NIR’s Top-Rated Governors and Congressmen in Trust and Performance’ – RPMD

The newly established Negros Island Region (NIR) has identified its highest-rated provincial leaders, with Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagabarria of Negros Oriental, Governor Uegenio Jose “Bong” Lacson of Negros Occidental, and Governor Jake Vincent “Jekjek” Villa of Siquijor emerging as the region’s top governors in the latest RPMD Foundation Inc. “Boses ng Bayan” Index of Governance (IOG) Survey.

Conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026, the non-commissioned and independent survey marks the first major governance and leadership assessment following the establishment of the Negros Island Region, making it the region’s earliest benchmark of public sentiment toward provincial leadership. The study was part of RPMD Foundation Inc.’s nationwide “Boses ng Bayan” initiative, which simultaneously assessed provincial governors, city mayors, and district representatives nationwide.

A total of 5,000 respondents were randomly selected and personally interviewed across various socio-economic classes throughout Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor. Using proportional representation and face-to-face interviews, the survey carries a ±1% margin of error at a 95% confidence level, making it one of the most comprehensive regional public opinion assessments conducted in the country.

The survey was conducted as an independent and non-commissioned public service initiative, with no government office, political organization, candidate, or private interest group funding or directing the study. According to RPMD Foundation Inc., the objective is to provide citizens and public officials with an impartial measure of public trust, leadership effectiveness, and governance performance. The survey utilized RPMD Foundation Inc.’s Index of Governance (IOG), the organization’s principal measurement tool for evaluating public leadership and governance effectiveness. The IOG is derived from two equally weighted indicators: Trust Ratings and Performance Ratings, providing a comprehensive assessment of how constituents view their elected officials.

Trust Ratings measure public confidence in a governor’s integrity, transparency, accountability, credibility, leadership, and commitment to public welfare. Performance Ratings assess governance effectiveness across service delivery, fiscal management, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, economic growth initiatives, public safety, environmental stewardship, disaster preparedness, responsiveness, and overall administrative performance.

For provincial Governors, respondents assessed leadership effectiveness, fiscal responsibility, social service delivery, infrastructure development, economic management, peace and order, crisis response capability, citizen engagement, innovation, transparency, accountability, environmental governance, and overall satisfaction with provincial leadership.

According to RPMD, the Index of Governance serves as the survey’s overall rating, combining trust and performance into a single score that reflects the public’s assessment of a governor’s effectiveness. The organization emphasized that the IOG is designed to measure governance outcomes rather than political popularity.

“This is not a popularity survey. We are not measuring name recall, celebrity status, or political noise. We are measuring results. The Index of Governance reflects how people assess both trust and performance. When public officials earn high marks in both areas, it indicates effective leadership and responsive governance. Popularity may rise and fall, but trust earned through performance remains the strongest foundation of public confidence,” explained Dr. Paul Martinez, Executive Director of RPMD Foundation Inc. and Global Affairs and Political Analyst.

RPMD noted that the passing benchmark for the Index of Governance is 55 percent. Scores from 60 to 69.9 percent are classified as Strong, while ratings of 70 percent and above are considered Very Strong, reflecting exceptional levels of public trust and satisfaction. The higher the IOG score, the stronger the public’s assessment of a leader’s governance performance, effectiveness, and credibility.

Leading the rankings is Governor Chaco Sagabarria of Negros Oriental, who earned an impressive 78.1% Index of Governance (IOG), derived from a 77.8% Trust Rating and 78.5% Performance Rating. His results represent the highest overall score among all governors surveyed in the region, placing him at the forefront of public trust and leadership performance in the inaugural NIR assessment.

Ranking second is Governor Bong Lacson of Negros Occidental, who registered a 74.2% Index of Governance (IOG), derived from a 73.6% Trust Rating and 74.9% Performance Rating. The findings indicate sustained public confidence in his leadership and continued approval of provincial government programs and services.

Completing the Top Three is Governor Jekjek Villa of Siquijor, who posted a 71.7% Index of Governance (IOG), generated from a 71.3% Trust Rating and 72.1% Performance Rating. The results reflect favorable public evaluations of his administration’s responsiveness, effectiveness, and commitment to serving the people of Siquijor.

