05/06/2026
Congratulations Gov. Toto Defensor!
𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐒’ 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃, 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓-𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐓-𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐒
The latest RPMD Foundation Inc. “Boses ng Bayan” Index of Governance (IOG) survey identifies the most trusted and best-performing provincial governors in Western Visayas, recognizing regional leaders who have earned the strongest constituent evaluations in both public trust and governance performance.
The findings reveal that constituents across Western Visayas increasingly evaluate governors based on their ability to provide strategic leadership, ensure efficient public service delivery, manage provincial resources responsibly, and address the evolving needs of their communities. The results suggest that governance effectiveness, accountability, and responsiveness remain the primary drivers of public confidence in provincial leadership.
The findings form part of RPMD Foundation Inc.'s nationwide “Boses ng Bayan” Governance Assessment Program, conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026, which effectively covers the first quarter of the year and provides a comprehensive review of provincial governance performance across the Philippines. The findings are based on interviews with 5,000 randomly selected respondents drawn from diverse geographic locations and socio-economic classes across the region, ensuring a representative cross-section of public opinion and making it one of the most comprehensive assessments of provincial governance and public sentiment conducted during the period.
Methodology and Governance Framework
As part of the nationwide “Boses ng Bayan” survey, a total of 5,000 randomly selected respondents were interviewed across the region, with proportional representation by geographic location and socio-economic classes (ABC, D, and E) to ensure broad demographic and geographic representation. The survey has a ±1% margin of error at the 95% confidence level, indicating a high degree of statistical reliability in the findings.
The sampling framework was designed to ensure proportional representation across provinces, gender groups, age brackets, and socio-economic classes, thereby providing a balanced and statistically reliable measure of regional public sentiment.
For the gubernatorial assessment, respondents were drawn from the respective provinces of the governors being evaluated. This localized approach ensures that the ratings reflect the actual experiences, perceptions, and evaluations of the constituents directly affected by provincial government programs, policies, and leadership.
RPMD’s Index of Governance (IOG) is derived from two principal indicators: Trust Rating and Performance Rating. The Performance Rating is based on constituent evaluations across key dimensions of provincial governance, including 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐔𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.
The resulting Trust and Performance scores are combined to generate the Index of Governance (IOG), RPMD’s principal benchmark for measuring governance effectiveness and public approval. Under RPMD’s governance standards, 55 percent constitutes the passing benchmark, indicating favorable constituent evaluations. Scores of 70 percent and above reflect very strong public approval, while ratings exceeding 85 percent signify outstanding governance performance and exceptionally high levels of constituent confidence.
Western Visayas Rankings: Public Trust and Provincial Governance Performance
The survey identifies 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫 “𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐨” 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐫.
as the highest-rated provincial governor in Western Visayas, registering an outstanding 86.2% Index of Governance, supported by 85.9% trust and 86.5% performance ratings. His results place him within RPMD’s category of Outstanding Governance Performance, reflecting exceptionally high constituent confidence in his administration’s leadership, policy direction, and overall management of provincial affairs. The findings suggest broad public satisfaction with Iloilo’s governance initiatives, development programs, and service delivery mechanisms.
Securing second place is 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫, who earned an impressive 84.1% IOG, supported by 83.7% trust and 84.6% performance ratings. The results indicate very strong constituent approval and recognition of his administration’s efforts in governance, provincial development, and public service delivery.
Ranking third is 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚. 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐚, who posted an 82.3% Index of Governance, backed by 81.9% trust and 82.8% performance ratings. The findings reflect strong constituent confidence in her administration and suggest favorable public evaluations of governance effectiveness, provincial services, and community engagement initiatives.
Closely following is 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐳 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨, who registered an 81.9% IOG, supported by 81.5% trust and 82.3% performance ratings. His results indicate very strong public approval and reinforce constituent confidence in his administration’s ability to address provincial concerns while maintaining effective governance.
Completing the rankings is 𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 “𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐧” 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬, who earned a robust 80.6% IOG, backed by 80.1% trust and 81.2% performance ratings. The findings reflect strong constituent satisfaction with provincial leadership and governance performance, placing him comfortably in the very strong public approval category.
Western Visayas Records Exceptionally Strong Provincial Governance Ratings
One of the most significant findings of the survey is the consistently strong performance registered by all five provincial governors in Western Visayas. Unlike many governance assessments, in which performance levels vary considerably among local executives, every governor in the region achieved an Index of Governance rating exceeding 80 percent.
𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐫. led the rankings with an 86.2% IOG, followed by 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫at 84.1%, 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚. 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐚 at 82.3%, 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 at 81.9%, and 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 at 80.6%.
