Only 35% of registered voters have full senatorial slate – Pulse Asia

MANILA, Philippines – Only a little over a third of registered voters have a full senatorial slate for the May 2016 elections, polling firm Pulse Asia said on Friday, April 1.

“As of March 2016, only 35% of Filipinos report having a complete senatorial slate for the coming elections. Figures range from 33% in the rest of Luzon and the Visayas to 43% in Metro Manila in the different geographic areas. Virtually the same figures are recorded in the various socio-economic classes (33% to 35%),” Pulse Asia said.

Survey field work was conducted from March 15-20, 2016, using face-to-face interviews with 4,000 registered voters 18 years old and above, with biometrics. Commissioned by ABS-CBN Corporation, the poll has a ±1.5% error margin at the 95% confidence level.

With weeks to go before the elections, registered voters are naming a mean of 7 and a median of 8 of their preferred senatorial candidates, out of a maximum of 12.

Sharing the top spot in the senatorial race are Senator Vicente Sotto III (53.6%) and Senate President Franklin Drilon (51%), both of whom ranked 1^st to 2^nd places. Two former senators are in 3^rd and 4^th places – Francis Pangilinan (47.6%) and Panfilo Lacson (45.2%).

Two other former senators are probable senatorial winners – Juan Miguel Zubiri (40%, 5^th place) and Richard Gordon (36%, 6^th to 11^th places).

Five other candidates share 6^th to 12^th places, according to Pulse Asia:

• Sarangani Representative Emmanuel Pacquiao (35.7%)
• Former Akbayan Party List Representative Risa Hontiveros (34.3%)
• Senator Sergio Osmeña III (34.2%)
• Former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) director general Emmanuel Villanueva (34%)
• Former justice secretary Leila de Lima (33.8%)

Incumbent Senator Ralph Recto rounds up the list of probable winners in the coming May polls, with 32.8%, 7^th to 12^th places.

Metro Manila fill-up rates

Across goegraphic areas, mean figures vary from 7 in the rest of Luzon to 9 in Metro Manila. Median figures range from 8 in the rest of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, to 10 in Metro Manila. Metro Manila appears to have a higher fill-up rate compared to the rest of the country, insofar as choices for senator are concerned.

Across socio-economic classes, media figures vary from 7 in Class E to 8 in Classes ABC and D. Median figures range from 8 in Classes D and E to 9 in Class ABC.

Of the 50 personalities eyeing a senatorial seat, 21 have a “statistical chance of making it to the winners’ circle.” Of the probable winners, almost all are either former or incumbent members of Congress. Five are from the ruling Liberal Party, 4 are independents, or belong to the Akbayan Party List Group, Nationalist People’s Coalition, and United Nationalist Alliance.

Only 5.6% of Filipino registered voters do not have any preferred senatorial candidates. – Rappler.com