5 Metro mayors, LGUs cited for high approval rating amid COVID-19 pandemic

MANILA, Philippines – Five local executives and local government units (LGUs) were cited by a polling firm for having a high approval rating among their constituents in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

An online survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia, Inc. showed that the cities of Valenzuela, Pasig, Manila, Marikina, and Taguig and their respective Mayors — in that particular order — received the highest approval ratings from 1,000 Metro Manila residents.

This is the third edition of the NCR COVID-19 Online Panel Survey, which was done in helping with Kantar show.  According to the survey, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian got a 92 percent score, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto with 83 percent, followed by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno (76 percent), Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro (69 percent), and Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano (68 percent).

PUBLiCUS clarified that while they asked residents for their perception of their local officials, the names of the mayors were not written down.  This third edition covers the period of May 5 to May 8.

“The best case practices employed by these high-performing local chief executives and city governments should be studied and emulated by other LGUs and government institutions working to beat COVID-19,” PUBLiCUS Executive Director and spokesperson Aureli Sinsuat said in the results posted at their website.

“The survey also revealed that almost half of the respondents or 49.6 percent either approve or strongly approve of their respective cities’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  At least 26.8% disapprove or strongly disapprove of their LGUs’ programs, while 23.6% neither approve nor disapprove,” he added.

Sinsuat said that they noted a 5.9% increase in approval ratings and a 6.4% decrease in disapproval, in comparison to their previous survey which was taken from April 13 to 18.  He said that this may “suggest a significant increase in approval of NCR local government responses to COVID-19”.

The study’s sampling method was proportionally divided in terms of an area’s population, with most respondents coming from Quezon City (228), followed by Manila (138), Caloocan (123), Taguig (63), and Pasig (59).

Meanwhile, Malabon (53.57 percent), Quezon City (45.61 percent), municipality of Pateros (45 percent), Las Piñas (36.96 percent), and Muntinlupa (33.33 percent). got the highest disapproval rates.

As of now, Metro Manila remains under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which would transition over to a modified scheme after the May 15 deadline.

The Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 tracker website says that of the 11,618 cases nationwide, 7,464 are from the National Capital Region.  There are 5,315 active cases in the capital area, while 558 deaths and 1,591 recoveries have been recorded.

Nationwide, 772 of the 11,618 patients have succumbed to the disease, while 2,251 recovered.  All over the world, there are now over 4.264 million persons infected with the latest coronavirus strain, 291,972 of whom have died while 1.493 million have recovered.