Most Pinoys say Covid-19 stay-at-home policies ‘worth it’: SWS

FILE: Barangay Public Safety Officers (BPSO) of Barangay Kaligayahan in Novaliches, Quezon City close the road at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Jordan Plains and only allow those who have emergency purposes during curfew hours on Thursday (March 19, 2020). (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

MANILA – The majority of Filipinos believe that the government’s directive for the public to stay at home amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak has been effective in containing the spread of the disease, a recent poll conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) said.

In its May 4 to 10 mobile phone survey, the polling firm noted that 84 percent of Filipinos were convinced that the “stay-at-home” policy of the government is “worth it to protect people and limit the spread of (the) coronavirus.”

Only 15 percent thought the policy was “placing too many burdens on people,” the SWS said.

“One percent volunteered that these measures are worth it to protect people and at the same time are placing too many burdens on people,” the survey said.

The number of Filipinos who welcomed the government’s move to fight Covid-19 was highest in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, both at 84 percent; followed by the Visayas (84 percent) and Mindanao (81 percent).

The view that the strict stay-at-home measures are worth it was also high in areas under enhanced community quarantine or ECQ (84 percent) and general community quarantine or GCQ (83 percent).

ECQ was earlier imposed in Cebu and Mandaue cities from May 16 to 31 as they were considered high-risk for Covid-19 while the rest of the country was placed under GCQ until May 31. No area in the country is currently under ECQ.

It was also high among college graduates and those who were unable to finish college (both 88 percent), those who reached up to junior high school (77 percent), and those among non-elementary graduates (75 percent).

Some 86 percent of women and 82 percent of men were also convinced that staying at home amid the pandemic is worth it.

In a press statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace was pleased with the poll results.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has, indeed, acted decisively when he imposed an enhanced community quarantine and stringent social distancing measures over the entire Luzon area following the sharp increase in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases,” Roque said.

He also thanked the public for understanding the consequences of Duterte’s directive to stop the further spread of Covid-19.

“The decision, we have to stress, is not an easy one because as we protect the health and safety of our people, the means of livelihood and the economy have been greatly affected,” Roque said.

He expressed confidence that the country would be on an economic rebound, so long as Filipinos continue to heed the quarantine measures imposed by the government.

Roque also reminded the public anew to continue observing minimum public health standards, such as staying at home, observing proper hygiene, wearing of face mask, and maintaining safe physical distancing.

Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Central Visayas, Zamboanga City, Davao City, Mandaue City, and Cebu City are currently under GCQ, while the rest of the country is under MGCQ until June 15.

The SWS conducted the survey using mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing 4,010 Filipinos aged 15 and above nationwide.

It used sampling error margins of ±2 percentage points for national percentages, ±6 percentage points for Metro Manila, ±2 percentage points for Balance Luzon, ±3 percentage points for the Visayas, and ±3 percentage points for Mindanao.