The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday clarified that there are institutions and organizations exempt from registering as survey firms that conduct election-related polls.

Last week, Comelec announced that all survey firms must be registered with the poll body and introduced the Task Force Regulation and Enforcement of Survey Practices for Election Credibility and Transparency (Task Force RESPECT).

In an ambush interview, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said that Task Force RESPECT is tasked with facilitating guidelines for survey firms; however, the regulation will not apply to civic-oriented groups, media entities, and similar organizations.

"Gusto lang namin i-emphasize na ang regulasyon namin sa survey [firms] ay hindi applicable sa ating mga media entities, religious organizations, cause-oriented groups and organizations, kasama na rin ang civic organizations at educational institutions. Hindi po kailangang magpa-register (We just want to emphasize that our regulation on survey firms is not applicable to media entities, religious organizations, cause-oriented groups and organizations, including civic organizations and educational institutions)," Garcia said.

"Ang aming pakiusap lang po sana lang masabi lang doon kung sino ang nag-commission (Our only request is for them to identify who commissioned the survey)," he added.

"'Kalye' surveys or man-on-the streets polls are also not covered," according to Garcia.

"Yung mga ginagawang diyaryo o radyo [surveys], hindi po kasama yun sapagkat kasama yun ng news and affairs program. Ayaw namin ma-violate ang freedom of the press (Those that are done by newspapers or radioes are also not included because they are included in the news and affairs program. We do not want to violate the freedom of the press)," Garcia explained.