7 in 10 Pinoys back PH's joint military drills in West PH Sea - OCTA Research

Seven in 10 adult Filipinos support the Philippines’ conduct of joint military exercises in the West Philippine Sea with allied nations, according to a Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey conducted by OCTA Research in the first quarter of 2026.

The poll – commissioned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) – showed that 71% of adult Filipinos think that joint military exercises or patrols help improve security in the West Philippine Sea, while 14% think that these may be harmful or cause trouble.

The perception that these joint activities are helpful is highest in the National Capital Region (NCR) with 74% and Mindanao with 73%, while the lowest level is in the Visayas and Balance Luzon, both at 70%.

Meanwhile, the share of adult Filipinos who think these may be harmful is highest in Mindanao at 17%.

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

In terms of socioeconomic class, the perception that these activities help is highest among Class ABC at 79%, while the lowest level is observed among Class E at 69%.

Across regions, the highest proportions of adult Filipinos who think these joint activities help are found in MIMAROPA (100%), SOCCSKSARGEN (90%), Western Visayas (87%), Bicol Region (84%), and Caraga (76%).

The lowest levels are recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at 50%, Cagayan Valley at 55%, and Central Visayas at 57%.

OCTA Research noted that higher shares of adult Filipinos who think these may be harmful were observed in Cagayan Valley (33%), BARMM (35%), Northern Mindanao (25%), and Central Visayas (21%).

In terms of locale, adult Filipinos in urban areas (76%) are more likely than adult Filipinos in rural areas (68%) to think that these activities help improve the security of the West Philippine Sea.

OCTA Research said the findings that seven in 10 adult Filipinos view joint military exercises and naval patrols with allied nations as beneficial for West Philippine Sea security “carries notable implications for Philippine defense policy and public communication.”

It added that activities like the yearly Balikatan exercises – such as the Balikatan 2026 that involved forces from the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, France, and New Zealand – and regular joint naval patrols conducted by the Philippine Navy and allied vessels in the West Philippine Sea represent the types of cooperative security engagements reflected in the survey.

“The survey data suggests 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.

READ: OCTA survey: Filipinos back increased military presence in West Philippine Sea

The poll results noted that higher support among Filipinos aged 18 to 24 (78%) “may reflect generational exposure to ongoing developments in the West Philippine Sea, including increased media coverage of joint naval patrols and multilateral exercises involving multiple allied nations.”

“The comparatively lower support among the 25–44 age group (66%) suggests that perceptions of joint military activities are not uniform across the population, and that public awareness efforts may benefit from taking these generational distinctions into account,” OCTA Research said.

Meanwhile, difference in perceptions between urban and rural respondents point to variation in how joint drills are understood across communities.

“Rural areas may have less exposure to reporting on these activities and their stated objectives. This variation underscores the value of accessible, balanced public information that reaches diverse communities, enabling citizens across all areas to form views based on a fuller picture of what these engagements involve and why they are conducted,” the survey said.

OCTA Research conducted the survey from March 19 to 25, 2026 among 1,200 registered voters using face-to-face interviews. The survey has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. — JMA, GMA News