8 party-list groups shine in mock polls

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are inclined to support incumbent party-lists based on the latest voter preference polls conducted by the OCTA Research group and Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The OCTA poll, conducted from Nov. 10 to 16, found that 13.38 percent of the respondents would support ACT-CIS if the elections were held during the survey period.

ACT-CIS topped the party-list race in 2022. Among its three representatives in the present Congress is House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo, who is leading polls for the 2025 senatorial elections.

Following ACT-CIS in the OCTA poll were Tingog (6.6 percent), Ako Bicol (5.34 percent), Senior Citizens (4.69 percent), Uswag Ilonggo (4.57 percent), 4Ps (3.43 percent), TUPAD (2.34 percent) and Akbayan (2.23 percent).

Except for TUPAD, all frontrunners have current representatives in Congress.

Meanwhile, obtaining less than two percent were Bayan Muna, which lost for the first time in 2022, followed by Agimat, AGAP, 1-Rider, Abang Lingkod, Kusug Tausug, 1-Pacman, Pamilyang Magsasaka, Abamin, Duterte Youth, Ako Bisaya and Bagong Pilipinas.

The rest obtained the support of less than one percent of the respondents.

Meanwhile, a commissioned SWS survey conducted from Dec. 12 to 28 found that 13.51 percent of the respondents supported 4Ps, which ranked fourth in the 2022 elections.

It was followed by ACT-CIS (5.63 percent), Senior Citizens (4.62 percent), Duterte Youth (4.14 percent), Ako Bicol (3.56 percent), Tingog (2.86 percent), TGP (2.48 percent) and Uswag Iloilo (2.2 percent).

The top eight in the SWS poll, which was commissioned by the Stratbase Group, are also incumbents.

Obtaining less than two percent but more than one percent of support were Murang Kuryente, 1-Pacman, FPJ Panday Bayanihan, Agimat, PBBM, Bayan Muna, Ako Bisaya, Kabataan, Buhay, ACT Teachers, AGAP, EduAksyon, Pamilyang Magsasaka, United Senior Citizens, 1-Rider, Gabriela, Batang Quiapo, Malasakit@Bayanihan and Abono.

The Commission on Elections earlier released the list of 156 party-list groups participating in the 2025 elections. Party-list group Wage Hike withdrew its bid earlier this month.

The OCTA survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent, while the SWS poll had 2,097 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.1 percent.