Adds, however, that results would serve as a “guide”
(Eagle News) — The Consultative Committee on Charter Change questioned the interpretation of the results of the recent Pulse Asia survey that showed that over half of Filipinos were opposed to Cha-Cha and federalism, even as it said that the results would serve as a “guide.”
In a statement, the con-com said that a check of the question asked to the survey respondents showed that in reality, those in favor of amending the Constitution constitute a “majority,” at 55%, with 23% in favor of amending it now, and 32% in favor of amending it in the future.
Pulse Asia said 66 percent were opposed to Cha-Cha, while 64 percent were against replacing the present government with the federal system of government.
“This is consistent with the results of previous surveys since 1999,” the panel said.
According to the panel, it was also “inaccurate” to compare the results of the July 2016 survey on federalism with the results of the March 2018 survey because “they asked a different question.”
It said that in the July 2016 survey, the pollster asked “whether or not (respondents) were in favor of shifting to federalism.”
In the March 2018 survey, Pulse Asia asked “whether the respondents were in favor of shifting to federalism now, not now but in the future.”
“If we apply the same interpretation, then it can actually be said that those in favor (now and at some time in the future) comprised 57% or a majority–higher than the 39% in July 2016,” the panel said.
At any rate, the con-com said surveys were “a pulse of a given population on a given issue at any time,” which means “they change from time to time.”
The panel said once it is done formulating the proposed revisions, and these are presented to the public, “we are confident that the public perception will change.”
“Ultimately, the true pulse of the people will be felt and shown when the plebiscite is held for the people to decide whether or not they want a new Constitution and a new system of government,” the con-com said.