MANILA — A recent OCTA Research survey found that 71 percent of adult Filipinos believe allied military exercises and patrols help secure the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to results released on Monday.

The survey, conducted from March 19 to 25, 2026, involved 1,200 respondents and was commissioned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

It asked respondents their views on the impact of joint military exercises or patrols with allied countries on WPS security.

Results showed that 71 percent answered that such activities provide either “very large help” or “little help,” while 14 percent said they could be harmful or may cause trouble. Another 7 percent said the exercises have no effect, while 7 percent said they were unsure.

The perception that joint military activities are beneficial was highest in the National Capital Region (NCR) at 74 percent, followed by Mindanao at 73 percent, and lowest in the Visayas and Balance Luzon at 70 percent each.

Those who believed the exercises could be harmful were highest in Mindanao at 17 percent.

“This represents a decisive and broad expression of public support that cuts across major geographic areas and demographic groups,” OCTA said.

By socioeconomic class, support was highest among Class ABC at 79 percent and lowest among Class E at 69 percent.

OCTA noted regional differences in perceptions of harm, including Cagayan Valley (Region 2) at 33 percent, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at 35 percent, Northern Mindanao (Region 10) at 25 percent, and Central Visayas (Region 7) at 21 percent.

“These regional gaps indicate that information about the nature and objectives of joint military activities has not been effectively disseminated to all communities, highlighting the need for improved public communication that is both accessible and sensitive to regional contexts,” OCTA said.

The survey has a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level, with ±6 percent margins for subnational estimates in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. (PNA)