NEARLY half of all Filipinos, or 47 percent, feel the “the worst is yet to come” in the country’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic while 44 percent believe that the “the worst is behind us,” a May 4 to 10 mobile survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.
The survey, done through mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviews, involved 4,010 Filipinos aged 15 and up and had a ±2 percent margin of error.
It found that 8 percent were undecided or refused to say if they believe the worst is over or has yet to come in connection with the coronavirus disease.
SWS also said that majority of those from the Visayas (54 percent), and Metro Manila (50 percent) and a near majority from Mindanao (48 percent) believe that “the worst is yet to come.”
While 43 percent from Luzon also believe the worst is yet to come, a near majority of Luzonians or 49 percent said “the worst is behind us,” followed by those from Metro Manila (43 percent), Mindanao (42 percent), and the Visayas (38 percent).
An equal number of respondents from those living in general community quarantine (GCQ) and enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) areas or 47 percent each said “the worst is yet to come” while those who believe “the worst is behind us” is between 44 percent and 45 percent.
More people who had college education, are graduates or had post graduate education felt the worst is yet to come with 49 percent and 53 percent, respectively, while majority of those who had elementary and high school education believe the worst is over with 53 percent and 51 percent, respectively.
SWS also found that majority of the respondents who claimed their lives improved in the last 12 months believe that the worst is behind us (51 percent worst is behind us, 42 percent worst is yet to come) while close to a majority of those who said their lives worsened believe the worst has yet to come (43 percent worst is behind us, 49 percent worst is yet to come).
Majority of those who are optimistic their lives will improve in the 12 months said the worst is behind us (54 percent worst is behind us, 38 percent worst is yet to come) while more people who are pessimistic about improving their lives believe that the worst has yet to come (37 percent worst is behind us, 56 percent worst is has yet to come).
