Ako Bisaya, Frasco among top performers

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu-based Ako Bisaya Partylist is among the top performing partylists in the country based on the latest “Boses ng Bayan” survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD).

Ako Bisaya Partylist got 87.3 percent performance rating in the noncommissioned survey for the first quarter of 2024. It is tied with three other partylists—Bicol Saro, Ang Probinsiyano, and Agimat—on the second spot. According to the survey, the top performing partylist is Tingog of Rep. Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre with an impressive performance rating of 90.3%.

Ako Bisaya Partylist Rep. Sonny “SL” Lagon was thankful that his efforts have been recognized by the people.

“Nagpasalamat ko sa maong survey nga nakita gyud nga nag serbisyo gyud kita sa katawhan. Ug akong paninguhaon nga mas daghan pa ang makatagamtam sa Serbisyong Lagon, Aksyon Dayon. Nagpasalamat usab ako sa katawhan sa padayon nga pagsalig diri kanako,” Lagon told The Freeman.

RPMD said that the survey was conducted by directly asking feedback from Filipino voters and analysis of the effectiveness and influence of the partylist representatives in the early part of 2024.

“This outstanding achievement consistently places them at the top of the rankings, reinforcing their status as one of the most effective and influential party-list groups in the Philippines. Their leadership and commitment, which have driven significant legislative progress and exemplified effective representation, serve as an inspiration to other Representatives, earning them widespread acclaim and recognition within the political landscape,” RPMD said in a statement.

The other Cebu-based Partylist---Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP)—ranked 18th in the survey with a rating of 60.1%. TUCP is represented by Raymond Mendoza.

Dr. Paul Martinez, Global Affairs Analyst and Executive Director of the RPMD, emphasized the importance of evaluating party-list representatives in the Philippines, particularly in the country's dynamic political environment.

Martinez said that the assessment of these representatives focused on three key metrics: sector representation, legislative performance, and sector or constituent service.

The sector representation metric ensures that representatives are accountable and transparent to their constituents, which is a fundamental aspect of democratic governance. Evaluating how well these representatives represent their sectors is crucial for maintaining trust and integrity within the legislative framework.

Legislative performance is also a vital metric, assessed by reviewing the number and quality of bills that representatives propose and support. This evaluation measures their effectiveness and dedication to their legislative duties, providing insight into their contributions to the legislative process and their commitment to their roles.

And the evaluation of sector or constituent service examines how representatives engage with and address the needs and concerns of their constituents.

This includes assessing their communication skills, problem-solving capabilities, and overall availability. Effective constituent service is essential for building trust and maintaining solid relationships between representatives and the sectors they represent.

According to RPMD, the survey was carried out across various cities in every region from March 18–24, 2024, engaging a broad demographic of 10,000 adult participants randomly selected from an extensive database of 67.75 million registered voters.

Meanwhile, Cebuana tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco also emerged as one of the top performing cabinet officials. According to RPMD, Frasco demonstrated unwavering dedication to advancing tourism for economic prosperity and societal well-being.

“Through collaboration with stakeholders from the public and private sectors, Frasco achieved an 87% job satisfaction rating alongside an 89% trust rating,” it said. Frasco ranked third in the survey.

Leading the pack as top performing cabinet officials are Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with 91% job performance rating alongside a robust 93% trust rating.

Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ranked second who garnered an 89% job approval rating, complemented by a solid 91% trust rating.

Secretary Amenah Pangandaman of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ranked fourth, who attained an 85% job performance score and an 87% trust rating.

Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla of the Department of Justice (DOJ) ranked fifth with 83% job satisfaction rating paired with an 85% trust rating.

Among other notable cabinet officials who received commendable job performance scores are Finance Secretary Ralph Recto (81%), Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro Jr. (79%), Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil (77%), Health Secretary Ted Herbosa (76%), DICT Secretary Ivan Uy (74%), Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan (72%), DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. (71%), SolGen Menardo Guevarra (68%), Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual (66%), Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (65%), and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac (63%). – /FPL (FREEMAN)