Iloilo guv tops W. Visayas governance survey

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. emerged as the highest-rated provincial governor in Western Visayas, according to the latest “Boses ng Bayan” Index of Governance survey conducted by RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc.

The survey, released June 5, showed Defensor leading the regional rankings with an 86.2% Index of Governance score, the highest among the region’s five governors.

He also posted an 85.9% trust rating and an 86.5% performance rating, placing him in RPMD’s category of Outstanding Governance Performance.

The results indicated strong public approval of the Iloilo provincial government’s leadership, development initiatives, and delivery of public services.

RPMD said ratings above 85% reflect exceptionally high levels of constituent confidence and governance effectiveness.

Antique Gov. Paolo Javier ranked second with an 84.1% Index of Governance score, followed by Guimaras Gov. Ma. Lucille Nava with 82.3%.

Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro placed fourth with 81.9%, while Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores rounded out the list with 80.6%.

According to RPMD, the survey evaluated governors based on public trust and performance across key governance areas, including strategic leadership, fiscal management, infrastructure development, health care services, economic growth, agriculture, disaster preparedness, environmental sustainability, transparency, public safety, and citizen engagement.

The study was conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026, involving 5,000 randomly selected respondents from across Western Visayas.

RPMD said the survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point at a 95% confidence level.

The findings also highlighted Western Visayas as a region with consistently strong provincial governance, with all five governors earning ratings above 80%.

RPMD described the results as an indication of broad public satisfaction with provincial leadership and government performance across the region.

RPMD Executive Director Dr. Paul Martinez said the survey underscores the importance of trust and performance in governance.

He noted that citizens continue to favor leaders who demonstrate competence, transparency, responsiveness, and commitment to public service.

The “Boses ng Bayan” Index of Governance is among several independent surveys measuring public perception of local government performance in the Philippines, particularly in areas related to accountability and service delivery.