A recent online survey among the 10 member-nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) showed more than half of Filipinos disapproved of their government’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The “State of Southeast Asia 2021” survey conducted from November 18, 2020 to January 10, 2021 showed 53.7 percent of Filipino respondents disapproved of the government’s response to the pandemic while 25.4 percent gave their approval and 20.9 percent gave a neutral position.

The survey also said that the government should have encouraged and involved more scientists and medical doctors to participate in public policy discussions for the pandemic.

The survey, published by the Asean Studies Centre at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies – Yusof Ishak Centre, gathered online responses from 1,032 respondents from 10 member-states of Asean.

Of the 1,032 respondents, 67 or 6.5 percent came from the Philippines.

The Filipino respondents said the top challenges amid the Covid-19 pandemic are unemployment and economic recession.

From the Filipinos who said they disapproved of their government’s Covid-19 response, 72.2 percent said that the government should have listened to scientists and medical doctors. Also, 58.3 percent said the government should have invested in early warning systems and research for virus testing and vaccine development.

The Filipinos surveyed also said Singapore and Vietnam undertook the best pandemic response among Asean member-nations.