Survey firms are now obliged to register with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) if they wish to conduct surveys related to the upcoming May 2025 elections.
The poll body issued Resolution No. 11117 requiring anyone conducting and disseminating survey results for the midterm elections to register first with their office for regulation.
Survey firms have 15 days to complete their registration, and if they fail, they will not be allowed to conduct surveys.
They are also mandated to submit comprehensive reports to COMELEC, including the expenses incurred by candidates for the survey.
This according to COMELEC is to ensure compliance with the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) and increase transparency and prevent the manipulation of public perception through paid surveys.
Media organizations are also mandated to publish only survey results that contain the name of entity which conducted the survey along with the name/s of the person, candidate, party or organization that commissioned or paid for the survey.
The COMELEC also assured that they will monitor the survey firms, groups and individuals engaged in surveys to ensure compliance with the mentioned requirements.
Survey results will also be published in the poll body’s website.
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.