Lakas-CMD bets lead congressional race in Albay- SWS polls (2025)

MANILA, Philippines — Lakas-CMD candidates vying for congressional seats in Albay province are leading the race as of April, according to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Results of the survey, which was posted on SWS’ website, showed that incumbent Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, Kito Co, and Adrian Salceda are the leading candidates for the first, second, and third legislative districts of Albay, respectively.

Bongalon, Co, and Salceda all belong to Lakas-CMD.

For the first district, Bongalon now leads Tabaco Mayor Krisel Lagman, getting 44 percent of the respondents’ votes in the survey from March 29 to April 5. Lagman, who is running under the Liberal Party, on the other hand, got 41 percent of the votes.

This is a reversal of Lagman’s lead in March, where she got 38 percent of the votes compared to Bongalon’s 36 percent.

In the race for the second district, Co now has 49 percent of the votes while PDP-Laban’s Caloy Loria has 27 percent. Salceda, meanwhile, has 42 percent for the third district race, while his closest opponent, incumbent Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Cabredo, has 30 percent.

“The SWS March 29–April 5, 2025 Survey in the province of Albay was commissioned by Mr. Rupert Paul Manhit. It contained questions on voting preferences for Congress Representatives of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Districts of the Province of Albay for the 2025 elections,” SWS said in its report.

“The survey was conducted […] using face-to-face interviews of 3,370 registered voters (18 years old and above) in the province of Albay, with 1,065 in District 1, 1,110 in District 2, and 1,195 in District 3. This gives sampling error margins of ±1.7% for Total Albay Province, ±3.0% for District 1, ±2.9% for District 2, and ±2.8% District 3,” it added.

The Lakas team in Albay, meanwhile, believes the candidates’ combined experience in public service bolsters their chances in the 2025 midterm elections.

“As the political race intensifies, the Lakas candidates have solidified their positions, gaining significant voter support in all three Albay congressional districts. Their experience in public service, advocacy for community development, and strong leadership are central to their ongoing campaigns as Albay residents prepare for the upcoming elections,” the team said.

“Albay plays a significant role in national governance due to its pioneering efforts in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation, as well as its economic contributions to the Philippines. A significant agricultural producer, with major crops including coconut, corn, and rice, the province contributes to the national food supply,” the party added.

In the province’s gubernatorial race, Lakas-CMD candidates — incumbent Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda who is trying to return as governor, and Diday Co who is seeking the vice gubernatorial post — are also leading according to SWS’ survey.

According to SWS, the survey conducted from March 29 to April 5 showed that in the battle of former Albay governors, Salceda still leads against former Legazpi City mayor Noel Rosal, getting 44 percent of votes against Rosal’s 32 percent.

READ: Salceda-Co tandem widens lead in Albay gubernatorial race

Salceda’s 44 percent share of votes is higher than the previous 38 percent recorded in March 2025. Rosal’s share also grew, up from 29 percent in March, but Salceda’s lead grew from nine percentage points to twelve percentage points.

Getting 44 percent of votes translates to around 418,000 votes for Salceda, while Rosal, his closest opponent, will have around 302,000 votes if elections were held during the polling period.

Co, meanwhil,e also leads Rosal’s running-mate, former journalist and broadcaster Jun Alegre, by 37 percent and 18 percent, respectively.