By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
The National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on Wednesday hailed the latest Pulse Asia survey showing strong public support for the government’s transparency initiatives in the WPS.
In a statement, the task force also welcomed the Filipino public’s “strong confidence” in the resolute defense of the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the WPS.”
“We thank the Filipino people for their trust in the NTF-WPS and its member agencies, particularly the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Navy, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, all of whom gained high trust ratings from the public,” the NTF-WPS statement read.
The survey, held from Sept. 27 to 30, also showed 41% of respondents identified the PCG as the most trustworthy government agency for updates and reports concerning the WPS.
“This strong vote of confidence is not just a reflection of institutional performance; it is a reflection of national unity in the face of continuing challenges to our sovereignty,” the NTF-WPS said.
Reaffirming commitment towards upholding PH rights in WPS
The survey results, according to NTF-WPS, send a clear and powerful message that “the Filipino people stand for truth, transparency, and the defense of what is rightfully ours.”
“We also draw our strength from the fact that 94% of respondents believe that the Philippines should continue its transparency policy and persist in publicly exposing China’s coercive and aggressive behavior,” it added.
With this, the NTF-WPS vowed to sustain and further strengthen its transparency policy.
“We will continue to shine light on every illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive (ICAD) activity in our waters. We will not be silenced, we will not be intimidated, and we will never turn away from our duty to defend the Filipino people’s rights and the nation’s dignity,” it said.
The survey showing 77% of the respondents identified the United States as the top country the Philippines can rely on reflects the enduring strength of the Philippines-U.S. alliance.
It also said this partnership is rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a common commitment to peace, stability, and the rule of law.
“This reinforces the need for the Philippines to strengthen its partnerships with like-minded nations who believe in a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the task force said. (PNA)
