DOH ‘most trusted’ gov’t agency: Pulse Asia

(PNA photo)

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) has topped the list of state agencies that earned public trust, according to the Pulse Asia poll released on Saturday.

The survey, conducted by private pollster on December 3 to 8, found that 80 percent of adult Filipinos have “big trust” in the DOH.

The health department’s latest trust score rose by eight percentage points from 72 percent recorded in September 2019.

Only 2 percent have “small or no trust” in DOH, while the remaining 18 percent were unsure.

Public trust in the DOH was high despite the challenges the agency faced this year, which include the re-emergence of polio and widespread outbreaks of measles and dengue in the country.

It has been a challenging 2019 for the DOH, as it grapples with the spread of major diseases, such as polio, measles and dengue, and cases of meningococcemia and diphtheria.

Nevertheless, this year marked a milestone following the signing of Republic Act (RA) 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, which automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens in the government’s health insurance program.

Apart from the UHC law, other important health measures signed this year include RA 11215, or the National Cancer Control Act, and RA 112436, or the Malasakit Center Act.

Pulse Asia’s poll also bared that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) came in second on the list of most trusted government agencies and was followed by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The AFP’s trust rating barely changed to 75 percent from 74 percent in September.

Only 2 percent did not trust the military, down by four percentage points from 6 percent registered in September. Some 23 percent were ambivalent on the matter.

The PNP, meanwhile, earned a trust score of 74 percent, up by four percentage points from September’s 68 percent.

Only 3 percent have “small or no trust” in the police force, while 24 percent were undecided.