All three governors surpassed RPMD’s threshold for the Very Strong Tier, significantly exceeding the 55-percent passing benchmark. Their ratings suggest that constituents across the Negros Island Region generally view their provincial governments as effective, responsive, and deserving public trust.

Dr. Martinez emphasized that the findings carry significance beyond public perception alone.

“High Index of Governance scores are more than statistical achievements. They represent public validation of leadership. Citizens are essentially saying that their governors are meeting expectations, delivering services, and producing results. These ratings strengthen public confidence, reinforce political credibility, and provide leaders with a stronger mandate to continue serving their constituents.”

Martinez further noted that while the survey is not intended to measure electoral preference, trust and performance ratings often serve as important indicators of long-term political strength.

“History has shown that voters increasingly reward leaders who demonstrate competence, responsiveness, and effective public service. While this survey is not an election polls, consistently strong Trust, Performance, and Index of Governance ratings often reflect the type of leadership that resonates most with constituents.”

RPMD congratulated Governors Chaco Sagabarria, Bong Lacson, and Jekjek Villa for achieving Very Strong Index of Governance ratings and for earning the confidence of their constituents. The organization described the results as evidence that effective leadership, responsive governance, and sustained public service continue to be recognized and rewarded by the people.

As the first regional assessment conducted following the establishment of the Negros Island Region, the survey provides an important baseline for measuring public trust, leadership effectiveness, and institutional performance in the years ahead. More importantly, it reinforces a simple but enduring principle of public service: while popularity may fluctuate, trust earned through performance remains the most powerful measure of effective leadership, and the Index of Governance serves as its clearest expression.

Congressmen / Women

‘NIR’s Most Trusted, Best-Performing Representatives in Governance Poll’ The first comprehensive congressional governance assessment conducted since the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) has identified the region’s most trusted and best-performing representatives, with lawmakers from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor earning strong public approval ratings in the latest RPMD Foundation Inc. “Boses ng Bayan” IOG survey.

Conducted from April 1–8, 2026, the survey measured public trust and governance performance among members of the House of Representatives across the newly established region. According to RPMD Foundation, Inc. Executive Director and Global Affairs and Political Analyst Dr. Paul Martinez, the findings provide the first regional benchmark for evaluating how effectively lawmakers represent their constituents and deliver public service under the new NIR framework.

Leading the entire region were two lawmakers who shared the top spot. Bacolod City Representative Albee Benitez emerged as one of NIR’s highest-rated lawmakers with an 84.9% IOG, driven by 84.6% trust and 85.3% performance ratings. Tied with him was Negros Oriental 2nd District Representative Ma. Isabel “Maisa” Sagabarria, who posted an 84.5% IOG, was supported by 84.2% trust and 84.9% performance ratings.

Occupying the second tier were Negros Occidental 6th District Representative Mercedez Alvarez with an 83.1% IOG (82.5% trust, 83.7% performance) and Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez with an 82.6% IOG (82.4% trust, 82.9% performance). Both legislators registered strong voter confidence and broad approval across their respective districts.

Rounding out the upper rankings was Negros Occidental 2nd District Representative Alfredo Marañon III, who secured an 80.9% IOG (80.3% trust, 81.6% performance), placing him among the region’s top-performing lawmakers. Meanwhile, Negros Occidental 4th District Representative Jeffrey Ferrer earned a 78.4% IOG, supported by 78.1% trust and 78.7% performance ratings.

Siquijor Lone District Representative Zaldy Villa registered a strong 76.8% IOG, supported by 76.5% trust and 77.2% performance ratings, demonstrating solid public confidence among Siquijor voters. He was followed by Negros Occidental 1st District Representative Jules Ledesma, who posted a 72.8% IOG, including 72.5% trust and 73.1% performance ratings, maintaining favorable public assessments in his district.

