ILOILO City – With barely two months left to election day, newest survey results showed residents here appeared to have already made up their minds who to pick as their next representative to the Lower House. Former city councilor Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda of the National Unity Party – Team Uswag got the nod of majority of respondents – 57.7 percent.
The prestigious Random Access Consultants, Inc. (RACI) survey showed Baronda’s rating to have increased by 9.5 percent from her November 2018 survey score of 48.2 percent.
Incumbent councilor Joshua Alim continued to spiral down with only 29.8 percent in the February 2019 survey, which was 10.9 percent lower than his November 2018 score of 40.7 percent.
Baronda was ahead of Alim by 27.9 percent.
Former councilor Perla Zulueta was a far third with 10 percent or an increase of 1.3 percent from her 8.7 percent score in the November 2018 poll.
“I am overwhelmed. I am happy that everywhere we go people express their support to my candidacy. They tell me they want my brand of public service. They want someone who is passionate and driven to do all she can to help those who seek her aid,” enthused Baronda who had also served as chief political officer of Sen. JV Ejercito for almost five years.
The RACI survey was commissioned by Bombo Radyo Phils. and had 600 respondents with a margin of error of plus/minus four percent, with 95 percent level of confidence.
Baronda credits her current lead of almost 100 percent higher than her closest rival to her barangay interactions with the grassroots where more and more Ilonggos have come to learn of her plans and vision for Iloilo City as well as her HOPE (Health, Obra, Peace and Order, Education) platform of government.
“Ilonggos are very meticulous and intelligent. You cannot fool them. I went around and told them I am answering their call for me to come back and serve them from the heart. I told them I will work hard and give them HOPE, or health programs, work opportunities, peace and order projects, and education initiatives. These are on top of the goal to help solve power, water and traffic congestion problems,” Baronda explained.
The RACI survey revealed that if elections were held on Feb. 16 and 17, Baronda would have been voted by six out of 10 voters while Alim would have had only three and Zulueta only one.
“I was not here for eight years. I raised my family after 2010. I did not plan to go back to politics then but I was called to work in the Senate and I took that opportunity to help the Ilonggos so I served there for more than four years. I was not physically present here but many Ilonggos who called and asked for my help got the assistance they needed, from hospitalization to surgery to education to getting work and many more. And now I am called to be back to our beloved city to help more and do more. I did not turn my people down. I rose to the call for duty. I thank everyone for the support,” Baronda said.
The survey used the multi-stage probability sampling among residents who were at least 18 years old and registered voters of Iloilo City.
Face-to-face interviews were done from Feb. 16-17, 2019.
Baronda said she is the sole congressional candidate who was thoroughly exposed to the nitty-gritty, dynamics and nuances of lawmaking in the national level.
“The people might have seen that among us three, I am the only who is most ready on Day 1 of office to discharge the duties and functions of a congresswoman. Why? Because I have worked in the Senate for almost five years and participated in the crafting of laws as chief political officer of Sen. JV Ejercito. I have joined brainstorming sessions and meetings with the legislative staff of congressmen and other senators. I engage with senators and congressmen. I know how to prepare for privileged speeches, congressional inquiries, sponsorship and interpellations. In short, I very well know how a law is conceived until it is passed in Congress,” Baronda explained.
The survey showed Baronda would have swept both male and female voters in all educational levels and all socio-economic classes.
She also won in all seven districts of the city, the survey showed.
With her lead, Baronda vows to do more to keep the public’s support until election day. She also expects black propaganda to be hurled against her.
“As I continue to go around and meet with our beloved people, listen and explain to them my plans, I also expect to be subjected to all sorts of below-the-belt attacks so I warn the Ilonggos not to be swayed by these lies. They know they can only hijack the will of the people through a rabid smear campaign against me but I trust that the intelligent and finicky Ilonggo people will rise up against this evil and prove to one and all that we are a mature and an educated people. I know God is with us,” Baronda further said./PN
