Opinion polling for the 2010 Philippine presidential election explained

Opinion polling (popularly known as surveys in the Philippines) for the 2010 Philippine presidential election is managed by two major polling firms: Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia, and several minor polling firms. The polling firms conducted surveys both prior and after the deadline for filing of certificates of candidacies on December 1, 2009.

Post-filing

Note: Tables only include confirmed candidates by the COMELEC.The following are results of surveys taken after the last day of filing of certificates of candidacies by the candidates (December 1).

Scores in bold indicate first place, scores in italics are within the margin of error of first place.

Presidential election

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample sizeMoEAcosta
Aquino
De los Reyes
Estrada
Gordon
Madrigal
Perlas
Teodoro
Villanueva
Villar
Others/Undecided
2010
Election resultsMay 942.080.1226.251.390.130.1511.333.1215.42
SWS[1] Exit poll 52,573 ±1% 43.34 0.15 26.38 1.40 0.23 0.13 10.25 3.40 14.73
SWS[2] May 2–3 2,400 ±2% 0 42 0.3 20 2 0.2 0.1 9 3 19 6
StratPOLLS[3] Apr. 27–May 2 1,500 45.2 0.2 22.2 1.5 0.2 0.6 10.1 3 15.1
The Center[4] Apr. 26–May 2 2,400 ±2.8% 29 18 20 25
Manila Standard Today[5] Apr. 25–27 2,500 ±2% 38 0.1 22 2 0.4 0.2 9 3 20 6
Pulse Asia[6] Apr. 23–25 1,800±2% 39 0.2 20 2 0.1 0.3 7 3 20 9
Manila Standard Today[7] Apr. 18–20 2,500 ±2% 38 19 1 9 2 23 6
SWS[8] Apr. 16–19 2,400 ±2% 0 38 0.2 17 2 0.3 0.2 9 2 26 6
Pulse AsiaMar. 21–28 3,000 ±2% 0.08 37 0.2 18 2 0.1 0.3 7 2 25 9
SWS[9] Mar. 19–22 2,100 ±2.2% 370.3 19 3 0.04 0.1 6 2 28 4.56
The Center[10] Mar. 3–10 2,400 ±2.8% 26 0.5 17 9 0 0 14 2 28
SWS[11] Feb. 24–28 2,100 ±2.2% 0.4 360.1 15 2 0.1 0.2 6 3 34 4
Pulse Asia[12] Feb. 21–25 1,800 ±2% 0.04 36 0 18 1 0.3 0.2 7 2 29 6
The Center[13] Feb. 1–8 1,800 ±2.8% 27 17 8 14 3 27
TNS[14] Jan. 28–Feb. 3 3,000 ±—% 41.54 11.66 1.7 0.22 5.21 2 30.63
Pulse Asia[15] Jan. 22–26 1,800 ±2% 0.2 37 0.3 12 1 0.5 0.05 5 2 35 6
SWS[16] Jan. 21–24 2,100 ±2% 0.3 42 0.2 13 2 0.4 0.04 4 2 35 2
StratPOLLS[17] Jan. 16–22 2,400 ±2.2% 36 0.25 15 5 1 11 4 26
2009
SWS[18] Dec. 27–28 2,100 ±2.2% 44 0.4 15 0.5 0.4 5 1 33 1
Pulse Asia[19] Dec. 8–10 1,800 ±2% 45 19 1 5 1 23 5[20]
SWS[21] Dec. 5–10 2,100 ±2.2% 46.2 0.1 16.0 1.1 0.2 0.03 4.6 1.1 27.0 3.7
The Center[22] Dec. 2–6 1,200 ±2.8% 31 0.25 19 5 0.25 10 3 24 7.5

