“Raising the bar: Uncovering city mayors’ performance in the Philippines”
THE RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) has recently concluded a rigorous, independent study to assess City Mayors’ performance across the Philippines. This comprehensive research initiative was meticulously constructed to scrutinize the efficacy of City Mayors against a broad spectrum of evaluative criteria. “The focal points of these criteria encompass seven vital categories: service provision, financial stewardship, economic progress, leadership and governance, environmental management, social services, and public engagement”, said Dr. Paul Martinez, Executive Director of RPMD
The groundbreaking “Boses ng Bayan” study, which included 145 City Mayors across the Philippines, furnished a comprehensive vista of leadership effectiveness within the archipelago. Ascending to the summit of this leadership pyramid was Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, who earned the distinguished recognition as the most accomplished City Mayor in the Philippines for the initial quarter, boasting an unmatched score of 94.35%.
Eric Singson of Candon (92.80%), Nacional Mercado of Maasin (90.26%), Art Robes of San Jose Del Monte (89.75%), Jonas Cortes of Mandaue (88.89%). Denver Chua of Cavite (88.85%), Indy Oaminal of Ozamis (88.78%), Samsam Gullas Jr. of Talisay (88.35%), Bambol Tolentino of Tagaytay (88.29%), and Ahong Chan of Lapu-Lapu (88.18%). Eric Africa of Lipa (88.13%), Benjamin Magalong of Baguio (87.82%), Jay Diaz of Ilagan (87.69%), Geraldine Rosal of Legaspi (87.55%), and Sheena Tan of Santiago (87.42%), each making significant contributions to the panorama of exemplary governance.
Further in the rankings, Albee Benitez of Bacolod (83.77%), Pat Evangelista of Kidapawan (83.57%), Bruce Matabalao of Cotabato (83.16%) Jerry Treñas of Iloilo (82.94%), Darel Uy of Dipolog (82.85%), Sitti Hataman of Isabela (82.34%), Baste Duterte of Davao (82.11%), Bullet Jalosjos of Dapitan (81.92%), Joe Relampagos of Panabo (81.83%), and Roxanne Pimentel of Tandag (80.10%) add their distinctive brushstrokes to the grand masterpiece that is Philippine leadership.
The extensive evaluation of City Mayors plays a crucial role by reinforcing a robust accountability framework, ensuring that Mayors discharge their duties with the utmost efficiency and skill. As highlighted by Dr. Paul Martinez, Executive Director of RPMD, this rigorous evaluation fortifies good governance by examining Mayors’ adherence to legal and ethical standards, dedication to civic engagement, and ability to deliver public services efficiently. Importantly, it also drives continuous improvement by illuminating areas of growth, with valuable feedback and suggestions serving as invaluable tools for Mayors to refine their leadership skills, enhance their strategic acumen, and elevate their proficiency in city administration.
The assessment covers several essential aspects, including service provision, fiscal responsibility, economic progress, leadership and governance, environmental management, social services, and public involvement. Each facet provides a unique lens to examine the mayors’ capabilities and commitment to their constituents.
RPMD’s in-depth performance assessment of City Mayors furnishes valuable insights into their effectiveness and underscores the importance of accountability, transparency, and exceptional governance in city administration. The evaluative criteria span a wide array of facets, encouraging mayors towards constant improvement and citizen-centric leadership.
Attaining a place in the prestigious national ranking as the top city mayor in the Philippines is no small feat, given the stringent standards established by RPMD. To achieve this distinction, a city mayor must demonstrate superior performance in respective regions. However, the ultimate measure of success is deeply rooted in the appraisal of their constituents, who play a crucial role in evaluating their city mayor’s performance. Through this rigorous process, the most extraordinary city mayors rise to the apex, garnering the respect and admiration of their constituents and earning the recognition they truly deserve.
The “Top City Mayors in the Philippines” survey was integral to the national poll “RPMD’s Boses ng Bayan,” conducted from February 25 to March 8, 2023. This exhaustive survey spanned every district of each region, engaging a total of 10,000 respondents who were registered voters. Designed meticulously to be representative and reliable, this survey had a sampling margin of error of ±1 percent at a 95% confidence level. The respondent distribution per district was proportionally based on official voting population data, ensuring a robust and comprehensive evaluation.
