Treñas named ‘top performing mayor’ in Region 6

ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas was recognized anew by a non- governmental organization as the “top performing mayor” among the chief executives in Western Visayas.

The RP- Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) ranked Treñas in the first spot based on its “Boses ng Bayan” survey conducted from Dec. 27, 2023 to Jan. 5, 2024.

Treñas received an impressive performance rating of 91.8 percent, followed by Mayor Neil Lizares of Talisay City in Negros Occidental who got a 91.2 percent performance rating.

Following closely were Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. of Escalante City and Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez of Bacolod City, who achieved ratings of 85.7 percent and 87.3 percent, respectively. Mayor J avi Benitez of Victorias City also delivered a commendable performance with an 85.1 percent.

The other city mayors who excelled include Mayor Raymund Tongson of Himamaylan City with 83.7 percent, Mayor Maria Lizares of Sipalay City with 82.4 percent, Mayor Ronnie Dadivas of Roxas City with 81.3 percent, and Mayor Benjie Miranda of Kabankalan City with an 80.1 percent satisfaction rating.

The survey further highlighted positively rated city mayors including Mayor Stephen Palmares of Passi City ( 78.6 percent), Mayor Salvador Escalante of Cadiz City ( 76.2 percent), Mayor Rene Gustilo of San Carlos City ( 74.5 percent), Mayor Rex Jalando-on of La Carlota City ( 72.3 percent), Mayor Joedith Gallego of Silay City (70.3 percent), Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. of Sagay City (68.5 percent), and Mayor Nicholas Yulo of Bago City ( 67.9 percent).

RPMD’s “Boses ng Bayan” surveyed 10,000 adult participants nationwide from various districts and cities in the Philippines.

It stressed the survey was carefully planned to represent the views of the 67.75 million registered voters in the Philippines. Their performance ratings reflect the mayors’ strong leadership and public approval.

“This evaluation is instrumental in promoting accountability and enhancing the effectiveness of local governance by providing a quantitative analysis of mayoral performance through the lens of constituent feedback,” said RPMD.

It acknowledged outstanding public service while encouraging a culture of ongoing improvement and responsiveness to community needs.

Dr. Paul Martinez, the global affairs analyst and executive director of RPMD, stressed the importance of the annual “Boses ng Bayan” national survey, noting that scores above 50 percent indicate satisfactory performance.

“Higher ratings reflect significant constituent approval and gratitude for the mayors’ contributions to their communities,” said Martinez.

By employing a strategic random sampling method, RPMD noted the survey mirrored the demographic distribution of the official voter statistics, enhancing the accuracy and relevance of its findings.

This meticulous approach resulted in a margin of error of +/1% and a confidence level of 95%, underscoring the precision and reliability of the survey outcomes.

“These insights provide a deep understanding of regional public opinion, underscoring the substantial influence and impact city mayors have within their communities,” the group said.

It added: “The “Boses ng Bayan” survey, by capturing t he electorate’s voice and sentiment, not only facilitates a c c o u n t a b i l i t y b u t a l s o celebrates the dedicated service and leadership of local officials, highlighting t he essential role of regular performance assessments i n cultivating a governance structure that is responsive and attuned to the community’s needs and aspirations.”/