SINCE when has the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the information arm of the government, become a polling firm?
Late last month, the PIA embarked on a survey research involving the controversial online sabong international, or online betting on live cockfighting matches, for “policymaking purposes.” The survey ended last week.
According to a news report, Ramon Lee Cualoping 3rd, the PIA director general, required the agency’s regional offices to conduct a quick response survey on stakeholders’ experience and views on international sabong online. Justifying his action, Cualoping said it was part of the agency’s research support for policy-making within the executive branch, hence “all regional offices are hereby directed to conduct data gathering … on it.”