CITY OF MALOLOS – The RPMD Foundation Inc. released the first-quarter results of its nationwide “Boses ng Bayan” public-service initiative wherein the assessment evaluated Bulacan’s leading municipal mayors based on the Index of Governance (IOG), trust rating, and job-performance rating, highlighting their commitment to effective and responsive local governance.
Three municipal mayors jointly led the rankings.
Plaridel Mayor Jocell Casaje posted an 84.2% IOG, supported by 83.9% trust and 84.6% performance. Pandi Mayor Enrico Roque obtained an 83.6% IOG, with 83.5% trust and 83.8% performance, while Santa Maria Mayor Omeng Ramos registered an 83.3% IOG, composed of 83.1% trust and 83.6% performance.
The second ranking tier included Angat Mayor Jowar Bautista, who recorded an 83.0% IOG, 82.7% trust, and 83.4% performance; Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses, with an 82.8% IOG, 82.4% trust, and 83.2% performance; and Bustos Mayor Iskul Juan, with an 82.3% IOG, 82.1% trust, and 82.6% pertormance.
At No. 3 were San Ildefonso Mayor Gazo Galvez, who earned an 81.8% IOG, 81.8% trust, and 81.9% performance, and Doña Remedios Trinidad Mayor Ronaldo Flores, who posted an 81.0% IOG, supported by 80.6% trust and 81.5% performance.
Next in the rankings were Marilao Mayor Jem Sy, with an 80.4% IOG, 80.2% trust, and 80.7% performance, and Guiguinto Mayor Boy Cruz,, with a 79.6% IOG, 79.4% trust, and 79.8% performance, both ranking fourth.
The fifth grouping consisted of Pulian Mayor
RJ Peralta, who obtained a 79.1% IOG, 78.5% trust, and 79.2% performance, and Paombong Mayor Mac Marcos, who registered a 78.4% IOG, 78.2% trust, and 78.7% performance.
The sixth position went to San Rafael Mayor Goto Violago, who recorded a 77.1% IOG, consisting of 76.8% trust and 77.4% pertormance.
Following at No. 7 were Balagtas Mayor Andy Santiago, who posted a 75.5% IOG, 75.3% trust, and 75.8% performance, and Bocaue Mayor Jonjon Villanueva, who obtained a 75.3% IOG, with 75.1% trust and 75.5% pertormance.
The eighth tier featured Calumpit Mayor Lem Faustino, with a 74.4% IOG, 74.2% trust, and 74.7% performance, and San Miguel Mayor Bong Alvarez, with a 73.8% IOG, 73.5% trust, and 74.1% performance.
Norzagaray Mayor Merlyn Germar secured the ninth rank with a 73.0% IOG, supported by 72.7% trust and 73.3% performance.
Completing the top 10 were Hagonoy Mayor Charo Sy-Alvarado, who recorded a 71.3% IOG, 71.2% trust, and 71.5% performance, and Obando Mayor Ding Valeda, who posted a 70.4% IOG, with 70.2% trust and 70.6% performance.
All 20 municipal mayors included across the 10 ranking groups surpassed RPMD’s 55% passing benchmark and obtained IOG scores of at least 70%.
Dr. Paul Martinez, Executive Director of
RPMD and a Global Affairs and Political Analyst said the findings reflect strong public confidence in their leadership and favorable assessments of their delivery of local programs, essential services, and community-based initiatives.
The IOG combines trust and performance ratings into a single measure of governance.
He said the trust reflects the people’s confidence in a mayor’s integrity, credibility, transparency, accessibility, and commitment to public service.
It was learned that performance determines whether that confidence is supported by visible
accomplishments, effective programs, sound fiscal management, and responsive service delivery.
“Trust and performance are distinct but interconnected gauges of public leadership. Trust without measurable pertormance may represent goodwill that has yet to produce concrete results,” Martinez said.
Martinez said that performance without public trust may reveal weaknesses in transparency, communication, accountability, or accessibility.
Effective governance requires both the confidence of the people and the capacity to deliver meaningful results.
Municipal mayors were evaluated across key areas of local governance, including leadership, fiscal management, social service delivery, public safety, infrastructure development, disaster preparedness, environmental management, digitalization, transparency, and responsiveness to constituents.
The survey was conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026, effectively evaluating governance throughout the first quarter of 2026.
The Bulacan provincial survey was part of RPMD’s nationwide, independent, and non-commissioned “Boses ng Bayan” public service initiative.
The provincial survey covered 5,000 respondents from all socioeconomic classes.
The sample was weighted proportionally to represent the voting population of each municipality, with a +1 percentage-point margin of error at the 95% confidence level.
RPMD congratulates all the mayors included in the rankings for earning strong levels of public trust and favorable performance assessments.
Their ratings recognize the progress already achieved while presenting a continuing challenge to strengthen transparency, improve public services, expand access to government programs, and respond more effectively to the changing needs of their communities.
“These numbers should not be treated as a ceiling, but as a benchmark for sustained improvement. Higher trust and performance ratings in succeeding assessments should reflect better services, stronger local institutions, broader opportunities, and more visible improvements in the quality of life of Bulakenyos,” said Martinez.
He said the results demonstrate that genuine leadership rests on the balance between public confidence and measurable accomplishment.
“We congratulate all the mayors who earned strong ratings from their constituents. At the same time, these numbers carry a continuing challenge: sustain what is working, correct areas of weakness, and keep raising the standard of public service. We hope to see their trust and performance ratings improve because when governance becomes better, the greatest beneficiaries are the people they serve,” Martinez said.
