More Filipinos see worst over with COVID-19 pandemic, SWS poll shows

More Filipinos believe that the worst is over as regards the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the latest survey taken by the Social Weather Station (SWS) has shown.

According to the survey, 69 percent of adult Filipinos answered that the worst "was behind us", an increase from the 47 percent in September 2020.

Forty-seven percent believe that “the worst is yet to come.” 

The survey was conducted from November 21 to November 25 last year using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide.

It has a sampling error of ±2.5% for national percentages, ±4% for Balance Luzon, and ±6% for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Quality of life

Results of the survey showed that 62 percent of Filipinos say their "quality-of-life" worsened, 24 percent said it was the same, and 14 percent said it was better compared to a year ago.

Those whose quality-of-life improved were termed as “gainers” by the SWS while those whose quality-of-life worsened were termed as “losers.”

According to the SWS, 77 percent of gainers and 74 percent of the unchanged said “the worst is behind us” regarding the pandemic while 65 percent of losers believed otherwise.

The survey also found that 44 percent believe their quality-of-life will improve, while 36 percent said it will stay the same, and 9 percent believe that it will worsen.

Those who believe that their quality-of-life will improve were termed “optimists” while those who believe that their quality of life will worsen were termed “pessimists.”

Results of the survey showed that 75 percent of the optimists said the worst is over while 66 percent of neutral and 56 percent of the pessimists believed otherwise.

Meanwhile, the SWS said that the belief “the worst is behind us” rose among both economic optimists, those who believe that the economy will improve, and economic pessimists, those who believe that the economy will worsen.

According to the SWS, 42 percent believe the economy will improve, while 28 percent said it will stay the same, and 18 percent said it will worsen in the next 12 months.

The survey also showed that 76 percent of economic optimists believe the worst is over, compared to the 68 percent of neutrals and 54 percent of economic pessimists.

Figures also show that most of the individuals who believe that the worst is over are in Metro Manila at 78 percent, followed by Balance Luzon with 69 percent, the Visayas with 67 percent, and Mindanao with 65 percent.

Meanwhile, 71 percent of non-elementary graduates believe that the worst is over, followed by 67 percent of elementary graduates, 71 percent of junior high school graduates, and 65 percent of college graduates.

Meanwhile, those who believe “the worst is yet to come” are composed of 29 percent non-elementary graduates, 33 percent elementary graduates, 29 percent junior high school graduates, and 35 percent college graduates.—NB/LDF, GMA News