Gov. Ann Hofer Recognized as Philippines' Second Highest-Rated Governor in RPMD Survey

Daphne Santuyo

Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay — Governor Dulce Ann K. Hofer has secured another major milestone in public service after being recognized as the second highest-ranked provincial governor in the Philippines in the First Quarter 2026 "Boses ng Bayan" Index of Governance (IOG) conducted by the independent RPMD Foundation Inc.

The survey placed Gov. Hofer immediately behind the country's top-ranked governors, earning an Index of Governance score of 85.39 percent, supported by an 85.31 percent public trust rating and an 85.47 percent performance rating.

The recognition came after a multi-level assessment in which governors were first evaluated by their own constituents. Only those who emerged as the highest-rated provincial leaders in their respective regions advanced to the national evaluation.

Gov. Hofer led the survey's second national ranking cluster, placing her among the country's elite group of provincial chief executives recognized for earning the confidence of their constituents through governance and public service.

The RPMD Foundation explained that the Index of Governance measures both public trust and governance performance, providing a comprehensive picture of how provincial leaders are perceived by the people they serve.

To determine the rankings, respondents assessed governors in critical areas of governance, including leadership, delivery of social services, infrastructure development, fiscal management, public safety, disaster preparedness, environmental protection, transparency, innovation, public engagement, and responsiveness to community concerns.

The survey was conducted independently in April 2026, involving 5,000 randomly selected registered voters in every region across the country. Respondents represented various socioeconomic sectors and were proportionately distributed across provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays to ensure that the results reflected the sentiments of local constituents. The survey has a ±1 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.

According to RPMD Executive Director Dr. Paul Martinez, the findings underscore that sustained public trust is earned through leadership that is visible, accountable, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the people.

Gov. Hofer's latest national recognition adds to the growing list of distinctions earned by the Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibugay in recent years, reflecting the province's continued emphasis on effective governance, responsive public service, disaster preparedness, infrastructure development, and social welfare programs.