TACLOBAN CITY — Vice Mayor Rommel De Paz Capungcol of Dulag, Leyte was named the top-performing vice mayor in Leyte for the first half of 2026 based on a survey conducted by Transparency, Good Governance and Accountability Advocates (TGAA) and Visayas Social Pulse.
The organizations said their Governance and Participation Index 2026 gathered feedback from Leytenos from January to June and assessed local officials based on leadership, legislation, community engagement and service delivery.
According to the groups, Capungcol received the highest rating among vice mayors in the province, with respondents citing his health advocacy, legislative initiatives and engagement with communities.
Capungcol, who is a physician and presiding officer of the Sangguniang Bayan, was credited with supporting medical and dental missions in barangays and the “Botika sa Bayan” initiative, which provides maintenance medicines to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
The survey organizers also cited ordinances attributed to Capungcol that seek to strengthen barangay health emergency response teams and improve access to primary health care.
In the area of legislation, the groups said Capungcol promoted open sessions and budget hearings, as well as measures involving scholarships, livelihood assistance, disaster response, infrastructure and social services.
The organizations also cited his regular “Ugnayan at Konsultasyon” activities in barangays, along with support for youth, sports and education programs.
The TGAA provincial lead for Leyte said Capungcol’s ranking reflected respondents’ assessment of his visibility, accessibility and performance in their communities.
The groups described the index as an independent and non-partisan assessment of local governance performance.
The announcement did not provide the total number of respondents, the scores obtained by the candidates, or the comparative results for other vice mayors in the province.(PR)
