Inspired by the results of his “dramatic bounce” in a recent political survey that placed him second among the among presidential candidates in the May 10 elections, Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro is now more determined to work harder in his campaign sorties to ensure his victory as the country’s next leader.

“I’ll not stop till I’m No. 1,” Teodoro said in an interview after the Chamber of Thrift Banks of the Philippines in Makati City.

In a recent survey conducted by The Campaigns & Images Group showed that the 45-year-old former defense secretary has jumped to second position after he earned six more points in the poll from his previous rating of 18 percent in February 17.

Based on the survey conducted by the CIG last March 7, Gibo’s ratings has surged to 24 percent, overtaking Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who dropped to third place after showing a 20 percent rating.

Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP) retains the No. 1 slot in the survey among presidential bets with 31 percent rating.

This developed as Teodoro stressed that displaced farmers should be employed by the government on temporary basis in state-funded construction projects to ease the impact of El Niño on agriculture.

Teodoro said that the move will ensure a source of income during the lean months before the next harvest.

Teodoro also said that supporting agriculture by rationalizing the government's agrarian reform program and putting up more efficient farm-to-market infrastructure will help ensure the country's long term food security.

“The government must lend a hand in order to keep those farming families affected by the El Niño phenomenon from starving. Aid can be rendered in the form of emergency employment in state-funded construction projects where they (farmers) can be utilized in the building of roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects,” said Teodoro, 1989 Philippine Bar topnotcher and Harvard-trained lawyer.

Lawyer Mike Toledo, Teodoro’s campaign spokesman, attributed Gibo’s big improvement in the survey rating on the combined support of the youth sector and the political machinery of the administration party.

“As the campaign period for local candidates kick off on March 27, the top-of-mind shares for Teodoro is expected to increase by 800 percent.  Like (Sen. Manuel) Villar, first-name choice for Teodoro among voters will be higher in subsequent surveys,” Campaigns & Image earlier said.

Teodoro also pointed out that this early, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Agriculture (DA) should conduct a tally to determine exactly on many farming families were affected by El Niño.