1 Top Performing City Mayors in Ilocos Region Announced by RPMD The RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) has unveiled the results of its “Boses ng Bayan” survey, highlighting the top-performing city mayors in the Ilocos Region for the first quarter of 2024. Among the notable leaders recognized, Mayor Eric Singson of Candon City stands out with an exceptional approval rating of 88.5%. His effective governance and leadership have earned him the top spot in the region, reflecting a strong resonance with his constituents’ needs and aspirations. The survey, conducted from March 18-24, involved face-to-face interviews with 10,000 adult respondents across the region, boasting a sampling margin of error of +/- 1% at a 95% confidence level. This comprehensive evaluation underscores Mayor Singson’s significant impact and commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Candon City.
2 City Mayor Eric is No. 1 Region’s best performing city mayor Candon City Mayor Eric D. Singson has been adjudged the top-performing local chief executive in Ilocos Region with a job performance rating of 94 percent, based on a survey released yesterday by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) “The establishment of the Ilocos Sur Medical Center and Candon City Arena, as well as the creation of a Micro Finance Program that provided low-interest loans to farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), boosted Mayor Eric D. Singson’s trust and performance ratings,” said Dr. Paul Martinez of RPMD. City Mayor Singson is serving his first term and also making his comeback after serving as mayor of Candon in 1972 at the age of 23, making him among the youngest mayors in the country at that time. Singson served in the House of Representatives for nearly three decades, representing Ilocos Sur’s second congressional district. City Mayor Singson is at the frontline in his quest to make Candon a smart city. “Candon City is all geared up to attain inclusive growth by leveling up our economic activities to meet the demand of our growing population and to make headway in our desired goal of becoming a smart city,” City Mayor Singson said during the recent Regional Development Council meeting which for the first time the city hosted. The other top-performing City Mayors in the Ilocos Region are City Mayor Michael Keon Marcos of Laoag City, who scored 90 percent, City Mayor Ayoy Resuello of San Carlos City with 86 percent, City Mayor Rommy Parayno III of Urdaneta City with 85 percent, and City Mayor Albert Chua of Batac City with 83 percent. The independent and non-commissioned survey conducted by RPMD also indicates that Deputy Speaker Kristine Meehan-Singson, with a score of 93%, is the top District Representative in the aforementioned region. The RPMD’s “Boses ng Bayan” survey also shows that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte got high marks for how well they did their jobs in the Ilocos Region. President Marcos obtained 93 percent, while Vice President Duterte earned 88 percent. Each City Mayor was assessed by their constituents and ranked based on the ratings they received. The responsibilities of mayors are extensive and encompass a variety of roles, including being the local chief executive, supervising and implementing all policies and programs, projects and services of the local government unit, and serving as the head of the city council, including the enforcement of laws and ordinances pertaining to the city administration. The Ilocos Region survey was part of the national poll “RPMD’s Boses ng Bayan” conducted on November 27-December 2, 2022, per city in every region with 10,000 respondents who were asked, “Do you approve or disapprove of how his/her job as City Mayor is being performed?” (This is a news release extracted from RPMD’s page with a report from LBJ.)
3 “𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻” Amidst the growing demand for improved public service in the 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, all city mayors are stepping up to the plate. However, there is one leader who stands head and shoulders above the rest – 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗼𝗻, the unwavering Mayor of Candon City. In the latest independent and non-commissioned “Boses ng Bayan” survey conducted by RP- Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD), Mayor Eric Singson has once again emerged as the top mayor in the region with a staggering 92.8% approval rating. This is a testament to his unwavering dedication and tireless efforts toward the development of his city. But 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗼𝗻 is not alone in his pursuit of excellence. He is followed closely by a group of able and competent city mayors, who have all received high approval ratings in the survey. Michael Marcos Keon, the Mayor of Laoag City, comes in second with 86.2%, followed by Bonito Singson of Vigan City (80.5%), Rammy Parayno III of Urdaneta City (78.7%), Ayoy Resuello of San Carlos City (76.4%), Arth Bryan Celeste of Alaminos City (74.6%), Belen Fernandez of Dagupan City (70.5%), Albert Chua of Batac City (67.6%), and Dong Gualberto of San Fernando City (65.3%). The responsibilities of a City Mayor are vast and complex, and they are evaluated on a variety of criteria such as transparency, accountability, effectiveness, responsiveness, and public service delivery. “It takes a true leader to excel in all these areas, and Mayor Singson has proven time and again that he is more than up to the task,” said Dr. Paul Martinez of RPMD. Under his leadership, Candon City has undergone a remarkable transformation, with significant improvements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and public safety. He has also implemented several innovative programs and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for his constituents. But Mayor Singson is not one to rest on his laurels. He is constantly looking for new ways to improve and innovate, and his dedication to his city and its people is unwavering. It is no wonder that he has once again emerged as the top mayor in the region, and a shining