A Facebook page named “Transparency Good Governance, and Accountability Advocates” has recently attracted attention in Negros Occidental, after several political leaders began sharing posts ranking them among the province’s “top-performing leaders.”
The posts, presented through graphic cards, claim to be based on a survey assessing Transparency, Accountability, Participation, Responsiveness, and Effectiveness — evaluating performance during the first 100 days and the third quarter of the year.
The post, which was published on October 21, quickly drew strong reactions from supporters. Several local government units (LGUs) even shared it on their official Facebook pages before some later took the posts down.
However, Brigada News FM’s verification shows that the group’s identity cannot be verified. The Facebook page was created only on August 3, 2025, with no verifiable information about its administrators, organizational structure, or data-gathering process.
Brigada reached out to the administrators of the page and attempted to contact the number listed, but no one responded.
Despite these gaps, some local officials have already shared and celebrated their inclusion in the rankings.
This has raised concerns about the spread of unverified information, especially when such content is amplified by public servants whose posts can easily shape public opinion.
Baited?
In the city category of the survey, Talisay Mayor Maria Rowena Lizares topped the list.
Escalante Mayor Melecio Yap ranked second, followed by Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, Victorias Mayor Abelardo Bantug III, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson, Sagay Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, and Bago Mayor Mayette Javellana.
The list also included San Carlos Mayor Rene Gustilo, Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda, and Sipalay Mayor Gina Lizares.
In the town category, the questionable page named La Castellana Añejo Nicor as the top-ranking mayor.
He was followed by San Enrique Jilson Tubillara, Murcia Mayor Victor Gerardo Rojas, Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Antonio Peña, Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara, Binalbagan Mayor Emmanuel Aranda, Isabela Mayor Miguel Yulo, and Hinigaran and Toboso Mayors Mary Grace Arceo and Richard Jaojoco, respectively.
The page also listed EB Magalona Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon, Hinoba-an Mayor Daph Antony Reliquias, and Calatrava Mayor Marilyn Era.
False hope
Governance experts and social media analysts have long cautioned against endorsing online recognition from unverified sources, noting that such actions may mislead constituents and divert attention from legitimate performance assessments.
While every LGU naturally seeks acknowledgment for its achievements, credibility and integrity remain essential.
True validation should come from recognized and transparent institutions, not from social media pages with no accountability or public record.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provides an official and comprehensive measure of local governance through the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) — a national assessment that evaluates LGUs based on sound financial administration, disaster preparedness, peace and order, social protection, environmental management, and other measurable indicators.
Ironically, some LGUs that actively share unverified “survey” results have not even been recognized under the SGLG last year, which undergoes a strict and evidence-based evaluation process.
This highlights a growing concern: public recognition must be earned through real work, not online validation.
At a time when misinformation can easily spread, it is more vital that LGUs must focus on meeting authentic performance standards set by the DILG — benchmarks that reflect genuine transparency, accountability, and service to the people.
Until the administrators of the page disclose verifiable information about its operations, its rankings remain unofficial, unverified, and questionable.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.