The absence of low-performing governors in the regional rankings suggests a broadly favorable public assessment of provincial governance throughout Western Visayas. The findings indicate that constituents generally perceive their provincial governments as responsive, effective, and capable of addressing key development priorities.
Such consistency is noteworthy because provincial governments oversee multiple municipalities and component cities, coordinate major development programs, administer provincial hospitals, support agriculture and rural development, implement disaster response initiatives, and serve as critical partners in regional economic growth. Strong ratings across all provinces therefore reflect not only confidence in individual leaders but also favorable evaluations of provincial institutions and governance systems.
The results suggest that Western Visayas continues to demonstrate a strong culture of provincial governance, where public trust, administrative effectiveness, and service delivery remain central to leadership legitimacy.
Governance Insights: What the Results Reveal
Beyond the rankings themselves, the survey offers important insights into the evolving expectations of citizens toward provincial governments.
Provincial governance occupies a unique position within the public sector. Governors are expected to provide strategic leadership while simultaneously overseeing infrastructure development, healthcare services, agricultural support programs, disaster preparedness initiatives, environmental management, and economic development efforts that directly affect the lives of millions of residents.
The results suggest that constituents increasingly evaluate governors based on tangible governance outcomes rather than political affiliations alone. Citizens appear to reward leaders who demonstrate competence, accountability, responsiveness, and the ability to manage public resources effectively while addressing local needs.
The strong ratings recorded across all five provinces indicate a generally favorable assessment of provincial governance in Western Visayas. More importantly, they suggest that public trust remains closely tied to perceptions of performance, reinforcing the principle that effective governance and constituent confidence are mutually reinforcing.
Regional Implications
The findings paint a positive picture of provincial governance across Western Visayas and suggest strong provincial leadership throughout the region.
Provincial governors occupy a uniquely strategic position within the Philippine governance system. Unlike city mayors whose responsibilities are largely confined to a single local government unit, governors coordinate development across entire provinces, oversee inter-municipal programs, manage provincial healthcare networks, support agricultural productivity, facilitate infrastructure connectivity, and play a central role in disaster preparedness, investment promotion, and regional planning.
As such, public evaluations of governors often reflect broader assessments of provincial development and institutional effectiveness. The strong ratings earned by the region’s governors suggest that constituents value leaders who successfully balance long-term development planning with responsive public service delivery.
From a governance perspective, the survey highlights the growing importance of strategic leadership, service delivery, transparency, and citizen engagement in shaping public evaluations of elected officials. As citizens become more informed and expectations continue to rise, governors are increasingly judged on their ability to deliver measurable improvements in quality of life and provincial development.
More broadly, the findings suggest that Western Visayas continues to demonstrate a strong culture of provincial governance, where public trust and governance performance remain central to political legitimacy and leadership effectiveness.
Public Trust Remains the Foundation of Provincial Leadership
According to 𝐃𝐫. 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐳 Executive Director of RPMD Foundation Inc., Global Affairs and Political Analyst, the survey demonstrates that public trust remains one of the most important indicators of governance legitimacy.
Dr. Martinez emphasized that governors occupy a critical role in regional development, serving as the bridge between national priorities and local implementation. He noted that effective provincial governance requires not only sound policy direction but also sustained engagement with constituents and the ability to deliver meaningful outcomes.
“Provincial governments play a crucial role in shaping economic opportunities, public services, infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, agricultural productivity, and community welfare. The findings suggest that citizens continue to place a premium on leaders who demonstrate competence, responsiveness, transparency, and a clear commitment to public service. Trust and performance remain inseparable elements of effective governance,” Martinez said.
The Western Visayas gubernatorial assessment paints a highly favorable picture of provincial governance throughout the region. Significantly, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝟎-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐏𝐌𝐃’𝐬 𝟓𝟓-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤, reflecting exceptionally strong constituent confidence and favorable evaluations of governance performance.
More importantly, the findings reveal a deeper governance reality: citizens increasingly reward leaders who demonstrate strategic leadership, effective management, accountability, and responsiveness to public needs. As expectations continue to evolve, governance performance is becoming an increasingly important source of political legitimacy and public trust.
Ultimately, the report is more than a ranking of provincial governors. It is a reflection of how citizens evaluate leadership, define effective governance, and measure public service in a rapidly changing environment. In Western Visayas, the message from constituents is unmistakable: trust, performance, accountability, institutional effectiveness, and measurable results remain the foundations of successful provincial leadership.
