(Photo Courtesy:Governor Ann Tan Facebook)
TACLOBAN CITY — Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan emerged as the top-rated provincial executive in Eastern Visayas, according to the latest Boses ng Bayan Governance Assessment conducted by RPMD Foundation Inc., which also showed all six governors in the region earning positive marks from voters.
Results of the survey, conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026, placed Tan at the top of the regional rankings with an 82.1-percent Index of Governance (IOG), derived from an 81.7-percent trust rating and an 82.5-percent performance rating.
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla ranked second with an 80.4-percent IOG, followed by Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado with 79.0 percent.
Biliran Governor Roger Espina placed fourth with a 77.3-percent rating, while Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan garnered 74.0 percent. Eastern Samar Governor RV Evardone completed the list with a 70.9-percent IOG.
The survey covered 5,000 randomly selected registered voters across Eastern Visayas. Respondents were proportionally distributed and weighted based on the voting population of each province.
RPMD Foundation said the study included respondents from all socioeconomic classes and carried a margin of error of plus or minus one percent at a 95-percent confidence level.
According to the organization, all six governors surpassed its 55-percent governance benchmark, indicating generally favorable public perceptions of provincial leadership throughout the region.
The Index of Governance combines trust and job performance ratings to assess how constituents evaluate the effectiveness of elected officials.
The assessment measures public perceptions across key governance areas, including accountability, fiscal management, infrastructure development, healthcare and social services, disaster preparedness, economic programs, public safety, environmental protection, innovation, citizen engagement, and overall satisfaction with government services.
RPMD Executive Director Paul Martinez said the results reflect voters’ assessment of leadership based on governance outcomes and service delivery rather than political affiliations.
“Eastern Visayas continues to demonstrate that effective governance transcends politics,” Martinez said. “The governors who earned strong ratings are those perceived by their constituents as delivering solutions, maintaining public engagement, and providing steady leadership amid evolving challenges.”
Martinez added that voters increasingly judge public officials based on tangible results that directly affect communities, such as infrastructure improvements, disaster resilience, healthcare access, livelihood opportunities, environmental protection, and efficient government services.
The survey forms part of RPMD’s independent and non-commissioned nationwide Boses ng Bayan Governance Assessment, which measures public confidence and perceptions of government performance. Unlike electoral preference surveys, the assessment focuses on governance effectiveness and leadership outcomes.
The latest findings suggest that voters in Eastern Visayas continue to value accountability, competence, transparency, and responsive public service as key indicators of effective leadership.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
