MANILA, Philippines – Media organizations, including Rappler, signed on Tuesday, March 4, the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Pledge of Commitment to support the regulation of election-related surveys in the Philippines, in time for the 2025 elections.
The pledge aims to enhance the integrity and transparency of surveys during the election period, consistent with the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Fair Elections Act.
Among the issues addressed in the pledge are the disinformation and manipulation of public opinion in election surveys. It supports public disclosure and open access to survey methodologies and funding to prevent fabricated survey results, as well as data accuracy and integrity in the data collection, interpretation, and dissemination.
The pledge was drafted by the Comelec Task Force on Regulation and Enforcement of Survey Practices for Election Credibility and Transparency.
“Equal access to reliable election data fosters a level playing field and strengthens democratic participation. At the same time, we emphasize that any regulation of election surveys must respect and uphold the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right of both survey entities and the public to access and disseminate information,” the pledge read.
Media groups conducting “kalye surveys” or man-on-the-street style reports are not included in the regulation, since Comelec Chair George Garcia said this is part of news gathering.
Comelec also calls on media organization and digital platforms to verify the credibility of election surveys and to provide proper context in reporting. Among those who signed on Tuesday are Rappler and ABS-CBN.
The pledge of commitment comes after the Comelec approved Resolution No. 11117 on February 19, which includes a clause on voluntary registration of survey firms to ensure accountability and transparency. Originally, Resolution No. 11117 required mandatory registration with Comelec’s Political Finance and Affairs Department before running any election survey and publicly disseminating its results.
However, polling firms, including Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated and Octa Research Group, raised concerns about the potential infringement on freedom of expression and argued that it may be abused to censor legitimate survey organizations. Comelec later changed this to voluntary instead of mandatory in its Pledge of Commitment.
“The Comelec is very much willing to amend our guidelines, to modify and change, depending sa outcome nitong usapan natin (on the outcome of our discussion). Tulungan ’nyo po kami (Help us),” Garcia said during a media roundtable with the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Inquirer.net on February 27.
Polling firms earlier signed the pledge of commitment on Thursday, February 27. – with reports from Gemma B. Mendoza and Michelle Abad/Rappler.com