SWS: Majority of Filipinos found the suspension of mass transportation, closure of businesses as ‘burdensome’
Updated June 5, 2020, 10:25 PM
Majority of Filipino families found the suspension of mass transportation and the closure of businesses and stores as “burdensome,” according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.In a survey conducted from May 4 to 10 among 4,010 respondents, SWS found that 77 percent of Filipino families found it “burdensome” the suspension of mass transportation, which was due to the imposition of quarantine measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The result came after 40 percent answered “great difficulty” and 37 percent answered “some difficulty” in the question, “With the suspension of public transportation like bus, jeep, and tricycle, [what extent of burden] does your family have?”
SWS said, only 22 percent feel little (14 percent) or no burden (eight percent) from the suspension. On the other hand, the survey also found that for 80 percent of Filipino families, the closure of businesses and stores is “burdensome” as well. The result was comprised of 37 percent who experienced “great difficulty” from the shut down of businesses, and 43 percent who experienced “some difficulty.” Of the people who were surveyed, SWS said 47 percent did not own any type of vehicle. Meanwhile, six percent owned a four-wheeled motor vehicle, 12 percent owned a three-wheeled motor vehicle, 30 percent owned a two-wheeled motor vehicle, and 11 percent owned a bicycle. The survey noted that families who experienced burden from the suspension of public transportation were higher among those who did not own any vehicle, at 82 percent, than among those who owned a vehicle, at 73 percent.
Among the families who had their own vehicles, those who experienced burden from the suspension of public transportation were the highest among owners of bicycles, at 77 percent. It was followed by three-wheeled motor vehicles owners, at 75 percent; two-wheeled motor vehicles owners, at 71 percent; and four-wheeled motor vehicles owners at 54 percent.
SWS said that families who experienced burden from the shutdown of private businesses and stores were also higher among those who did not own any vehicle, at 82 percent than among those who owned a vehicle, at 78 percent.
Among the families who had their own vehicles, those who experienced burden from the shutdown of businesses and stores were the highest among owners of bicycles, at 79 percent. It was followed by owners of two-wheeled motor vehicles, at 78 percent, owners of three-wheeled motor vehicles, at 78 percent and owners of four-wheeled motor vehicles, at 66 percent. The survey also noted that families living in Metro Manila experienced the most burden from the suspension of public transportation and closure of businesses and stores, as compared to other parts of the country. The survey was conducted via phone or computer-assisted telephone interview among respondents aged 15 years old above, SWS said. The respondents were from different parts of the country, whose contact details were previously shared to the institution during face-to-face interviews.
It said that the sampling margin of error stands at ±2 percent for national percentages, ±6 percent for Metro Manila, ±2 percent for Balance Luzon, ±3 percent for Visayas, and ±3 percent for Mindanao.
