In a groundbreaking move, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila has mandated that all survey firms must now register with the Comelec’s Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) before they can conduct and publicly share election surveys. This directive, outlined in Resolution No. 11117, was announced on Thursday and marks a significant shift in how election surveys are managed in the country.
The resolution stipulates that only entities that have pre-registered with the PFAD will be allowed to carry out and disseminate election surveys. This rule will be enforced moving forward, ensuring that all future surveys adhere to these new standards. Survey firms currently operating have a 15-day window from the resolution’s effective date to register, during which they can continue their activities. However, failure to register within this period will lead to a suspension of their rights to conduct and publish election surveys.
Furthermore, all registered survey companies are required to submit detailed reports to the PFAD within five days of publishing their survey results. These reports must include information on where the survey results were published, enhancing the transparency of the electoral process.
For broadcast media, the rules are clear: they can only publish an election survey if it includes the name of the survey-conducting entity and the names of the individuals, candidates, parties, or organizations that commissioned or funded the survey. This requirement extends to online platforms, including social media, where survey firms must also adhere to these disclosure rules.
Comelec emphasized that these new regulations are crucial for promoting transparency, given the significant impact that election surveys have on voter preferences. The commission has warned that non-compliance with these guidelines will be treated as an election offense, underscoring the seriousness of the new policy.