7 out of 10 Filipinos agree with PH assertion of rights in WPS – survey

A Pulse Asia survey found that 7 out of 10 Filipinos agree that the Philippine government must uphold its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The survey was conducted from June 26 to June 30 with a total of 1200 respondents from the National Capital Region, Balanced Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Stratbase President and Professor Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit presented the findings of the survey in the Stratbase Institute’s forum on the 9th anniversary of Arbitral Victory on Friday.

Among the 73 percent of the respondents who agree with the Marcos administration’s assertion of the Philippines’ rights in the West Philippine Sea as a response to China’s continuous aggression, the National Capital Region and Balance Luzon show the strongest support, with 83 percent and 82 percent.

Respondents from Visayas and Mindanao show lower level of agreement with 60 percent and 59 percent.

In line with this, Mindanao has the highest number of respondents who disagree with 14 percent. NCR and Visayas have 7 percent who disagree, while Balance Luzon has 2 percent.

An 18 percent of the population, however, cannot say if they agree or disagree, while 2 percent said they do not have enough knowledge about the topic to give an opinion.

Moreover, support was strongest from the Class E respondents, the lowest economic bracket, with 78 percent expressing agreement. Class A, B and C followed closely at 71 percent, while class D respondents registered 73 percent agreement. /apl