Filipinos Favor AFP, Coast Guard Modernization Over New Defense Pacts

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly half of Filipinos want the government to prioritize the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to protect the country's maritime rights, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the Stratbase Institute. The Stratbase Institute-commissioned survey found that 45% of respondents chose the modernization of the AFP and PCG as the first measure the government should continue implementing to effectively defend the country's maritime rights. The survey was conducted from June 20 to 29, after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said he was seeking to increase the country's defense spending to as much as 4% of its gross domestic product to strengthen the military and better protect the Philippines' interests in the West Philippine Sea. Support for military modernization was highest in Luzon, where 47% of respondents selected it as their top priority. It was followed by the National Capital Region with 46%, the Visayas with 44% and Mindanao with 39%. By area • June 2026 • Base: Total interviews (%) Reinforcing alliances through maritime cooperative activities and military exercises with allies, friends and partners ranked second among respondents' first-choice priorities at 33%, while 22% favored establishing defense and security agreements with like-minded countries. Asked for their second preferred measure, 39% of respondents chose reinforcing alliances, making it the top secondary priority nationwide. Support for stronger alliances was highest in the National Capital Region and the Visayas at 41%, followed by Luzon at 39% and Mindanao at 37%. Meanwhile, 31% selected establishing defense and security agreements as their second choice, while 30% picked continued modernization of the AFP and PCG. Support for military modernization as a second choice was highest in Mindanao at 34%. Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres "Dindo" Manhit said the results showed Filipinos understand the need to strengthen the country's defense capabilities. “The Filipino people understand that defending our maritime rights requires more than legal victories. It requires credible capabilities, resilient institutions, and sustained investment in the Armed Forces and the Philippine Coast Guard. The survey shows that Filipinos recognize that our security begins with our ability to protect our sovereign rights and deter coercion in the West Philippine Sea," Manhit said. He said the findings also showed that Filipinos see stronger defense capabilities and deeper cooperation with allies as complementary efforts in protecting the country's maritime rights. The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult Filipinos nationwide from June 20 to 29. It had a margin of error of ±3 percentage points for national estimates and ±6 percentage points each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, at the 95% confidence level.