ILOILO City – Congressional candidate Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda widened her lead over two opponents in a survey conducted by the Manila-based survey firm AccuPoll. The result was released only recently.
Baronda led with 45 percent – 10 percent higher than incumbent Councilor Joshua Alim’s 35 percent. Former councilor Perla Zulueta was a far third with nine percent.
“I am so thankful to the people of Iloilo City for their overwhelming support. Indeed they want me to be back and deliver to them the gugma of Jam-jam Baronda’s brand of public service – a service that comes from the heart whether there is an election or not, whether I am in politics or out. This is a great birthday gift to me,” Baronda said.
Baronda is celebrating her 40th birthday today, Feb. 16.
Her 45 percent score in the AccuPoll survey validated the 48.2 percent she got in a separate survey conducted by topnotch local polling firm Random Access Consultants, Inc. (RACI) last November 2018.
In that RACI survey, Alim got 40.7 percent while Zulueta got 8.7 percent. This meant Baronda’s eight percent lead in the RACI survey increased to 10 percent in the AccuPoll survey.
Alim, meanwhile, is going down. His 40.7 percent score in the RACI survey in November was 6.1 percent lower than his score in September, which was 46.8 percent.
Baronda kept her 48 percent score in the September survey.
Alim’s 40.7 percent in the RACI survey, when compared to his 35 percent score in the AccuPoll survey, shows him spiraling down while Baronda is steadily on the uptrend.
“I believe that the Ilonggo people are more aware that I am back and I am running to be their first congresswoman. I think our growing lead is a testament that even if I was not physically present for the last eight years, they know I am always ready to help. That excites me and it warms my heart because my opponent has been campaigning for the past two years already and he is an incumbent official. Indeed it is the quality of your service and not the quantity of years or physical presence. For me to be leading over my older opponents is a blessing,” Baronda added.
She believes that she is leading because she has a concrete platform of government which answers the desire of the people of Iloilo City.
Baronda has vowed to pay attention to health, obra (work), peace and order, and education or HOPE once she is elected into office.
This is aside from helping the executive department of city hall address traffic congestion, flooding and other major concerns.
“This is humbling. I am all the more inspired to share with the Ilonggos my plans and dreams for our beloved city,” Baronda further said.
Baronda is running with Cong. Jerry Trenas for mayor and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon who is seeking reelection, under the National Unity Party.
The AccuPoll survey was done on Dec. 7 to 9, 2018 among 700 registered voters.
It had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.7 percentage points./PN
