MANILA (AFP) -- Nine out of 10 Filipinos want publicly funded birth control despite strong opposition from the influential Roman Catholic church, an independent survey showed Friday.

The Pulse Asia survey of 1,800 adults found 89 percent wanted the government to pay for family planning measures including medication, intra-uterine devices, condoms, and vasectomies.

Almost all Filipinos surveyed (92 percent) described family planning as important, with five percent undecided and only two percent saying it was unimportant.

Leaders of the Catholic church, the religion of 81 percent of the Philippine population, condemn birth control.

According to the survey, 76 percent said candidates in mid-term elections next month should address family planning concerns, with 75 percent pledging to support those willing to fund such measures.

Voters will elect half of the 24-member Philippine Senate, the entire 250-member House of Representatives and thousands of local officials from mayors to governors on May 14.

The survey was carried out between February 28 and March 5.