Comelec to meet survey firms after releasing new resolution
George Garcia FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Thursday announced that the poll body will meet with survey firms following the release of resolution on election surveys.
According to Garcia, the meeting will serve as a “getting to know” initiative for the Comelec and survey firms.
“Immediately after mapublish yun ating guidelines at yung ating resolution dyan ay magpapatawag kami ng meeting sa mga survey firms. Aalamin natin ang kanilang mga saloobin tungkol sa bagay na ito,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.
(Immediately after the publication of our guidelines and resolution, we will call for a meeting with survey firms. We will know their sentiments on this matter.)
The Comelec, through Resolution No. 11117, will now require survey firms that publicly disseminate and conduct election surveys to register with the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) of the commission.
READ: Comelec now regulates survey firms, requires registration
The resolution also stated that “only pre-registered entities shall be authorized to conduct and publicly disseminate election surveys.”
He added that determining the election firms’ guidelines, parameters, and limitations in conducting surveys will help the poll body distinguish if the resolution will restrict freedom of speech and expression.
“Our guidelines will always be the best parameter sana para alamin natin yung pantay pantay na oportunidad sa mga kandidato. Kaya lang, kung ang guidelines ay maglilimit at restrict ng freedom of expression at speech, we are very much willing to amend and change our rules,” Garcia stated.
(Our guidelines will always be the best parameter to determine the equal opportunity for the candidates. However, if the guidelines will limit and restrict the freedom of expression and speech, we are very much willing to amend and change our rules.)
Following this development, Garcia said that election surveys can register with PFAD after the meeting is held. He noted that the meeting will be conducted before the month of February ends.
READ: Comelec expects election candidates’ endorsers are getting paid
He also said that while it is rightful for the public to be informed of their voting preferences through surveys, the poll body must ensure that every candidate must be given “equal opportunity” in following the guidelines.
