Privacy Policy

The ethical clearance granted by the Research Ethics Committee of Rogationist College certifies that the research entitled “MAKAMASA: Government-Sourced Digital Political Profiling System for Informed Voting in Alfonso, Cavite” complies with established ethical standards governing academic research involving human participants.

Ethical clearance serves as an institutional authorization ensuring that the study protects participants’ dignity, safety, privacy, and overall welfare throughout the research process.

The approval indicates that the research design prioritizes the fundamental rights of participants, including voluntary participation, autonomy, confidentiality, and protection from harm.

Respondents who will participate in the evaluation of the MAKAMASA website are fully informed about the purpose, procedures, and scope of the study through an informed consent process.

Participants are granted the right to refuse participation or withdraw at any stage without facing any academic, social, or personal consequences.

Additionally, the study ensures that no participant will be subjected to psychological, social, or political risks that may compromise their well-being.

Given that the research focuses on political information systems, the researchers commit to presenting materials in a neutral and non-coercive manner to prevent bias or political influence.

The ethical review confirms that the research minimizes potential risks while maximizing its intended benefits.

The MAKAMASA platform aims to promote civic literacy and informed voting through verified government-sourced information. The study therefore contributes to public awareness and responsible electoral participation, which is considered a social and educational benefit.

Possible risks, such as discomfort when answering political preference-related questions or concerns about data privacy, are mitigated through anonymity protocols and careful questionnaire design.

The researchers avoid collecting sensitive personal identifiers unless absolutely necessary and ensure that collected information is used strictly for academic purposes.

The researchers commit to safeguarding all collected data. Responses gathered through surveys, usability testing, and feedback mechanisms are treated with strict confidentiality.

Personal identifiers such as names, contact details, or identifiable political affiliations are either excluded or encoded to maintain anonymity.

All data collected through the MAKAMASA website evaluation are stored securely and accessed only by authorized research personnel.

The study complies with data privacy principles including proper data storage, restricted access, and responsible disposal of information after completion of the research.

The ethical clearance certificate formally authorizes the research team to conduct data gathering activities related to the approved methodology.

This includes administering surveys, conducting usability testing, gathering demographic profiles, and evaluating the credibility, neutrality, and accessibility of the MAKAMASA platform.

However, this authorization remains conditional upon strict adherence to the research protocol submitted to the Ethics Committee.

The researchers are required to follow the approved procedures, instruments, and participant selection methods as outlined in the research proposal.

Any modification in the research design, data collection tools, participant selection process, or implementation procedures without prior approval from the Ethics Committee automatically invalidates the clearance.

This policy ensures that the study maintains transparency, accountability, and consistency with ethical research standards.

Should revisions become necessary, the researchers are obligated to submit amendments for ethical review before implementation.

The certificate is valid for six (6) months from the date of issuance.

This validity period ensures that the research is conducted within a monitored timeframe and allows the Ethics Committee to reassess the study if necessary.

If the research extends beyond the validity period, the researchers must apply for renewal or extension of ethical clearance.

The issuance of the ethical clearance by the Research Ethics Committee signifies institutional accountability and endorsement that the study meets academic and ethical research standards.

The certification confirms that the MAKAMASA project aligns with responsible research practices, particularly in handling political information, participant data, and digital platform evaluation.