Top Metro Manila mayors, solons earn high marks in independent evaluation

(FILE PHOTO) Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — The RP Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) recently concluded its comprehensive evaluation of the job performance of all the mayors and district representatives in Metro Manila following their initial year in office.

The independent and non-commissioned survey aimed to identify the top-performing public officials.

According to the survey results, Quezon City’s Joy Belmonte has retained her position as the top-performing mayor in the National Capital Region (NCR), boasting an impressive job approval rating of 95.7% and a trust rating of 97.2%.

READ: Belmonte top mayor in Metro Manila poll

Following closely, and statistically tied for second place, are Jeannie Sandoval of Malabon City with approval and trust ratings of 92.5% and 94.6% respectively, Dale “Along” Malapitan of Caloocan City with 92.3% approval and 93.7% trust, John Rey Tiangco of Navotas City with 92.1% approval and 93.5% trust, and Emi Calixto of Pasay City with 91.8% approval and 92.7% trust.

Sharing the third position in the ranking are Mayors Vico Sotto of Pasig City and Eric Olivarez of Parañaque City, both achieving impressive approval and trust ratings of 88.5% and 91.8% for Sotto, and 87.6% and 88.4% for Olivarez, respectively. Meanwhile, Abby Binay of Makati City, with an approval rating of 85.3% and a trust rating of 87.2%, and Benjamin Abalos Sr. of Mandaluyong City, with an approval rating of 85.1% and a trust rating of 86.9%, secured the fourth position.

The survey further revealed that among the top-performing District Representatives, Toby Tiangco of Navotas stood out with an outstanding 93.8% approval rating and an impressive 95.1% trust rating. Equally commendable and tied for the first position were Camille Villar of Las Piñas with 93.6% approval and 94.6% trust, Stella Quimbo of Marikina with 93.5% approval and 95.8% trust, Marivic Co-Pilar of Quezon City with 93.2% approval and 94.7% trust, and Oca Malapitan of Caloocan who achieved a 93.1% approval and a 95.2% trust rating.

Lawmakers Marvin Rillo of Quezon City, with an approval rating of 89.9% and a trust rating of 90.5%, along with Benny Abante of Manila, who received an approval rating of 89.65% and a trust rating of 91.88%, Ralph Tulfo of Quezon City, with 89.3% approval and 90.2% trust, and Roman Romulo of Pasig, and Antonio Calixto of Pasay, who scored an approval rating of 88.7% and a trust rating of 89.4%, have all firmly secured their positions, statistically tying for the second spot.

Legislators Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II of Mandaluyong, with an approval rating of 87.5% and a trust rating of 89.9%, are tied in the third rank alongside Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas of Quezon City, with 87.3% approval and 88.5% trust, Franz Pumaren of Quezon City with 87.2% approval and 88.3% trust, Dean Assistio of Caloocan with 87.1% approval and 88.8% trust, and Ysabel Zamora of San Juan, who scored an approval rating of 86.7% and a trust rating of 89.5%.

Securing the fourth rank is Gus Tambunting of Parañaque, with 85.1% approval and 87.9% trust, and Arjo Atayde of Quezon City, with an approval rating of 84.8% and a trust rating of 86.7%. In the fifth rank is Edward Maceda of Manila, with an approval rating of 83.4% and a trust rating of 86.6%, and Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa, who received an approval rating of 82.7% and a trust rating of 85.4%.

Dr. Paul Martinez of RPMD emphasizes that regular performance appraisals of mayors and members of the House of Representatives in the Philippines are fundamental for cultivating accountability, transparency, and effective governance.

The independent evaluation is part of the national “RPMD’s Boses ng Bayan” poll conducted from June 25 to July 5, 2023, involving 10,000 registered voters across the cities and regions.