BACOLOD CITY — Residents of the Negros Island Region generally view their provincial governments as effective, responsive, and deserving of public trust, according to the latest governance assessment conducted by RPMD Foundation Inc.
The survey, conducted under the organization’s “Boses ng Bayan” initiative, found that all three governors of the newly established region earned ratings classified under the “Very Strong” category of the Index of Governance (IOG).
The assessment covered Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor and serves as the first regional benchmark of public sentiment since the creation of the Negros Island Region.
According to RPMD Foundation Executive Director Dr. Paul Martinez, the study was designed to measure governance effectiveness rather than political popularity.
“This is not a popularity survey. We are measuring results. The Index of Governance reflects how people assess both trust and performance,” Martinez said.
The Index of Governance combines two equally weighted components: Trust Ratings and Performance Ratings.
Trust ratings measure public confidence in a governor’s integrity, transparency, accountability, leadership, and commitment to public welfare. Performance ratings evaluate governance in areas such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, economic development, fiscal management, public safety, disaster response, and environmental stewardship.
RPMD noted that all three governors exceeded the organization’s 70-percent threshold for “Very Strong” governance performance, indicating high levels of citizen satisfaction with provincial leadership.
Martinez said strong governance ratings often translate into stronger public confidence and greater political credibility.
“Citizens are essentially saying that their governors are meeting expectations, delivering services, and producing results,” he said.
While stressing that the survey is not intended to measure electoral preference, Martinez noted that trust and performance ratings often serve as indicators of long-term political strength and public support.
The survey was conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026 through face-to-face interviews involving 5,000 respondents across the region. It carried a ±1 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.
As the first governance assessment conducted after the establishment of the Negros Island Region, RPMD said the findings provide an important baseline for measuring public trust, leadership effectiveness, and government performance in the years ahead.