example of what a true leader should be. As the Ilocos Region continues to evolve and change, it is heartening to know that there are leaders like Mayor Singson and his fellow city mayors who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of their constituents. They are the true voices of the people, and their unwavering commitment to public service is a beacon of hope in these challenging times. According to Dr. Paul Martinez of RPMD, the Ilocos Region City Mayors’ Performance Survey aims to recognize the exceptional efforts and dedication of these leaders towards their respective communities. The assessment also stresses the importance of holding elected officials accountable to ensure they are actively working toward the betterment of their communities. While citizens in these cities can take pride in having some of the best leaders in the region, the survey also reveals the need for other mayors to enhance their performance. The Ilocos Region City Mayors’ Performance Survey is a crucial part of the “Boses ng Bayan” national poll, which provides a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of public officials. The poll is based on face-to-face interviews with 10,000 adult respondents, with a sampling error of +/-1% and a 95% confidence level. By doing these kinds of assessments on a regular basis, leaders can be held accountable for their actions and always work to improve the lives of the people who live in their cities. (posted on the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. Facebook page on April 6,2023)
4 Candon City bags 5th SGLG award For the fifth time, Candon City, under the leadership of City Mayor Eric Singson, was bestowed the Seal of Good Local Governance award during the awarding ceremonies held at the Manila Hotel recently. City Mayor Singson expressed his full appreciation for the recognition, which serves as added inspiration for him and the other city officials, with the support of the people of Candon, to continue providing the best service possible following his public service guide, “Efficient Delivery of Services.” The SGLG award, considered the most prestigious recognition being conferred to LGUs by the national government, is a law under Republic Act No. 11292. (An Act Establishing and Institutionalizing the Seal of Good Local Governance for Local Government Unit, and allocating for this purpose the Seal of Good Local Governance Fund) City Vice Mayor Kristelle Singson representing City Mayor Eric Singson led the Candon City team that received the recognition from DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhor” Abalos, JR. She was accompanied by CLGOO Aprille Regina Guerrero and City Information Officer Leoncio Balbin, Jr. Aside from Candon, the provincial government of Ilocos Sur and 17 municipalities also were awarded. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin served as the keynote speaker of the two- recognition rite. The SGLG is an award, incentive, honor and recognition-based program for all LGUs and is a continuing commitment for LGUs to continually progress and improve their performance in different areas as listed in the said law. The awardees passed the following governance areas: financial administration and sustainability; disaster preparedness; social protection and sensitivity; health compliance and responsiveness; sustainable education; business-friendliness and competitiveness; safety, peace and order; environmental management; tourism, heritage development, culture and arts; and youth development. Aside from getting this year’s SGLG marker, awardees are also eligible for the SGLG incentive fund to finance their local development initiatives in support of national goals and strategic thrusts. The incentive fund amounts to P9.5 million for a province, P7 million for a city, and P5 million for a municipality, according to the DILG. A total of 54 LGUs – comprised of 48 municipalities, four cities and two provinces in the Ilocos Region got the SGLG this year. (LBJ and Joyah Mae Quimoyog)
5 Candon City is 2022 Gawad Kalasag seal of excellence awardee The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council conferred the coveted GAWAD KALASAG SEAL OF EXCELLENCE to Candon City in the recent recognition rites held at San Fernando City, La Union recently. Candon Cty was declared fully compliant for garnering a rating of 1.65 in the Gawad KALASAG Seal for Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and offices (LDRRMCOs) Category for 2022. It was found out that Candon generally adhered to the standard for the establishment and functionality of the LDRRMCOs as prescribed in the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (R.A. 10121). Engr. Florante Galang received the plaque for Candon City. According to NDRRMC Memorandum Circular No. 02, 2022 signed by then NDRRMC Chairperson and Department of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, The Gawad Kalasag for LDRRMCO is envisioned to serve as a performance assessment mechanism for all Local Government Units as they implement the provisions of Section 11 (the organization at the Local Government Level) and 12 (Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) of Republic Act No. 10121, specifically on the institutionalization of their Local DRRM Councils (LDRRMCs) and Local DRRM Offices (LDRRMOs), including other policy issuances such as the reporting on the allocation and utilization of the Local DRRM Fund (LDRRMF). Also based on the said memorandum, the transformation of the GAWAD KALASAG Search into GK Seal will provide the platform for convergence, and enhancement of the DRRM localization programs, projects and strategies of the National DRRM Council (NDRRMC), through the Office of Civil Defense and DILG as such as Review of Local DRRM Plans (LDRRMPs), the assessment of LDRRMCOs, assessment and monitoring of LDRRMF utilization. With the mandatory assessment, the NDRRMC and LGUS can properly determine the challenges and gaps in their NDRRM Plan implementation processes, thus helping identify the activities to address DRRM-CCA needs and priorities of LDRRM officers and staff as well as LDRRMC members. (LBJ)