Comelec to amend registration rules for survey firms

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing to issue an amended resolution on the registration of individuals and organizations conducting election-related surveys amid questions raised by the polling firms.

Commissioner Rey Bulay, commissioner-in-charge of the Task Force on Regulation and Enforcement of Survey Practices for Election Credibility and Transparency (Respect), made the remarks following a dialogue with survey firms at the Comelec Office in Intramuros, Manila.

“We hit the ground running dahil nagmamadali (because we are in a hurry)...Next week, we will be meeting with publishers regarding the publication of these results," said Bulay. "God willing siguro, two more weeks and this will be okay," he said. 

Task Force Respect was recently created to implement the Comelec Resolution No. 1117, which requires the registration of polling firms conducting election-related surveys amid the election period.

To discuss the possible amendments to the resolution, the Comelec on February 27 convened several polling firms including Social Weather Station (SWS), Pulse Asia, OCTA Research, and Publicus Asia.

During the dialogue, OCTA Research called for the suspension of the existing Comelec resolution, citing their suggestions for the amended resolution. 

“Our prayer is that the Comelec will suspend its current resolution pending the inclusion of amendments," said Ranjit Rye, president of OCTA Research.

"May pagkakaintindihan kami na babaguhin ang resolution, susupindihin ang implementation nya at pangatlo, tatanggalin ang sanctions for non-compliance at tuloy-tuloy ang koordinasyon ng survey firms at Comelec," he said. 

(We had an understanding they would issue an amended resolution, suspend the current resolution, and remove the sanctions for non-compliance.  There will also be continuous coordination between the survey firms and Comelec.)

According to  "24 Oras" report by Sandra Aguinaldo, some survey firms also expressed concern over the details being asked by Comelec in the poll's conduct.

"There are elements in the raw data that will reveal the identity of the respondents. This is subject to our confidentiality on anonymity agreement with the respondents as covered by the consent form," said Dr. Ana Tabunda, Pulse Asia research director.

The Comelec said it only wanted to ensure that only legitimate survey firms engage in polling activities.  It added that recognized survey companies will be given a "badge" to guide the public.

Publicus Asia founder and chief executive officer Malou Tiquia said, "surveys are imperfect tools, it's a snapshot of a point in time that provide insights but not guarantees."

Linda Guerrero, president of Social Weather Stations, said surveys have no bandwagon effect on the voters.

"Do you know the percentage of Filipinos aware of surveys?  Of the registered voters, only 14 percent.  The highest is in NCR (National Capital Region) where 24 percent are aware of surveys.  Let me suque to my point that surveys have no bandwagon effect," Guerrero said.

In response, Bulay said, "Ang ating official ballot 75 million, ang 14 percent po nun 10.8 million, enough na 'yun para manalo partylist at 'yung nasa laylayan ng 12 senators pumanik."

(Our official ballots are 75 million, 14 percent of that is 10.8 million, enough to make a party-list won and to lift the standing of senators on the fringe of the ranking.)

Guerrero replied saying, "Even assuming that there is a bandwagon effect masama po ba 'yun (is this bad), samantalang yung kapitbahay nyo pipilitin kang ito ang iboto, yung nanay tatay mo pipilitin kang ito iboto (while your neighbor or your mother or father will force you to vote for a certain candidate)."

Under Comelec Resolution No. 11117, only pre-registered entities shall be authorized to conduct and publicly disseminate election surveys related to the 2025 national and local elections and Bangsamoro elections.

"During the election period, any person, whether natural or juridical, candidate, or organization that conducts and publicly disseminates an election survey must register with the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) of the Commission," the seven-page resolution read.

Survey firms that have already been conducting and disseminating election surveys prior to the publication of the resolution were given by the Comelec a grace period of 15 days from the date of effectivity to complete their registration.

"During this period, they may continue their operations, but failure to register within the prescribed time frame shall result in the suspension of their authority to conduct and public elections surveys," it added.

At least 14 survey firms have so far complied with the registration, said Bulay. 

Firm representatives were likewise invited to sign a pledge of commitment for the regulation and enforcement of survey practices for Eleksyon 2025. 

The organizations signed the pledge but requested to remove Section 7, which commits their support for enforcement and compliance to the guidelines of the specialized task force. 

“We signed the pledge of commitment on the agreement and understanding that our amendments discussed today will be included in the new Comelec resolution," Rye said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News

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