THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Friday thanked the public for government’s high approval rating of 83% in the OCTA Research’s “Tugon ng Masa” survey on the government’s response to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country as it reaffirms its commitment to continue to do its part in bringing the pandemic to its end.

“Masaya kami na naramdaman ng mga tao na may gobyernong nagmamalasakit sa gitna ng pandemiya. Dahil dito, lalo pa naming paiigtingin ang aming mga programa tulad ng huling yugto ng pagbabakuna, pagpapatupad ng minimum health standards, at papapanatili ng kaayusan sa bansa lalo na’t ilang araw nalang ay eleksiyon na,” DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said.

Año said the survey results affirm that the government’s management and handling of the pandemic is a success in the eyes of those who matter most, the Filipino people, who felt that the government was present and in command since Day 1 of the pandemic.

“Sa kabila ng mga sinasabi ng ilang kritiko, ang taumbayan na mismo ang humusga at nagsabing matagumpay ang tugon ng pamahalaan sa krisis ng COVID-19. Alam nilang hindi nagpabaya ang gobyerno,” he said.

The DILG Secretary said that while the survey result is a huge consolation for the hard work and sacrifice of frontliners, including the LGUs (local government units), police, and fire personnel, the more important thing is that the country is now gradually going back to normal with few cases and relaxed the alert levels in most parts of the country.

“Nagbunga ang sakripisyo nating lahat. Makakabangon at makakabawi rin tayo,” he said.

In the Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from March 5 to 10, 2022, 83% of the surveyed respondents said they “Truly approve” or “Somewhat approve” the government’s response actions vs. COVID-19.

Respondents in the National Capital Region (NCR) also gave the government a thumbs up, with 88% giving similar responses.

The rest of Luzon chimed in their approval with a 79% approval rating, 92% in the Visayas, and 80% in Mindanao.

A total of 1,200 respondents across the country participated in the survey led by the OCTA Research Group.

The participants were given five response options: Truly Approve, Somewhat Approve, Can’t say If Approve or Disapprove, Somewhat Disapprove, and Truly Disapprove.

“The high survey ratings must not make us complacent, instead, we should intensify our vaccination campaign in areas with low vaccine confidence, and we must continue enforcing the minimum public health standards,” Año said.

Of the 6% who said they “somewhat disapprove/truly disapprove” of the government’s COVID-19 response, 7% were from NCR; 5% were from the rest of Luzon; 1% in the Visayas; and 10% in Mindanao.