Completing the rankings were Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Janice Degamo with a 68.0% IOG (67.4% trust, 68.6% performance), Negros Occidental 5th District Representative Dino Yulo with a 66.0% IOG (65.3% trust, 66.7% performance), and Negros Oriental 1st District Representative Emmanuel Iway, who posted a 63.2% IOG (62.9% trust, 63.5% performance). While their ratings remained above the RPMD passing benchmark, the results indicate opportunities to further strengthen constituent engagement and governance performance.

Dr. Martinez noted that the results provide an important baseline for measuring governance performance in the newly established Negros Island Region. As NIR continues to strengthen its regional identity and development agenda, the survey offers policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens an independent gauge of how effectively elected leaders represent their constituents, perform their legislative duties, and respond to the needs of the communities they serve.

Dr. Martinez emphasized that the RPMD Foundation Inc. “Boses ng Bayan” survey is fundamentally different from traditional popularity polls. Unlike surveys that merely measure name recall, familiarity, or political visibility, RPMD’s governance assessment focuses on measurable indicators of public service and leadership effectiveness.

“Respective constituents are not simply being asked who they know or who they like. Respondents assess their representatives based on three core performance pillars: district representation, legislative performance, and constituent service. These are then measured alongside public trust, allowing us to evaluate not just popularity, but actual governance effectiveness,” Dr. Martinez explained.

Dr. Martinez further explained that the survey’s performance assessment was anchored in these three key governance pillars. District representation measures how effectively representatives advocate for the interests and needs of their districts. Legislative performance evaluates their effectiveness in lawmaking, policy advocacy, and participation in legislative processes, while constituent service assesses accessibility, responsiveness, and the quality of assistance provided to the public. Together with public trust ratings, these indicators form the basis of RPMD’s IOG, providing a more objective and comprehensive assessment of governance than conventional popularity surveys explained.

He further noted that all surveyed representatives surpassed RPMD’s 55% passing benchmark, reflecting generally favorable public assessments across the region. However, he stressed that governance surveys should not merely be viewed through a pass-or-fail lens.

“The higher the trust and performance ratings, the stronger the public mandate. These numbers are not only governance indicators but increasingly serve as political barometers reflecting voter confidence in elected leaders,” he said.

Dr. Martinez likewise emphasized that the survey was independent and non-commissioned, conducted solely as part of RPMD Foundation Inc.’s continuing public service commitment to promote accountability, transparency, and good governance. He explained that the “Boses ng Bayan” Negros Island Region Survey forms part of RPMD’s nationwide initiative to regularly measure public sentiment and evaluate how elected officials are performing in the eyes of their constituents.

“This is not a commissioned study nor a popularity contest. It is a governance assessment designed to capture the current mood, expectations, and satisfaction levels of the people toward their elected representatives. Through these findings, both leaders and citizens gain valuable insights into how public service is being delivered on the ground,” Dr. Martinez said.

The survey was conducted from April 1–8, 2026, utilizing 5,000 randomly selected respondents across all congressional districts of the Negros Island Region, including Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bacolod City, and Siquijor, through proportional stratified sampling. The study carries a ±1% margin of error at a 95% confidence level, making it one of the most comprehensive governance assessments ever conducted in the region.

“With 5,000 scientific interviews conducted across the Negros Island Region, we are able to obtain a highly reliable snapshot of the current sentiment of voters. These results provide an important benchmark not only for governance performance but also for understanding the evolving expectations of the people toward their leaders. The survey forms part of RPMD’s nationwide ‘Boses ng Bayan’ initiative to independently measure public sentiment and strengthen accountability in public service,” Dr. Martinez concluded.

He likewise extended his congratulations to all lawmakers who emerged among the Most Trusted and Best-Performing Representatives of the Negros Island Region, noting that the results underscore the growing importance of effective representation, legislative performance, constituent service, and public trust in modern governance. He further underscored that this RPMD Foundation Inc. “Boses ng Bayan” survey represents the first comprehensive governance assessment of congressional representatives conducted since the creation of the Negros Island Region, establishing a historic baseline for measuring trust, performance, accountability, and public confidence in the region’s elected leaders.*