ILOILO City – The huge crowd of 10,000 individuals who jampacked the La Paz Plaza for the kick-off rally of Team Uswag mirrored the popularity of its candidates, thus complementing the series of surveys conducted by the prestigious Random Access Consultants (RACI). Cong. Jerry Treñas, National Unity Party’s (NUP) candidate for mayor, led the team on stage in thanking the audience for their overwhelming advantage in the surveys; and in seeking their votes for the May 13 election.
“We are grateful,” he said in Hiligaynon, “for the trust and confidence you have expressed for us through the surveys.”
He reiterated his program of work for implementation upon assumption of office, as briefly summarized in the acronym “WHEELS”, which stands for “Welfare, Health, Education, Environment, Livelihood, Sustainability.”
The seventh and latest survey (March 30 and 31, 2019) polled among 600 residents of 60 barangays showed Treñas surging with a 63.8 percent majority over opponents Mayor Jose Espinosa III with 26.7 percent; Dr. Pacita Gonzalez, 6.3 percent; Mel Carreon, 1.7 percent; Efren Gimeo, 0.5 percent; Steve Abitang, 0.3 percent; and Rudy Bantolo, 0.3 percent.
Also well-applauded during the rally were the rest of the team: Jeffrey Ganzon for vice mayor, Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda for congresswoman, and their Sangguniang Panlungsod lineup consisting of Love-Love Baronda, Jay Treñas, Allan Zaldivar, Romel Duron, Jojo Javellana, Ely Estante, Brian Zulueta, Armand Parcon, Roding Ganzon, Gilbert Garcia, Reyland Hervias, and Madonna Martin.
“The acceptability of us candidates to the voters,” Ganzon said, “depends on strength of character. It counts that our candidates are indi bastos.”
The seventh RACI survey placed Ganzon ahead of the other vice mayoral bets with 59 percent, followed by Plaridel Nava with 26.5 percent; R. Leone Gerochi, 12.2 percent; and Toto Caro, 0.7 percent.
Baronda, a former councilor, expressed confidence of becoming the first congresswoman or female representative of Iloilo City. She said, “No amount of black propaganda has dented our consistent lead in the surveys.”
Baronda likewise topped the survey for congressman of the city’s lone district with a majority lead of 56.7 percent, followed far behind by Joshua Alim, 32.5 percent; Perla Zulueta, 8.8 percent; and Lucio Encio, 0.8 percent.
The result of the seventh RACI survey for councilors based on ranking follows: 1) Love-Love Baronda, 57.7; 2) Jay Treñas, 50; 3) Candice Tupas, 41.2; 4) Roding Ganzon, 40.2; 5-6) Lyndon Acap, 35.8; Ely Estante, 35.8; 7) Inday Lee Zulueta, 33.8; 8) Armand Parcon, 32.8; 9) Mandrie Malabor, 31.3; 10) Ed Peñaredondo, 29.8; 11) Alan Zaldivar, 26.7; 12) Rodel Fullon Agado, 26.3;
13) Jojo Javellana, 25.3; 14) Romel Duron, 24.2; 15) Cesar Alim, 23; 16) Briant Zulueta, 16.3; 17) Dan Cartagena, 15.5; 18) Gibo Garcia, 15.2; 19) Reyland Hervias, 14.3; 20) Rex Sarabia, 11.8; 21) Madonna Martin, 9.8; 22) Kaiser Jadulos, 9.5; 23) Wang-Wang Montelibano, 8.3; 24) Hermie Panes, 7.8; 25) Oscar Catarata, 7.2; 26) Allen Aquino, 7; 27) Raz Borja, 6.7; 28) Rel Lumayad, 4.3; 29) Lorenzo Castellano, 3.5; 30) Shirley Jalbuena, 3.2; 31-33) Ed Bañes, Nenita Demontaño, and Boy Guilaran, 2.
The face-to-face survey with a +/- 4 percent margin of error made use of the reliable multi-stage probability methodology with a level of confidence of 95 percent.
With one month left before the May 13 election, the aforesaid rankings could radically change in succeeding surveys.
So far, however the latest survey for mayor has set a consistent trend starting from the first RACI survey on March 16 to 18, 2018, where Treñas bagged 63.7 percent against runner-up Espinosa’s 24.7 percent.
The second survey on July 27 to 29, 2018 showed Treñas way ahead with 62.2 percent; and first runner-up Espinosa III trailing behind with 29.5 percent.
In the third survey (Sept. 14 to 16, 2018), Treñas and Espinosa slid down to 60.2 and 27.3, respectively, this time with the entry of Pacita Gonzalez, who placed third with 10.3.
The fourth survey (Nov. 24-25, 2018) gave 58 percent to Treñas, 28.3 to Espinosa and 9.5 to Gonzalez.
The fifth survey (this time by Accu-Poll, Sept. 14 to 16, 2018) upped Treñas to 59 percent while Espinosa went down to 21 and Gonzalez to 7.
Treñas picked up his highest percentage at 64.2 percent in the sixth survey (Feb. 16-17, 2019); followed by Espinosa, 23.3; and Gonzalez, 7.8./PN
