QUEZON City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte was the top-performing local chief executive in the National Capital Region based on the latest evaluation conducted by an independent research firm.

Belmonte, now in her second term, bested 16 other mayors in Metro Manila.

The noncommissioned survey conducted by the RP Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) showed Belmonte retaining her position as the top-performing mayor in the NCR with a job approval rating of 95.7 percent and a trust rating of 97.2 percent.

Statistically tied for second place are Jeannie Sandoval of Malabon City with approval and trust ratings of 92.5 percent and 94.6 percent, respectively; Dale “Along” Malapitan of Caloocan City with 92.3 percent approval and 93.7 percent trust; John Rey Tiangco of Navotas City with 92.1 percent approval and 93.5 percent trust; and Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano of Pasay City with 91.8 percent approval and 92.7 percent trust.

They were followed by Mayors Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto of Pasig City and Eric Olivarez of Parañaque City, who achieved approval and trust ratings of 88.5 percent and 91.8 percent and 87.6 percent and 88.4 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay of Makati City, with an approval rating of 85.3 percent and a trust rating of 87.2 percent, and Benjamin Abalos Sr. of Mandaluyong City, with an approval rating of 85.1 percent and a trust rating of 86.9 percent, secured the fourth position.

They were followed by Mayors Maria Sheilah Honrado “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan of Manila (83.6 percent approval, 85.4 percent), Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa (83.4 percent approval, 86.2 percent), Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela (80.5 percent approval, 84.8 percent trust), Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro of Marikina (80.2 percent approval, 85.1 percent trust), Lani Mercado of Taguig (79.5 percent approval, 81.7 percent trust), Francisco Javier “Francis” Zamora of San Juan (77.3 percent approval, 78.6 percent trust), Miguel “Ike” Ponce 3rd of Pateros (74.4 percent approval, 75.9 percent trust), and Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas (72.8 percent approval, 74.2 percent trust).

Among the top-performing representatives, Tobias “Toby” Tiangco of Navotas stood out with a robust 93.8 percent approval rating and a 95.1 percent trust rating. tied for the first position were Camille Villar of Las Piñas with 93.6 percent approval and 94.6 percent trust, Stella Quimbo of Marikina with 93.5 percent approval and 95.8 percent trust, Marivic Co-Pilar of Quezon City with 93.2 percent approval and 94.7 percent trust, and Oscar “Oca” Malapitan of Caloocan, who got a 93.1 percent approval and a 95.2 percent trust rating.

Lawmakers Marvin Rillo of Quezon City, with an approval rating of 89.9 percent and a trust rating of 90.5 percent, along with Benny Abante of Manila, who received an approval rating of 89.65 percent and a trust rating of 91.88 percent, Ralph Tulfo of Quezon City, with 89.3 percent approval and 90.2 percent trust, Roman Romulo (88.9 percent approval, 90.75 percent trust) of Pasig, and Antonio Calixto of Pasay, who scored an approval rating of 88.7 percent and a trust rating of 89.4 percent, statistically tied for the second spot.

Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales 2nd of Mandaluyong, who secured an approval rating of 87.5 percent and a trust rating of 89.9 percent, tied in the third rank alongside Representatives Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas of Quezon City with 87.3 percent approval and 88.5 percent trust, Franz Pumaren of Quezon City with 87.2 percent approval and 88.3 percent trust, Dean Assistio of Caloocan with 87.1 percent approval and 88.8 percent trust, and Ysabel Zamora of San Juan, who scored an approval rating of 86.7 percent and a trust rating of 89.5 percent.

Securing the fourth rank are Rep. Gus Tambunting of Parañaque, with 85.1 percent approval and 87.9 percent trust, and Rep. Arjo Atayde of Quezon City, with an approval rating of 84.8 percent and a trust rating of 86.7 percent.

In the fifth rank are Rep. Edward Maceda of Manila, with an approval rating of 83.4 percent and a trust rating of 86.6 percent, and Rep. Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa, who received an approval rating of 82.7 percent and a trust rating of 85.4 percent.

Dr. Paul Martinez of RPMD said that regular performance appraisals of mayors and district representatives are fundamental for cultivating accountability, transparency and effective governance.

The survey, part of the national “RPMD’s Boses ng Bayan” poll conducted from June 25 to July 5, 2023, involved 10,000 registered voters.