MANILA, Philippines — More adult Filipinos dread that “the worst is yet to come” in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which also found that the majority remains concerned about catching the virus.
The April 28 to May 2 survey, which interviewed in person 1,200 Filipinos 18 years old and above nationwide, comes more than a year into the pandemic and amid concerns over the slow pace of vaccination in the country.
The survey found that Filipinos’ outlook on the pandemic worsened with 49 percent fearing that “the worst is yet to come,” up from 31 percent who said the same in November last year. The latest figure is the highest since the 57 percent in July 2020.
Those who said “the worst is behind us” fell from 69 percent in November 2020 to 50 percent in May.
The SWS also found 89 percent of adult Filipinos were worried that anyone in their immediate family might catch COVID-19, lower than the record-high 91 percent in November 2020, but higher than the 85 percent recorded in September and July 2020.
Eleven percent said they were either a little worried or not worried at all.
By area, the percentage of those who feared that “the worst is yet to come” was highest in Luzon outside Metro Manila at 54 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 50 percent, the Visayas at 49 percent and Mindanao at 38 percent.
By educational attainment, the percentage of those who said “the worst is yet to come” was highest among college graduates at 56 percent, followed by junior high school graduates at 49 percent, elementary graduates at 49 percent and nonelementary graduates at 40 percent.
The survey had a sampling margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percent for national percentages and plus-or-minus 6 percent for Metro Manila, Luzon outside Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao. —Inquirer Research