Poll: MMDA chief is most popular Cabinet member

He may draw intense criticism from various quarters for his no-nonsense traffic campaigns, but the popularity of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando remains in the pink.

According to a Pulse Asia survey, Fernando has emerged at the top among President Arroyo’s Cabinet members as the most popular and most loved by the public.

Pulse Asia, in its March 2005 "Ulat ng Bayan," said Fernando topped 10 other chiefs of government agencies with the highest approval rating of 52 percent in a random survey conducted from June 2004 to March 2005.

The same survey among 1,200 respondents showed that a sizeable 44 percent of Filipinos — mostly residents of Metro Manila — appreciate the many projects pushed by the MMDA chairman, including pink fences for traffic lanes, the "wet flag" campaign to keep pedestrians off the street, as well as new footbridges and bus bays. Only 17 percent remain critical of the agency, Pulse Asia reported.

The MMDA also got the highest approval rating of 44 percent, which is five percentage points higher than the average approval rating of all seven sub-Cabinet agencies included in the survey.

And although the MMDA is based in the National Capital Region, virtually every Filipino (98 percent) has heard or read something about the agency, its projects and its galvanizing chairman, who seems to brush off controversies like flies.

Elated by the survey, Fernando believes he would not have been as successful without the help and support of his co-workers in the agency, who he described as "diligent, supportive and loyal in pursuing our development goals."

"I am here first and foremost as a people’s advocate for efficient and responsive governance," the official said in a statement. "Despite those who feel constricted by our programs, I will still do the duty that I have taken an oath to do."

Among the outright critics of the MMDA chairman are Metro Mayors League president and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay. Neither local executive has welcomed MMDA projects in their respective cities, and have been vocal critics of the agency chairman.

But Fernando stresses he’s willing to seek the cooperation of his critics, especially the other mayors of Metro Manila, "because it would be a big leap to progress if we have all mayors united in one purpose."

When asked by The STAR if all this mass popularity means he will seek elective national office in 2010, Fernando maintained he would prefer to remain focused on his job, "but we can’t close our doors on that."