Vice presidential election

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample sizeMoEBinay
Chipeco
Fernando
Legarda
Manzano
Roxas
Sonza
Yasay
OthersUndecided
2010
Election resultsMay 9N/A41.650.152.8912.212.3039.580.181.04N/A
SWSExit poll 52,573 ±1% 42.52 0.43 2.92 11.51 1.81 39.17 0.20 1.43
SWS[23] May 2–32,400 ±2% 37.2 0.2 4 12 3 37 0.3 1 6
StratPOLLSApr. 27–May 2 1,500 37.8 0.2 2.7 13.1 3.5 40.1 0.2 1.2
The Center[24] Apr. 26–May 2 2,400 ±2.8% 25.0 29.0 34.0
Manila Standard Today[25] Apr. 25–27 2,500 ±2% 28 2 20 3 38 9
Pulse AsiaApr. 23–25 1,800 ±2% 28 0.05 3 20 3 37 0.03 1 9
Manila Standard Today[26] Apr. 18–20 2,500 ±2% 22 3 23 2 41 9
SWS[27] Apr. 16–19 2,400 ±2% 25 0.3 3 24 2 39 0.4 1 5
Pulse Asia[28] Mar. 21–28 3,000 ±2% 19 0.1 3 23 2 43 0.5 1 9
SWS[29] Mar. 19–22 2,100 ±2.2% 21 0.4 3 25 3 42 0.3 1 5
SWSFeb. 24–28 2,100 ±2.2% 17 0.4 3 28 2 45 1 0.4 3
Pulse AsiaFeb. 21–25 1,800 ±2% 15 0.1 4 27 2 43 1 1 7
Pulse AsiaJan. 22–26 1,800 ±2% 13 0.07 2 28 2 47 0.2 1 7
SWSJan. 21–24 2,100 ±2% 16 0.2 2 28 2 49 0.3 0.4 2
StratPOLLSJan. 16–22 2,400 ±2.2% 11 2 7 25 5 47 1 1
2009
SWSDec. 27–28 2,100 ±2.2% 14.0 0.04 3.0 31.0 2.0 47.0 0.3 0.2 2.4
Pulse AsiaDec. 8–10 1,800 ±2% 14 2 37 2 39 1 4
SWSDec. 5–10 2,100 ±2.2% 10.2 0.0 1.8 32.0 2.643.3 0.3 0.1 9.7
The CenterDec. 2–6 1,200 ±2.8% 16.0 8.0 28.0 3.0 32.0 0.25 0.37

Notes:

  1. News: Only 0.4% separates the TV5-SWS Exit Poll from the final official tally . 2010-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100707041314/http://www.sws.org.ph/pr20100608.htm . 2010-07-07 . dead .
  2. News: Aquino pads poll lead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100521091558/http://www.bworld.com.ph/main/content.php?id=10588 . dead . 2010-05-21 .
  3. Web site: StratPOLLs: Aquino piles up bigger lead . 2010-05-05 . PhilippineElection2010.Blogspot.com . 2010-07-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708060416/http://philippinelection2010.blogspot.com/2010/05/stratpolls-aquino-piles-up-bigger-lead.html . 2011-07-08 .
  4. Web site: Pre-Election Survey . 2010-05-07 . 2010-05-07 . gmanews.tv . People's Journal . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120310094320/http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/component/content/article/43-headlines/8909-villar-ties-aquino.html . 2012-03-10 .
  5. News: Estrada overtakes Villar, negative attacks take toll .
  6. News: Erap catches up with Villar in Pulse Asia's latest survey . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100616214548/http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?ID=716 . 2010-06-16 .
  7. News: Villar continues to slip as Estrada nibbles at margin .
  8. News: Noynoy leads by double digits over Villar in new SWS survey .
  9. News: Aquino opens up lead versus Villar . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221518/http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=8176 . dead . 2015-09-23 . 2010-03-29 . 2010-03-30 . bworldonline.com .
  10. Web site: Pre-Election Survey . 2010-03-22 . 2010-03-24 . GMANews.tv . Yahoo! News Philippines . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100329040126/http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20100322/tph-villar-overtakes-noynoy-in-the-cente-d6cd5cf_1.html . 2010-03-29 .
  11. News: BusinessWorld-SWS February 24–28, 2010 Pre-Election Survey . 2010-03-11 . 2010-03-20 . sws.org.ph.
  12. News: Pulse Asia's February 2010 Pre-election Survey for National Elective Positions . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100616215630/http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?id=710 . 2010-06-16 .
  13. Web site: The Center Pulso ng Pilipino Pre-Poll Survey . 2010-03-21 . 2013-03-25 . The Center .
  14. News: Noynoy regains lead over Villar in new survey .
  15. News: Pulse Asia's January 2010 Pre-election Survey for National Elective Positions . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100616215653/http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?id=703 . 2010-06-16 .
  16. News: Villar gains ground versus Aquino . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221515/http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=5522&admin=1 . dead . 2015-09-23 . 2010-02-01 . 2010-02-01 . bworldonline.com .
  17. News: Teodoro in double digits but Aquino still leads—poll . 2010-02-02 . 2010-02-02 . inquirer.net . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100205115927/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100202-250920/Teodoro-in-double-digits-but-Aquino-still-leadspoll . 2010-02-05 .
  18. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=539259&publicationSubCategoryId=63|SWS: Noynoy still leads, but Villar closing in
  19. News: Pulse Asia's December 2009 Pre-election Survey . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100616215456/http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?id=702 . 2010-06-16 .
  20. 1% picked "others" while 4% picked none/refused/undecided.
  21. News: BusinessWorld-SWS December 5–10, 2009 Pre-Election Survey . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100707045922/http://www.sws.org.ph/pr091222.htm . 2010-07-07 .
  22. Web site: Noynoy changes tack as ratings start to plunge . 2010-04-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130728163844/http://philpolitics.com/press-releases/noynoy-changes-tack-as-ratings-start-to-plunge/ . 2013-07-28 . dead .
  23. News: Businessworld: Down to the wire VP race as Binay, Roxas share lead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100521091558/http://www.bworld.com.ph/main/content.php?id=10588. dead. 2010-05-21. 2010-05-07. 2010-05-07. bworld.com.ph.
  24. Web site: Just remember. philstar.com.
  25. News: Binay pulls away from Legarda, has Roxas in sight . 2010-05-03 . 2010-05-03 . manilastandardtoday.com.
  26. ">News: Binay statistically tied with Legarda in new poll . 2010-04-26 . 2010-04-26 . manilastandardtoday.com.
  27. ">News: QTV: Noynoy has double-digit lead in new SWS survey. 2010-04-26 . 2010-04-26 . gmanews.tv.
  28. News: Pulse Asia's Ulat ng Bayan March 2010 Survey for National Elective Positions . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100707181215/http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?id=712 . 2010-07-07 .
  29. News: Roxas maintains lead in VP race . 2010-03-29 . 2010-03-30 . bworldonline.com.

