CAMARINES Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte has emerged as the “overwhelming frontrunner” in the gubernatorial contest in the province in the 2025 midterm elections, commanding an “impressive” voter preference of 83% as against his closest rival’s score of 15%, according to the latest “Boses ng Bayan” survey of pollster RPMD Foundation Inc. (RPMD).

One of the early focal points in the national and local polls on May 12 is Camarines Sur, “where the gubernatorial race is already becoming decisive,” as Villafuerte, a former three-term governor, “has emerged as the overwhelming frontrunner for the governorship” who “commands an impressive 83% voter preference,” said RPMD in its independent and non-commissioned survey done last March 1—15.

The pollster, which conducted its “Boses ng Bayan” 2025 survey in partnership with RPMD News Network Inc. (RPMD News), said Villafuerte’s commanding lead in the race for governor left his closest rival, Ronald “Bong” Rodriguez, with a “distant support” of 15%.

“This marks a solid 68-point lead for Villafuerte, signaling popularity and deep-rooted public confidence in his leadership,” it said.

As the 2025 elections draw nearer, “it becomes increasingly evident that LRay Villafuerte is not just leading the race—he’s setting the pace,” said RPMD in a recent post on its Facebook page.

Villafuerte is the president of the National Unity Party (NUP), which belongs to the Bagong Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas led by President Marcos, and is the second biggest power bloc in the Congress next to the ruling Lakas-CMD of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez

RPMD said on Facebook that Villafuerte’s current standing reflects a +3% increase from the previous RPMD poll done on Feb. 5-10, which showed a voter preference of 80% for the incumbent congressman.

Although the score of Rodriguez, who is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) ticket, was 5% higher in the March poll than his rating in the previous month’s survey, RPMD said this was “a modest gain that still fails to close the vast gap between them.”

Dr. Paul Martinez, who is the executive director and global affairs analyst of RPMD and RPMD News, said the electorate’s overwhelming support for Villafuerte, as reflected in the February and March polls, indicated the voters’ “satisfaction with his long-standing brand of governance.”

“The people of Camarines Sur are not only familiar with the Villafuerte name—they trust it. With a remarkable 86% trust rating and a 90% performance rating, Congressman Villafuerte continues to enjoy the overwhelming approval of his constituents,” Martinez said.

Martinez noted that Villafuerte has consistently earned national recognition, having been “hailed as one of the top-performing Representatives in the country, a distinction that further cements his credibility and electability.”

The RPMD chief said the “Boses ng Bayan” survey revealed likewise that “most voters are averse to negative campaigning. Respondents said they prefer candidates to present platforms and solutions rather than engage in political mudslinging. This environment favors Villafuerte, whose performance record has already spoken volumes to the electorate.”

This survey involved 1,800 face-to-face interviews with registered voters across CamSur, selected by random sampling, and with a ±2% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.

Following the outcome of the earlier “Boses ng Bayan” survey in February, Martinez pointed out in a post on Facebook that Villafuerte’s commanding lead was “a testament to his deep-rooted influence and legacy in the province. As a former governor of Camarines Sur, Villafuerte is widely recognized for his governance style and developmental initiatives, making him the preferred choice among voters seeking leadership continuity.”

“His extensive experience as a provincial leader, combined with the Villafuerte family’s longstanding political presence, has solidified his position as the electorate’s choice. Voters recognize his leadership, and many believe that electing him will ensure the continuity of the progress initiated under his tenure and that of the current Governor, (Vincenzo Renato) Luigi Villafuerte,” Martinez said.

According to Martinez, “the Villafuerte brand of governance remains a dominant force in Camarines Sur … With the Villafuerte legacy standing firm, the data suggests that LRay Villafuerte is well on track to reclaim the gubernatorial seat and continue his family’s longstanding influence in shaping Camarines Sur’s future

The back-to-back surveys by RPMD followed the December 2024 survey by Pulse Asia, which indicated that Villafuerte, along with the incumbent governor who is running for congressman and reelectionist Rep. Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte—are heading for landslide victories in the midterm elections.

The Pulse Asia survey last Dec. 1-7, 2024 showed that Villafuerte, who is now on his third and final term as congressman representing the province’s second district, had 80% of the votes in the gubernatorial race, as against Rodriguez’s 8%.

Rep. Migz Villafuerte, a former governor who is seeking a second term as congressman, is getting 93% of the votes, as against the 6% of Doc Phil Fortuno (NPC), based on Pulse Asia’s December survey.

The same Pulse Asia poll revealed that incumbent Gov. Luigi Villafuerte, who is running for congressman next year representing the province’s second district, has 86% of the votes, as against the 6% of Fermin Mabulo of the NPC.

This pollster said among the reasons that the respondents cited in voting for the Villafuertes were that they were “doing well” in their current elective positions and “will do a lot” if elected again next year; were “tried and tested” officials, “approachable, kind and pro-people” and “intelligent;” and “has concern for the poor,” “exercises good governance,” “not corrupt/has a clean name” and “no trace of scandal or controversy.”

The same poll said 83% said they had “big trust” in LRay Villafuerte as against 17% for Rodriguez, 95% had “big trust” in Rep. Migz Villafuerte as against 16% for Fortuno, and 78% had “big trust” in Gov. Villafuerte as against 11% for Mabulo.

In the Congress, LRay Villafuerte had served as Deputy Speaker for Finance, is concurrent majority leader of the Commission on Appointments (CA), and has principally authored 41 laws, including 11 measures that President Marcos had identified as priority bills along with the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Committee (LEDAC).

On Villafuerte’s watch as three-term governor, CamSur became the top tourist destination in the Philippines in 2010 and 2012, according to a National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) report that used data from Department of Tourism (DOT) regional offices.

CamSur’s rise as a top must-see place happened on the strength of the NUP president’s aggressive marketing push as governor for his province as an: (1) extreme sports capital with the establishment of the CamSur Water Complex (CWC)—considered the world’s best wakeboard park and the site of world-renowned sports events notably the Ironman Triathlon, which was held there for three consecutive years—and (2) ecotourism haven with Caramoan Islands and its famous white and pink sand beaches.

Caramoan has been the location of five international editions of the global reality TV show “Survivor” for 15 years running, boosting the local economy and providing jobs to thousands of CamSur folk.

Also, when Villafuerte was governor—according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS)—CamSur became the country’s 12th biggest rice producer in 2008 and a higher No. 8 in 2011. CamSur went up to No. 4 rice producer in 2016.

From being the No. 39 poorest province in the country, CamSur rose dramatically to become the 12 richest province when Villafuerte was governor, and further soared to a higher No. 3 wealthiest province in 2023 with Luigi Villafuerte as governor.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco