Comelec now regulates survey firms, requires registration
Comelec Chair George Garcia
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday announced that all survey firms must now register before the poll body during the election period.
This developed after Comelec resolution No. 11117 was approved during the poll body’s regular en banc session on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
“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 reads.
Survey firms should submit a “comprehensive report” to the PFAD within five days from the publication of their survey.
Also, if applicable, the firms should include in their PFAD submission the total amount spent by candidates should they commission a survey.
This would enable the Comelec to verify if the candidates’ statement of contributions and expenditures are accurate.
Comelec also said that “only pre-registered entities shall be authorized to conduct and publicly disseminate election surveys.”
Firms that are already conducting their survey prior to the resolution have 15 days to register at the Comelec, which will be effective five days after the newspaper publication of this resolution, the poll body added.
“During this period, they may continue their operations, but failure to register within the prescribed timeframe shall result in the suspension of their authority to conduct and publish election surveys,” Comelec explained.
Meanwhile, the Comelec’s Education and Information Department is tasked to establish a verification mechanism “to authenticate election survey results and prevent the dissemination of fraudulent surveys falsely attributed to legitimate pollsters.”
Polling firms should submit their registration at [email protected] and [email protected].
The campaign period for national candidates began on Feb. 11 until May 10.
