By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – Results of a recent survey, commissioned by Stratbase Group, showed more Filipinos looking to the United States and Japan as the country’s most important economic partners.
The survey results were released as the Marcos administration advances the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), a trilateral initiative with the US and Japan, aimed at driving investments in infrastructure, clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing, logistics, and digital connectivity.
The LEC has also gained support from other partners, including Australia, South Korea, and the European Union, benefiting the Philippines’ diversification bid for supply chains and reducing vulnerabilities arising from excessive dependence on any single country.
The survey, done by Pulse Asia from Sept. 17-23, asked the 2,400 respondents for their top three choices as the Philippines’ most important economic partners, and results showed that these are the US (73 percent), Japan (62 percent), and Canada (35 percent).
Australia came in fourth, with 30 percent, and South Korea, fifth, with 21 percent, Stratbase Group said in a news release on Wednesday.
Japan, in particular, enjoyed a 10-percentage-point increase in preference (from 52 percent in the July survey), while the US saw a 2-percentage-point increase (from 71 percent in July).
Canada and South Korea also posted hikes of 7-percentage-point and 1-percentage-point increase from their July ratings, respectively, while Australia saw a 5-percentage-point decline.
The next five countries on the list are the United Kingdom (20 percent, -6); European Union (14 percent, +1); China (14 percent, -3); Taiwan (11 percent, +3); and India (2 percent, zero change).
Stratbase Group president and chief executive officer Prof. Victor Andres Manhit said the strong preference for the US and Japan “reflected growing public recognition of their role in strengthening the Philippines’ economic and strategic position.”
“Filipinos increasingly recognize that our economic security is closely tied to the partnerships we build with trusted countries. The growing preference for the United States and Japan reflects confidence in partners that can help the Philippines expand investments, strengthen critical infrastructure, and secure our place in emerging technology supply chains,” he said.
Manhit pointed out that the 11 percent preference rating for Taiwan, now “the world’s leader in semiconductor production – could be higher given the country’s growing economic and technological relevance to the Philippines, particularly its important role in our technology and semiconductor supply chains.”
He also noted the decline in China’s preference rating, which came amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, including reports of harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard, as well as Beijing’s continued claims over areas involving the Philippines and Taiwan.
“China’s standing among Filipinos continues to be shaped by what they see and experience in the region. The preference rating could even be in the single digits were it not for Mindanao, the only region where China has consistently maintained a double-digit preference,” he added. (PNA)
