- GILBERT BAYORAN
Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez and two Iloilo solons were among the top three performing lawmakers in Western Visayas, based on the survey results conducted by the RP Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD).
Benitez, who garnered a score of 89.4 percent, statistically tied with Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor (89.7 percent), and Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda (90.3 percent).
The survey was initiated by the RMPD to evaluate the performance of all Western Visayas solons, a year after in office.
Trailing behind them were Guimaras Rep. Lucille Nava (87.6%), Mercedes Alvarez of Negros Occidental 6th District (87.3%), and Antique Lone District Rep. AA Legarda (86.8%).
Two Negros Occidental solons shared the third position in the ranking – Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (4th District), 84.5 percent, and Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District), 83.9 percent.
The positions from sixth to eighth were occupied by other Negros Occidental solons, with Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya garnering 74.1%; 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, 72.3%; and 1st District Rep. Gerardo Valmayor Jr., 68.6%.
The RPMD said the Western Visayas survey is a component of its nationwide “Boses ng Bayan” comprehensive evaluation of the performance of all public officials, using face to face interviews, with a total of 10,000 adult respondents.
The sampling margin of error is +/-1 percent, at a 95 percent confidence level. /GB
