‘Surveys should promote voter education, not just gauge popularity’

MANILA, Philippines — Poll survey outfits should contribute to increase voters’ education and not merely gauge a prospective candidate’s popularity, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said.

According to Lagman, survey firms should ask “more relevant questions” on the choice of aspirants for public office.

“The more pertinent is to gauge the voters’ assessment of the competence, qualification and integrity of aspirants, not their popularity or name recall,” said Lagman, who is president of Liberal Party, one of the oldest political parties in the country.

He noted the usual question of “if elections are held today, whom are you going to vote for?” is a mere poll on popularity “without emphasizing the fitness of a candidate for public office and his real ability and trustworthiness.”

The lawmaker added that survey firms, together with the Commission on Elections, “must be able to educate voters on choosing the right candidates.”

Lagman’s statement came on the heels of various surveys on winnable candidates in the mid-year electons next year.