Majority of Filipinos are confident they will be able to endure the Covid-19 crisis, but not without facing economic woes, according to a local survey cited by Malacañang on Monday.
In its latest poll result conducted on April 7 to 12, the Philippine Survey Research Center (PSRC) said 88 percent of Filipinos are confident the country could overcome Covid-19.
Most of the respondents said they expect the Covid-19 crisis will last for three months or less.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque mentioned the PSRC report as a piece of “good news” during his online press briefing while reporting on government cash aid programs for communities affected by Covid-19.
“Our President understand the needs of the people: He is spending the tax payers’ money to give us at least something to eat during the enhanced quarantine,” Roque said.
Currently, the entire Luzon was place under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) since March 17, 2020 as part of government efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The ECQ would be lifted in most of Luzon by next month except for Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and other areas with large number of Covid-19 cases.
The PSRC study showed many of the respondents suffered economic-related woes, which also turned out to be their top “worry points.”
These were lack of money for daily needs, followed by not enough food at home; loss of job/livelihood; shortage of goods in the markets’ high prices of goods; and depletion of savings.
This comes amid delays in the distribution of the cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the fund shortage for the same program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The PSRC survey showed that restriction to express opinions against the government was the least concern of the respondents, followed by abuses by police or military, and being caught outside curfew without quarantine pass.