A SURVEY commissioned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) suggests that patriotism and territorial defense remain strong unifying sentiments among Filipinos.
The first-quarter survey by Octa Research found that 76 percent of adult Filipinos are willing to support the government in defending Philippine territory and asserting sovereign rights, including in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The survey, however, also notes that while some regions posted near-unanimous support, others showed unusually high skepticism — particularly in parts of Mindanao and Central Visayas.
“The survey’s most critical outlier is the Davao Region,” Octa said, after the area registered the country’s highest disagreement rate at 34 percent — nearly five times the national average of 7 percent.
Respondents were asked whether they agreed with the statement: “I love my country, and I am committed to support the government in defending its territory and asserting sovereign rights, including over the West Philippine Sea.”
Nationally, only 17 percent said they were undecided.
Support was strongest in Metro Manila, where 83 percent agreed with the statement, followed by Balance Luzon at 77 percent. Mimaropa — home to Palawan, the country’s western frontier facing the disputed waters — recorded the highest regional support at 93 percent.
Caraga posted 91 percent, and Western Visayas 90 percent.
Central Visayas had the lowest agreement rate nationwide at 45 percent, revealing what Octa described as a “48-point gap” between regions.
The findings come amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Philippine vessels have repeatedly encountered Chinese maritime forces near contested features.
The survey suggests that support for territorial defense is not confined to elites or highly educated sectors.
Class D respondents — who comprise the bulk of the population — matched the national average exactly at 76 percent, while rural respondents posted nearly identical support levels as their urban counterparts.
“This confirms that patriotic sentiment is deeply rooted in the mass base of Filipino society,” Octa said.
The poll also showed that vocational graduates registered the strongest backing for territorial defense at 85 percent, surpassing even college and postgraduate respondents at 80 percent.
Filipinos aged 45 to 54 posted the lowest support levels among all age groups at 71 percent.
Octa suggested that economic concerns may partly explain the hesitation among middle-aged respondents, saying they could be more cautious about the potential costs of geopolitical conflict.
The survey was conducted from March 19 to 25, using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents nationwide. It carried a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95-percent confidence level.
