SWS: 55% of Pinoys comfortable working again

More than half of Filipinos who have a job said they would feel comfortable about returning to work if the community quarantine were lifted this month, according to the results of the special Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

SWS found that 47 percent of the respondents had a job and 53 percent either did not have a job or never had a job at the time of the interview.

Among those who have a job, 55 percent were comfortable returning to work with 20 percent who felt very comfortable and 34 percent fairly comfortable.

Forty percent are uncomfortable about going to work—26 percent not very comfortable and 13 percent not at all comfortable.

SWS used mobile phone and computer-assisted phone interview for the non-commissioned survey nationwide of 1,555 Filipinos 18 years old and above.

Religious services

Conducted from July 3 to 6, the survey also found that 45 percent of Filipinos felt comfortable about attending religious services—17 percent are very comfortable and 28 percent fairly comfortable. Fifty-four percent were uncomfortable about this with 36 percent not very comfortable and 18 percent not at all comfortable.

The proportion of those who felt comfortable about going to work in case the lockdown ends next month was highest in Mindanao at 64 percent. It was followed by Luzon outside Metro Manila at 55 percent, the Visayas at 50 percent and Metro Manila at 45 percent.

Those who felt comfortable attending religious services were also highest in Mindanao at 56 percent, followed by the Visayas at 47 percent, Luzon outside Metro Manila at 40 percent and Metro Manila at 39 percent.

If the community quarantine ends, those comfortable about attending religious activities were highest among Muslims at 71 percent. They were followed by Iglesia ni Cristo at 58 percent, Christians other than Roman Catholics and Iglesia ni Cristo at 47 percent, other non-Christian religions at 42 percent and Roman Catholics at 41 percent. —Inquirer Research