Sammy Co Leads Ranking of Top-Performing City Mayors in Zamboanga Peninsula

Daphne Santuyo

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — Sammy Co of Pagadian City has been recognized as among the top-performing city mayors in the Zamboanga Peninsula, according to the latest “Boses ng Bayan” Index of Governance (IOG) survey released by RPMD Foundation Inc..

The survey, conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026, gathered responses from 5,000 randomly selected registered voters across the region. It focused exclusively on evaluating the performance of city mayors, measuring both public trust and governance effectiveness.

Mayor Co obtained an 83.7% rating, placing him in a statistical tie for the top spot among all city mayors surveyed. Given the study’s ±1% margin of error, he shares the lead with Dapitan City Mayor Belen Uy, indicating comparable levels of approval and confidence from their respective constituents.

The IOG rating integrates multiple governance indicators, including delivery of basic services, infrastructure development, fiscal responsibility, public safety, environmental management, and responsiveness to citizen concerns.

Analysts interpret Co’s strong showing as a reflection of sustained public approval of his leadership in Pagadian City. His administration has been noted for its visibility in communities, responsiveness to local issues, and implementation of programs with tangible results.

The survey also highlights a growing trend among voters in the region, who are increasingly prioritizing performance and results over political affiliation. City mayors who demonstrate transparency, accessibility, and effective service delivery tend to receive higher ratings.

Joining the list of top-rated city mayors are Khymer Adan Olaso of Zamboanga City and Berto Uy of Dipolog City, both statistically tied for second place, along with Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman of Isabela City.

All five mayors surpassed the 70% benchmark, indicating very strong public approval, and exceeded RPMD’s minimum passing rate of 55%.

For Pagadian City, Co’s ranking reflects continued confidence in his governance and leadership direction. Local observers attribute this to consistent public service delivery and a focus on programs that directly benefit communities.

Overall, the findings underscore a clear pattern across the Zamboanga Peninsula: city mayors who remain engaged with their constituents and deliver concrete results are the ones who earn the highest levels of public trust.

With this recognition, Mayor Sammy Co further solidifies his standing as one of the region’s leading city mayors in terms of governance and public satisfaction.