Pre-filing

The following are survey results before the deadline of filing of certificates of candidacy.

Note: Figures assigned with "–" refers that the person either wasn't included among the choices or failed to crack the top positions in the poll.

Pulse Asia

Pulse Asia

Of the people on this list, whom would you vote for as President of the Philippines if the elections were held today and they were presidential candidates?

+Polling firmFieldwork dateSample sizeMoEDe Castro
Jo. Estrada
Legarda
Escudero
Roxas
Lacson
Villar
Fernando
Binay
Villanueva
Gordon
Teodoro
Puno
OthersNo answer / refused to answer / undecided
Pulse Asia[30] May 4–17, 2009±3%1815717134140.340.41114
Pulse Asia[31] Oct 14–27, 2008±3%181713156717111
Pulse Asia[32] July 1–14, 2008±3%221614148512120.2
Pulse Asia[33] Feb 2–Mar 8, 2008±3%21.517.51310.59.99.31.41.20.70.36.8
Notes:
  • Sample: 1,200, with 300 each for Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
  • Margin of error: ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for area percentages

Social Weather Stations

Social Weather Stations

Under the present Constitution, the term of Pres. Arroyo is only up to the year 2010, and there will be an election for President in May 2010. Who in your opinion are the good leaders who should succeed President Arroyo as President?

Person Sep '07[34] Dec '07 Mar '08 Jun '08 Nov '08[35] Dec '08[36] Mar '09[37] Jun '09[38] Sep '09[39]
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 60%
1% 3% -- -- -- -- -- -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- 1% 4% 12%
25% 30% 35% 31% 29% 31% 27% 19% 8%
5% 9% 14% 11% 13% 11% 13% 25% 18%
13% 15% 19% 14% 16% 19% 23% 20% 15%
1% 2% -- -- 1% -- 1% -- --
5% 9% 14% 11% 13% 11% 13% -- 1%
-- -- -- -- -- -- 1% 4% 9%
18% 13% 12% 16% 17% 14% 14% 7% 2%
44% 23% 30% 26% 26% 28% 25% 15% 5%
3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- 1% -- --
9% 20% 16% 13% 13% 10% 15% 20% 12%
3% 4% -- -- 1% 1% 4% 13% 17%
4% 3% -- -- 1% 1% -- -- --
18% 27% 17% 25% 28% 27% 26% 33% 37%
Don't know 12% 12% 11% 15% 9% 7% 13% 7% 6%
Not sure/None 6% 5% 5% 8% 9% 12% 7% 18% 4%
Notes:[40] [41]
  • Participants were allowed to choose up to three persons, hence the numbers would exceed 100%.
  • Responses below 2% were excluded.
  • Sample: 1,200, with 300 each for Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
  • Margin of error: ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for area percentages[42]

Controversy

With the various surveys showing a two-horse race between Noynoy Aquino and Manny Villar, other candidates had expressed doubts on the accuracy of the surveys. Presidential candidate Richard Gordon filed a temporary restraining order before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, to stop Pulse Asia and SWS from releasing results of pre-election surveys. Gordon said that the research groups used false methodologies and that the 2 survey companies are "stealing the people's minds" and preventing voters from carefully choosing their preferred candidates, particularly those running for president."[43]