Satisfaction with AFP at 86% – OCTA poll

MANILA, Philippines — A large majority of Filipinos remain satisfied with the performance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the fourth quarter of 2023, a survey conducted by the OCTA Research group showed.

Results of the Dec. 10 to 14 survey released yesterday showed that 86 percent of the respondents were either very or somewhat satisfied with the country’s military.

It was almost similar to the 85 percent obtained in a similar survey in September last year.

Based on the survey, 23 percent said they were “very satisfied” with the AFP (from 28 percent last year), while 63 percent said they were “somewhat satisfied” (from 57 percent).

Like in the previous survey, only two percent said they were dissatisfied with the military, while 11 percent said they cannot say if they were satisfied or not, almost similar to the 12 percent from the previous survey.

Across areas, satisfaction with the AFP was highest among those in the Visayas (25 percent “very satisfied” and 65 percent “somewhat satisfied”), followed by those in Mindanao (44 percent “very satisfied” and 45 percent “somewhat satisfied”), balance Luzon (15 percent “very satisfied” and 71 percent “somewhat satisfied”) and Metro Manila (13 percent “very satisfied” and 64 percent “somewhat satisfied”).

Dissatisfaction with the AFP ranged from one to four percent across areas, while those who cannot say whether they were satisfied or not were highest among those in Metro Manila at 18 percent.

Among socio-economic classes, it was highest among those in class ABC (23 percent “very satisfied” and 66 percent “somewhat satisfied”), followed by those in class E (26 percent “very satisfied” and 61 percent “somewhat satisfied”) and class D (23 percent “very satisfied” and 63 percent “somewhat satisfied”).

OCTA’s non-commissioned Tugon ng Masa survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent for national percentages.

The Department of National Defense (DND) is now pushing for a defense cooperation agreement with Bahrain, which will allow the AFP to partner with the latter’s military forces for joint activities, training and the likes.

Assistant Secretary Gavin Edjawan, officer-in-charge of the Office for Strategic Assessments and International Affairs and the assistant secretary for financial management met earlier this week with a delegation from the Bahrain Royal Guard Special Forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Fahad Jabor Akaif Hameed Alsowaidi, second in command, Royal Guard Special Forces.

During the courtesy call, DND spokesperson Director Arsenio Andolong said both officials looked forward to finalizing the proposed Philippines-Bahrain Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation.

He said the agreement would serve as the framework in formalizing defense and military relations between the two countries. – Michael Punongbayan