PIXABAY

Boses,听Opinyon,听Siyasat, at听Siyensya听para听sa听Pilipinas (BOSES Pilipinas), a university-based听research initiative听established by the听Ateneo School of Government,听said it听will not听conduct听surveys听commissioned听by politicians听for听the coming May 2022 elections.听

鈥淲e are a non-partisan and academic-based survey unit, and to ensure our independence, we will not accept commissioned surveys from politicians,鈥 said听Dr.听Imelda听B.听Deinla,听convenor of BOSES听Pilipinas, during its online launch Wednesday.听

The initiative,听established听in听partnership with the pro-democracy coalition Participate,听aims to听鈥渁dvance empirical, interdisciplinary, and policy-oriented studies of public opinion on democracy, governance, and development.鈥澨听

The initiative seeks to听combat both disinformation and misinformation,听said听Ateneo School of Government dean Ronald听U.听Mendoza. He pointed out that,听just like a听virus, 鈥渢hese two can spread like contagion, adding to the political polarization and division that now afflict many democracies.鈥听

Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James听B.听Jimenez agreed with the severity of this issue, adding, 鈥淚t鈥檚 good that (BOSES Pilipinas) is university-based. It鈥檚 good that it鈥檚 run by academics because at least there鈥檚 that level of security that the conclusions that the projects undertake will be听undertaken for the right reasons, and certainly for the enlightenment of the audience.鈥听

An ongoing survey听aims to听examine youth鈥檚 preferences in the upcoming national elections听and听what factors听make them susceptible听to misinformation or disinformation campaigns听in social media.听

Upcoming projects by BOSES Pilipinas include听various听researches听on听presidential satisfaction in the Philippines,听the role of social media in democracy, and听also听youth leadership.听鈥淥ur unit would like to contribute further in deepening the understanding of public opinion, not only听what they are,听but the听why鈥檚 鈥 how they arrive at these opinions,鈥 said听Dr.听Deinla.听鈥斕Bront毛听H. Lacsamana听

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