93% of Filipinos OK gov’t COVID response

BOOSTER SHOTS Schoolchildren get vaccination booster shots against COVID-19 at the Baclaran Elementary School in Parañaque City in this file photo. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

About nine in 10 Filipinos gave the thumbs up to the national government’s response in preventing the further transmission of COVID-19 in the country, according to a survey conducted by pandemic monitor OCTA Research.

The latest findings of the survey conducted from Oct. 23 to 27 showed that 93 percent of the 1,200 respondents “approve” of the government measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

This was a 10 percent increment from the previous survey in March this year when 83 percent of respondents approved of the government measures against COVID-19.

The respondents were asked the question: “How much do you approve of what the government has done or is doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country?”

Of those who approved of the government’s work, 49 percent said they “truly approve,” while 43 percent said that they “somewhat approve.”

Only 3 percent disapproved of the COVID-19 protocols, while 5 percent were undecided, said OCTA.

The noncommissioned survey, which used random sampling of select barangays, had a margin of error of +-3 percentage points.

Meanwhile, members of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) carried black “parols” (Christmas lanterns) during their “black Christmas” protest on Friday against the delayed release of their mandated pandemic benefits, namely the Health Emergency Allowance and One COVID-19 allowance.

AHW also reiterated their call for a P33,000 minimum monthly pay for all government health-care workers.

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