A province-wide assessment of Sangguniang Kabataan Federation presidents in Negros Oriental has placed two youth leaders in a shared top position, with officials from Bindoy and Canlaon City both earning the highest score recorded in this cycle’s evaluation — a result that civil society groups say reflects a growing emphasis on sustained community programming over one-time events.
Randolph Vince Bomediano of the Municipality of Bindoy and Jhon Michael Alvarez of Canlaon City each received a performance rating of 91.80 percent, according to results released by the Visayas Social Pulse Organization in partnership with Transparency Good Governance and Accountability Advocates. The two organizations jointly administered the 2026 Midyear Governance and Participation Index, which measured the performance of SK federation presidents from January through June of this year.
How the Survey Was Conducted
The Visayas Social Pulse Organization said the index drew from a province-wide survey of 2,850 registered SK voters representing Negros Oriental’s 19 municipalities and six cities. Fieldwork was carried out from July 8 to 20, 2026, with the organizations reporting a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.
Respondents were asked to identify the qualities and services they considered most important when evaluating their youth leaders. According to the Visayas Social Pulse Organization, program delivery emerged as the top benchmark — cited by 90 percent of those surveyed — encompassing skills training, mental health initiatives, sports programs and livelihood opportunities. Coordination with local government officials ranked second at 84 percent, followed by representation at 78 percent, transparency at 74 percent, and presence and accessibility at 71 percent.
Full Provincial Standings
Behind the co-topnotchers, Der Neath Divinagracia of Pamplona placed second with a rating of 91.15 percent, while Edilbert Boritlador of Bayawan City ranked third at 90.75 percent. Jaf Vincent Margasiño of Tanjay City placed fourth at 90.30 percent, according to the organizations’ released standings.
Dumaguete City SK Federation President Miguel Lorenzo Aseniero and Guihulngan City’s Melgin Bulandres Jr. shared fifth place, each receiving a rating of 89.90 percent. The complete rankings issued by the two civil society groups are as follows:
- Rank 1 (tied): Randolph Vince Bomediano, Municipality of Bindoy — 91.80%
- Rank 1 (tied): Jhon Michael Alvarez, Canlaon City — 91.80%
- Rank 2: Der Neath Divinagracia, Municipality of Pamplona — 91.15%
- Rank 3: Edilbert Boritlador, Bayawan City — 90.75%
- Rank 4: Jaf Vincent Margasiño, Tanjay City — 90.30%
- Rank 5 (tied): Miguel Lorenzo Aseniero, Dumaguete City — 89.90%
- Rank 5 (tied): Melgin Bulandres Jr., Guihulngan City — 89.90%
- Rank 6: Kaye Ferraren, Bais City — 89.50%
- Rank 7: Sheina Truita, Municipality of Dauin — 89.15%
- Rank 8: Crislaine Jugilon, Municipality of Amlan — 88.95%
- Rank 9 (tied): Crisha Sabac, Municipality of La Libertad — 88.70%
- Rank 9 (tied): Alyannah Shane Anque, Municipality of Valencia — 88.70%
- Rank 10: Rica Abrio, Municipality of Mabinay — 88.35%
Sustained Programs Drive Higher Ratings
The report by Transparency Good Governance and Accountability Advocates and the Visayas Social Pulse Organization found a measurable gap between SK leaders who maintained ongoing programs and those whose activities were confined to single events. According to the study, youth officials with multi-month programs received ratings averaging 24 percent higher than counterparts who focused only on one-time activities.
The organizations noted that the highest-ranked officials had moved beyond isolated sports tournaments or celebrations, instead building consistent programs covering education, health services, digital skills development and employment preparation. The report also highlighted a rising demand among young voters for initiatives targeting mental health, online safety and digital literacy — alongside more traditional community programs.
Coordination with local government was identified as another significant factor in the rankings. The organizations said SK leaders who worked directly with mayors and municipal or city councils to secure funding and align programs consistently performed better in the index.
Index to Be Repeated Regularly
The Visayas Social Pulse Organization and Transparency Good Governance and Accountability Advocates announced that the Midyear Governance and Participation Index will be conducted on an ongoing basis. The organizations said the recurring assessment is intended to track SK federation presidents’ performance over time, highlight effective approaches and promote stronger youth engagement in local governance structures.
Both groups also called on top-ranking youth officials to broaden their programs, share working practices with other SK councils across the province, and uphold transparency and accountability in the management of SK funds.
By the Numbers
- 91.80% — Highest rating, shared by Bomediano (Bindoy) and Alvarez (Canlaon City)
- 2,850 — Registered SK voters included in the province-wide survey
- 19 municipalities and 6 cities — Geographic scope of the survey across Negros Oriental
- 95% — Confidence level stated by the survey organizers
- ±2 percentage points — Reported margin of error
- 24% — Average rating advantage held by SK leaders with sustained multi-month programs over those with only one-time activities
- July 8–20, 2026 — Dates when fieldwork was conducted
- 90% — Proportion of respondents who ranked program delivery as the primary yardstick for evaluating SK performance
Why This Matters
The 2026 Midyear Governance and Participation Index establishes a publicly available, data-backed record of how Negros Oriental’s elected SK federation presidents are performing against criteria defined by their own constituents across the province’s 25 local government units. The documented 24-percent rating gap between officials running sustained programs and those limited to isolated events provides concrete evidence of what young voters prioritise — and sets a clear benchmark for SK leaders seeking to improve their standing. With the Visayas Social Pulse Organization and Transparency Good Governance and Accountability Advocates committing to conduct the index regularly, the rankings are positioned to serve as a recurring accountability tool for youth governance throughout the province.
Source: Breaking News Negros Oriental
