Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said he personally paid for the survey conducted by Random Access Consultants Inc. that gauged the knowledge of Ilonggos on COVID-19.
Treñas issued the clarification after a radio station claimed that the COVID-19 survey included a political survey that involved the mayor and his kin.
“Please be informed that I personally paid for the RACI survey just to really check how we can continue to lower the cases in the city. The results of RACI clearly gave us a guide on how to navigate through these most difficult times. No funds of the city were used for this survey in my effort to find ways and means to flatten the curve,” Treñas said.
Using the survey results, Treñas said he also requested the help of UP Visayas’s Mass Com department “to help us come up with a media communications plan to guide us as we find ways and means to help each other flatten the curve.”
“We are also working with media group of some friends to help in our media campaign strategies. In all these, no funds of the City Government have been used. Hopefully we will be able to help each other flatten the curve.”
Treñas said he wants a science-based approach in crushing the infection and this can only be done by gauging the residents’ level and quality of knowledge about COVID-19.
He added that he will not mind negative comments about the survey as he needs the information to formulate policies and strategies.
“If it takes scientific data to help us find that unique strategy to help flatten the curve, I will always pursue it since COVID-19 can only be flattened using science. If some people find it offensive that I commissioned RACI using my own funds to help us find ways and means to flatten the curve, so be it. I will not stop in seeking what we can do using science to flatten the curve. We can only help each other flatten the curve and I am waiting for your assistance.”
The mayor said any person or group is welcome to verify if public funds were used in the survey.
“No funds of the city were used for the RACI survey and this can be verified with the city accountant, the city treasurer and other offices of the city. I thank RACI for their assistance to us in this endeavor. I would like also to thank UPV and the others who are helping the city pro bono in order that we can approach the problem with a guide, and in the true spirit of bayanihan.”
