TAGUIG City Mayor Lino Cayetano was among five Metro Manila mayors who scored the highest approval ratings from their constituents for their response to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an independent non-commissioned tracking survey.
Cayetano landed in fifth place with his whopping 68 percent rating given by Taguig residents interviewed for the Covid-19 Online Panel Survey of PUBLiCUS Asia in partnership with Kantar from May 5 to 8.
The Taguig residents were among the 1000 Metro Manila residents aged 18 to 70 survey respondents, who were asked to indicate their level of approval or disapproval with the manner in which their mayors and city governments were responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apart from Cayetano, mayors Rex Gatchalian of Valenzuela, Vico Sotto of Pasig, Isko Moreno of Manila and Marcy Teodoro of Marikina landed in the top five.
According to the results of the survey, 22.22 percent strongly approve of Cayetano’s performance, while 46.03 percent expressed approval.
Those who neither approved nor disapproved, and disapproved were at 14.29 percent each, while those who strongly disapproved were at a meager 3.17 percent.
“The best case practices employed by these high-performing local chief executives and city governments should be studied and emulated by other LGUs and government institutions working to beat Covid-19,” said Aureli Sinsuat, PUBLiCUS executive director and spokesperson.
Taguig has been pro-active in addressing the Covid-19 crisis. Taguig City is among the first LGUs in the National Capital Region to design a response to Covid-19, having begun since January. Among others, it disseminated important information on the infection and began stocking up on protective gear for frontline workers and vulnerable populations.
Beginning March, it partnered with the private sector in containment and contact tracing efforts, and even in sterilizing workplaces. It also distributed disinfectants and sprayers to barangays for community-based sanitation efforts.
Embracing the new normal, it rolled out web-based services in consultation and education. In healthcare, patients can contact specialists in medical and mental health concerns through Telemedicine.
Since mid-April, too, the city has offered Taguig Online Resources and Community Hub (TORCH), which offers online learning platforms for students, teachers, businessmen and senior citizens, among others.
Taguig City was also aggressive in providing humanitarian and protective assistance. It has distributed “stay-at-home” food packs and hygiene kits to households, and anti-Covid kits to the elderly and persons with disabilities.
It was among the very first local government units to sign a memorandum of agreement with the national government for the Social Amelioration Program, which is supplemented with its very own Taguig Amelioration Program.
Right around the same time, it also rolled out financial assistance programs for transport workers and city scholars; and increases in salaries and allowances for frontline workers.
The medical aspect also got due focus. Taguig prepared hospitals and other facilities for containment and treatment. It also addressed the clamor for mass testing with Systematic Mass Approach to Responsible Testing, which features hospital testing, house-to-house testing, community-based testing through health centers and even drive-thru testing. (PR)