Forty days after formally launching his presidential bid under the banner of the Aksyon Demokratiko last Sept. 21, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s popularity is continuously gaining ground as he emerged as the top choice among the candidates gunning for the highest position in the land, a recent survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) showed.
The poll, held from October 17 to 26 with a total of 10,000 respondents, has a +/-2% margin of error.
Domagoso got 25.39 percent and dominated the survey in three geographic areas: National Capital Region (NCR) at 30.53 percent; Visayas at 24.63 percent and Mindanao at 22.70 percent. It was only in Balance Luzon that Moreno landed a close second at 25.84 percent, with former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. taking the lead at 30.33 percent.
Nationwide, in close second was Marcos Jr. at 23.10%; followed by Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo at 18.31%; Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao at 17.88%; Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson at 7.08%; and Senator Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa at 3.41%.
Given the margin of error, Robredo and Pacquiao were statistically tied at third place.
Interpreting the spike in Moreno’s popularity rating, Angelito Banayo, political strategist of Team Isko-Will, said the surge in the numbers is an indication that his message of “cutting by 50 percent taxes from fuel and electricity to ease the hardship of the people” has been resonating with the public.
“Mayor Isko bared his tax-cut plan in a dialogue with farmers in Tarlac City last October 21, which was within the survey period. This means that his plan if he becomes president resonated well with the people,” Banayo said.
“The central theme of Isko Moreno and Doc Willie Ong’s campaign, along with their senatorial candidates, is to work for the people and with the people. People first. Reduce human suffering especially during pandemics and unemployment. Life and Livelihood first,” he added.
Last October 15, Moreno was in Lipa, Batangas where he got the support of the One Batangas Coalition led by Sen. Ralph Recto.
Domagoso, for his part, said what he accomplished in Manila is not rocket science, but just a strong will to do it and to do it fast.
“In fact, it’s duplicable and scalable, so we can do it anywhere. We can do it. It’s always the principle behind governance,” the mayor said.