Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has topped an independent, non-commissioned survey by the RP- Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMDinc) on the performance of all mayors in Metro Manila for 2020.
The survey was conducted from Dec. 5 to 15 among registered voters in Metro Manila aged 18 to 70.
Belmonte received the highest approval rating among her constituents at 85 percent, followed by Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig at 82 percent, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso at 77 percent, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian at 75 percent, and Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro at 72 percent.
Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco got 69 percent, Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano at 67 percent, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay at 64 percent, Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos at 55 percent, and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora at 53 percent.
“Our previous survey, June 2020 NCR Mayor’s Performance Review in addressing and responding to COVID-19 situation pushed local government units to step up in their game. This time our survey was conducted with the intention to assess the overall performance of the National Capital Regions mayor for the year 2020 and to gauge their reelection bid,” Dr. Paul Martinez of RPMDinc said.
Pasay City got 30 percent; Malabon City, 31 percent, and Las Pinas City, 34 percent.
Respondents were also asked who they would vote for reelection in 2022.
Sotto received 77 percent; Belmonte, 75 percent; Domagoso, 72 percent; Teodoro, 65 percent; Cayetano, 63 percent; Tiangco, 61 percent; Binay, 60 percent, and Abalos, 51 percent.
“Those NCR mayors who were positively assessed by their constituents received a strong support for reelection bid. While those who were rated low toward their job performance rating also received low support to whether they will seek reelection or run for another public office. Notably, all NCR mayors improved in their performance ratings compared to June 2020,” Martinez said.
“Mayors must always think that they are being evaluated daily, weekly and monthly,” he added.
“Take for example in Quezon City. Based on feedback, Mayor Belmonte is always visible on the grounds across all barangays to take care of the needs of her constituents,” he noted.
QC rescues minors
Meanwhile, in boosting its campaign to keep minors off the streets amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Quezon City government has rescued 340 minors spotted in public places and shut down establishments for allowing the entry of people below 18 years old.
“The city government is serious in the implementation of our guidelines to ensure the safety of our youth against the virus,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
“Let us set aside being stubborn because the risks of the pandemic is just there. It is possible that cases would go up this Christmas,” she added.
Belmonte earlier approved an ordinance banning minors in all public places whether alone or accompanied by parent or guardian without any justification to stop the spread of COVID-19.
In a report, action officer Rannie Ludovica of the Quezon City Task Force Disiplina said they have rescued 340 minors in a massive operation together with the Quezon City Police District’s District Mobile Force Battalion to monitor the presence of minors in public places.
Meanwhile, the Business Permits and Licensing Department, for its part, ordered the temporary closure of several tiangges in Robinsons Novaliches for accepting minors.
Ludovica said all rescued minors were brought to Centris command post for the profiling of their parents, while some were turned over to their barangays for counseling of Barangay Council for the Protection of Children.
The task force also issued ordinance violation receipts to parents or guardians of rescued minors as mandated by Ordinance No. SP-2985, S-2020 or the Quezon City Special Protection of Children against COVID-19.
Ludovica said parents must be aware of their children’s whereabouts at all time and not use them as excuse to escape punishment.
The public is encouraged to report minors and parents violating the ordinance through the complaint-reporting platform, QCitizen Watch on the Official QC website https://qceservices.quezoncity.gov.ph/. With Rio N. Araja