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MORE than half of Filipinos, in a recent online poll, disapproved of the government’s response to the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
The “State of Southeast Asia 2021” survey from November 18, 2020 to January 10, 2021 said that 53.7 percent of respondents registered their disapproval, 25.4 percent approved and 20.9 percent. cent was neutral.
The survey also said that the Philippine government should have encouraged more scientists and doctors to contribute to public policy discussions on the pandemic.
The survey, published by the Asean Studies Center at the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies – Yusof Ishak Center, collected responses online from 1,032 respondents from 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Of the 1,032 respondents, 67 or 6.5 percent were from the Philippines.
Almost 60 percent of the local respondents, or 59.7 percent, came from academia, study centers, or research institutions; 19.4 percent from the government; 13.4 percent from regional or international organizations; 6.0 percent from civil society, non-governmental organizations, media; and 1.5 percent from business and finance.
The top three challenges in Southeast Asia among Filipino respondents were the Covid-19 pandemic, unemployment and economic recession, and intense weather events resulting from climate change.
Of those who said they disapproved of the country’s response to the pandemic, 72.2 percent said the government should have listened to scientists and doctors in its response to Covid-19, while 58.3 percent said that the government should have invested in early warning systems. for outbreaks and research and development for virus testing and vaccine development.
Meanwhile, 76.5 percent of those who registered their approval said the government was able to implement public health measures to mitigate the pandemic, while 58.8 percent said it was able to provide financial aid and support to citizens and companies affected.
The Filipinos thought that Singapore and Vietnam provided the best response to a pandemic in the Asean region. The Philippines ranked third in the group of 10 nations.
Respondents also thought that China, with 20.9 percent, provided the most aid to the region during the pandemic, followed by the European Union and the United States with 16.4 percent, Japan with 11.9 percent. and Australia with 9 percent.
In response to the survey, the Health Department said it recognized the findings and values the voice of the Filipinos, adding that the department has continued to take steps to improve the health system.
He added that the plans, policies and actions of the Department of Health had been guided by science through its expert groups, such as the Technical Advisory Group, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunizations and the Council for the Evaluation of Health Technologies.
‘Better than perceptions’
Albay 2nd Ward Representative Joey Salceda said Thursday that “it doesn’t make sense to look at approval ratings” and that the results “are better than the perceptions.”
In a statement, Salceda said in part that the survey “does not reflect the sentiment of men and women on the street.”
“That said, there is no point looking at approval ratings. The results are better than the perceptions. Our job as elected officials is to bring results. What we can do is learn from the results of these surveys and see how we can deliver better results, ”he said.
Salceda cited bills he introduced in response to calls for early warning systems for pandemics and future outbreaks.
“I am the lead author of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention bill (HB 6096, the first COVID-19 response bill ever introduced) and the statute of the Institute of Virology Science and Technology (HB 6793), which is a ‘Build, Build, Build’ priority, ”he said. HB is the House bill.
For the representative of the Bayan Muna Party list, Ferdinand Gaite, the poll was “very indicative” of the true situation.
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