Pulse Asia stands by survey results

MANILA, Philippines — Pulse Asia’s president stood by the public opinion polling firm’s latest survey, which showed that 88 percent of Filipinos are against changing the country’s Constitution, after members of the House of Representatives cast doubt on the methods used to obtain answers for the survey.

In a report by ABS-CBN News, Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes defended the firm’s survey. He explained that they started by asking respondents whether they favored Charter change in general and then asking about the specific changes being proposed.

“We have been running the questions for 20 years,” he said. 

The survey came out days after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 that will relax stringent economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, in hopes of attracting more foreign direct investments into the country.

Some members of the House who are active proponents of the push for Charter change raised objections to the survey, accusing the firm of using “biased and leading questions that may have influenced the results.”

“This Pulse Asia survey is riddled with questions and scenarios that spread fear among Filipinos about Charter change. By this reason alone, the survey results are invalid, unfair, and inapplicable to the current situation,” House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre said.

He was referring to questions that delved on “term extensions” for public officials, changing the “unitary to a federal system of government,” from “presidential to parliamentary,” shifting from “bicameral to unicameral” Congress and allowing foreigners to “exploit our natural resources.”

For his part, House Deputy Speaker David Suarez also stressed the importance of public awareness and engagement in the discourse on constitutional reform to ensure that the proposed amendments align with the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people.

“By focusing on the economic provisions and clarifying misconceptions, proponents can work towards garnering broader support for targeted constitutional amendments that will benefit all Filipinos,” he said.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe clarified and reiterated that the proposed economic Charter amendment is not aimed at consolidating power or extending terms but rather at creating a conducive environment for economic growth and development. 

House Assistant Majority Leaders Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol party-list, Paolo Ortega V of La Union, and Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur pointed out that the survey questions appeared to conflate various aspects of constitutional reform, potentially leading to confusion among respondents. — Delon Porcalla