the survey said 73 percent of respondents picked the US as among the country's top three most important economic partners, while 62 percent picked Japan.
This result also showed an increase in Filipinos' perceived importance of the two countries as the Philippines' economic partners, with US seeing a 2 percent increase and Japan having a 10 percent increase from survey results in July.
Stratbase Group President Victor Andres Manhit said the rising preference for the countries showed Filipinos' growing recognition of their role in strengthening the Philippine economy.
Meanwhile, Manhit noted a decline in China's preference rating, attributing it to ongoing tensions and reports of harassment in the West Philippine Sea. He stated that China's rating remains above single digit primarily due to Mindanao, the only region where it consistently retains double-digit preference.
