ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo province is one of the top performing governors in the Philippines, and the sole governor from Western Visayas.
In a survey conducted by RP-Mission and Development Foundation, Inc. (RPMD) from Sept. 20 to 30, 2023, Defensor earned a job performance rating of 93.67 percent.
The Iloilo governor has been consistently part of the Top 5 best-performing governors in the country since 2021.
Also named top performing governors were Gov. Gwen Garcia of Cebu who led the rankings with a remarkable 95.30 percent, closely followed by Dax Cua of Quirino at 95.24 percent, and Chaco Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental at 94.51 percent.
Dr. Paul Martinez, a global affairs analyst and the executive director of RPMD, recently recognized the significant achievements of these governors during their recent terms.
Dr. Martinez highlighted the pivotal role that governors play in driving regional prosperity, noting that their responsibilities encompass much more than routine administrative duties.
He underscored the value of ongoing performance monitoring, observing that such evaluations have a positive impact on governance, as evidenced by the increased diligence and effort demonstrated by the governors.
He concluded his remarks by affirming that this continuous tracking of performance ultimately benefits the citizenry.
The evaluation was meticulously structured to encompass a comprehensive range of parameters, each thoughtfully designed to assess the multifaceted responsibilities of a governor thoroughly.
The first area of focus, Governance and Administrative Efficiency, delved into the effectiveness of policy implementation, budget management, fiscal transparency, and anti-corruption measures, along with the speed at which projects were executed.
Economic Development was another critical area, where the assessment reviewed achievements in stimulating job creation, supporting local businesses, attracting investment, and enhancing infrastructural development.
The aforementioned survey encompassed a demographically diverse group of 10,000 registered voters from various provinces.
The survey’s design ensured a high degree of accuracy, with a statistical margin of error set at ±1 percent and a confidence level of 95 percent.
The resulting data offers a genuine and comprehensive insight into the electorate’s viewpoints and attitudes towards their provincial leadership. (With a report from RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc.)/PN
