ILOILO City — Majority of Ilonggos have expressed overwhelming satisfaction to the strong partnership as well as the unified implementation of programs and projects to achieve their shared vision for Iloilo City, and are likely to give a fresh term to the triumvirate of Mayor Jerry Treñas, Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon come May 2022.
In a survey by the region’s most reliable survey firm, Random Access Consultants, Inc. (RACI), on Sept. 22, 2021, Treñas got 86.2 percent against two probable opponents. There were 600 respondents surveyed.
“I think the people saw how we stood by them, how we fought for them and how we took care of them during the pandemic despite the limited resources that we have,” Treñas told Panay News.
The people knew, he said, that “despite the crisis, we continue to implement programs and projects aimed at bringing our city to the next level. They appreciate that. That’s why they are giving us their full support.”
Treñas led over two other probable candidates at the time of the survey, Jose Espinosa III and Joshua Alim who got 6.8 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively. This meant that nine in 10 voters preferred Treñas over the other two.
Another 0.8 percent said they did not have a preferred candidate yet.
The father of the city, who reaped praises nationally and globally for being at the forefront of initiatives to cope with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, said the people want him to continue his brand and quality of leadership.
He also thinks that his WHEELS program – which stands for Welfare, Health and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability – has resonated with the Ilonggos.
Meanwhile, Baronda reaped a majority of 56.2 percent over not only two but three probable opponents. The second placer (Lex Tupas) got 17 percent while the third one (Joshua Alim) got 15.3 percent and the fourth (Jose Espinosa III) garnered 10.3 percent.
Another 1.2 percent did not have a preferred choice yet. This meant that six in 10 voters preferred Baronda over the three others.
When asked to choose only between two – Baronda and Espinosa – 72 percent of the respondents cast their votes for Baronda while 19 percent chose the other.
“I am grateful for the trust of the people. I think they like the vibrant collaboration between our great mayor and myself. The people saw that if the leaders are on the same page, great things can happen. That is why they want us to continue to lead them,” Baronda, who despite being a first-termer is already an assistant majority leader and a vice chair of a House committee, told Panay News.
She has espoused and delivered on her governance of H.O.P.E. or programs on Health, Obra (employment), Peace and Order, and Education, and has brought in programs and projects from the national government that have helped the Ilonggos cope with the ill-effects of the pandemic.
Both Treñas and Baronda lead in both male and female, across all age groups, across all educational levels, and across all socio-economic classes of likely voters. They both lead in all districts of the city.
“The people want Cong. Baronda and myself to continue leading and serving them along with Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and the entire Team Uswag councilors and even Uswag Ilonggo because we have proven to them that we can make things happen. We will do what we promise and we will fight for them if need be,” Treñas said.
“The Ilonggos are intelligent. They have seen that their leaders were there for them before and during the pandemic. And they know that we have plans as well as legislative measures to help us recover from the pandemic and be on track towards the next level. Team Gugma, Uswag, Arriva is tested and proven. And we will prove to them one more time what a rock solid and united team of leaders can do to make this city greater than ever,” Baronda added.
Treñas, Baronda and Ganzon are expected to file their certificates of candidacy on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, along with their slate for the local legislature: Dr. Urminico Baronda Jr., Atty. Sedfrey Cabaluna, Punong Barangay Eric David, Atty. Rommel Duron, Councilor Ely Estante, Councilor Rudolph Ganzon, Councilor Jojo Javellana, Atty. Frances Parcon, Atty. Rex Sarabia, Miguel Treñas, Johnny Young and Councilor Allan Zaldivar./PN