Rowegie Abanto

Fishermen join the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17836467513161783646749627.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fishermen join the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — About 6 in 10 Filipinos approve of the Marcos administration&#x27;s response to problems surrounding the West Philippine Sea, a non-commissioned survey released Friday suggested.</p><p>Some 66 percent expressed agreement with how President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was dealing with disputes in the West Philippine Sea, part of the larger South China Sea, according to findings by OCTA Research Group.</p><p>Of the 1,200 polled from April 20 to 24, 2026, around 13 percent disagreed while 19 percent did not say either way, it added.</p><p>OCTA said agreement was observed &quot;at majority levels across every major region, though not uniformly.&quot;</p><p>It was highest in Metro Manila at 70 percent, followed closely by Balance Luzon at 68 percent, and remained &quot;above the halfway mark&quot; in Visayas at 65 percent and Mindanao at 62 percent. </p><p>On the other hand, opposition to Marcos&#x27; handling of the West Philippine Sea issue was &quot;most pronounced&quot; in Mindanao at 19 percent. This, OCTA said, suggested that the administration&#x27;s approach faced &quot;its sharpest scrutiny&quot; in the southernmost island group. </p><p>The negative sentiment was also observed at 13 percent in Metro Manila, 12 percent in Balance Luzon, and 11 percent in the Visayas.</p><p>The April survey has a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/gov-t-says-west-philippine-sea-fight-will-span-generations-urges-youth-to-uphold-arbitral-victory-1517">‘Mahabang laban’: Gov’t says West PH Sea fight will span generations, urges youth to uphold arbitral victory</a></div><p>A March 2026 OCTA survey commissioned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) suggested that the West Philippine Sea has become a mainstream national issue.</p><p>The West Philippine Sea &quot;is no longer a niche foreign policy concern discussed primarily by policymakers and security experts; it has become a broadly recognized national issue commanding public attention across Philippine society,&quot; OCTA said.</p><p>The separate survey also showed that Filipinos favor a more assertive approach in addressing the West Philippine Sea issue, which include territorial assertion, diplomacy, and AFP modernization, the pollster said.</p><p>An official from the National Maritime Council (NMC) said last week said Philippines&#x27; fight in defending its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/gov-t-says-west-philippine-sea-fight-will-span-generations-urges-youth-to-uphold-arbitral-victory-1517">a long battle</a> that may not be resolved within the current generation.</p><p>NMC Undersecretary Alexander Lopez stressed that it is crucial for young Filipinos to understand and defend the country&#x27;s maritime entitlements as he likened the country&#x27;s campaign to uphold international law to a marathon rather than a sprint.</p><p>The Philippines on July 12 will mark the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that affirmed the country&#x27;s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and rejected China&#x27;s vast claims. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/9/china-symposium-sparks-concern-over-reported-batanes-claim-1617">Batanes belongs to China? Symposium sparks concern over reported claim</a></div><div><strong>—With a report from Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_taGk2VmsTQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Around 6 in 10 Filipinos approve of the Marcos administration's response to problems surrounding the West Philippine Sea, a non-commissioned survey released Friday suggested.</p>

Around 6 in 10 Filipinos approve of the Marcos administration's response to problems surrounding the West Philippine Sea, a non-commissioned survey released Friday suggested.

6 in 10 Filipinos approve of Marcos' West Philippine Sea response—survey

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6 in 10 Filipinos approve of Marcos' West Philippine Sea response—survey

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 10, 2026 09:56 AM PHT

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