Belmonte, Sotto, Moreno top performing mayors – poll

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte emerged as the top performing local chief executive in Metro Manila, according to a non-commissioned, independent survey released on Wednesday.

Belmonte received the highest approval rating of 86 percent followed by Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto with 83 percent and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno with 80 percent.

The poll was conducted from Feb. 20 to 28 by the RP Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMDinc).

The approval ratings of Belmonte and Sotto increased by a point compared to a similar survey last December. Moreno’s score rose by three points.

Citing comments from the respondents, Paul Martinez of RPMDinc said Belmonte emerged as the top performer based on innovations in addressing public concerns during the pandemic, social and welfare services and ease in doing business and transactions at city hall.

Sotto was lauded for his core agenda in eradicating corruption. Manila constituents approved Moreno’s initiative for going around the city even at nighttime to address problems.

Rounding up the top five were Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian (76 percent, up from 75 percent) and Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro (75 percent, up from 72 percent).

They were followed by Mayors Lino Cayetano of Taguig (69 percent, up from 67 percent), Abby Binay of Makati (68 percent, up from 64 percent), Toby Tiangco of Navotas (65 percent, down from 69 percent), Carmelita Abalos of Mandaluyong (58 percent, up from 55 percent), Francis Zamora of San Juan (55 percent, up from 53 percent) and Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa (51 percent, up from 49 percent).

Six chief executives in Metro Manila got approval ratings of below 50 percent: Oscar Malapitan of Caloocan (48 percent, up from 47 percent), Ike Ponce of Pateros (47 percent, up from 45 percent), Edwin Olivarez of Parañaque (44 percent, down from 45 percent), Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas (37 percent, up from 34 percent), Antolin Oreta of Malabon (35 percent, up from 31 percent) and Imelda Calixto Rubiano of Pasay (33 percent, up from 30 percent).

The survey asked a total of 3,500 respondents, randomly selected and divided proportionally per local government unit based on official population data. It had an error margin of +/- three percent.

Reelection

With 80 percent support, Sotto obtained the highest support among his constituents when asked if they would vote for him again in the 2022 elections.

Sotto was followed by Belmonte and Moreno at 76 percent and 75 percent, respectively.

They were followed by Teodoro (67 percent), Cayetano (60 percent), Binay (62 percent), Tiangco (58 percent), Abalos (53 percent), Zamora (45 percent), Ponce (39 percent), Aguilar (33 percent) and Rubiano (25 percent).

Gatchalian, who is on his last term, received 70 percent support from the respondents should he decide to run for reelection.

Other Metro Manila mayors obtained less than 50 percent support from their constituents should they run for another post: Malapitan (42 percent), Fresnedi (40 percent), Olivarez (38 percent) and Oreta (27 percent).