Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 9, 2022 within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city elected their mayor, vice mayor, district representatives, and city council members. The mayor and vice mayor were elected in separate first-past-the-post votes. While for the legislative branch, Cebu City is divided into two districts wherein the constituents of each district elected a congressional representative (through first-past-the-post voting) and eight regular city council members (through multi-member plurality voting).
Incumbent mayor Mike Rama (Barug-PDP–Laban) won a full term by defeating former acting mayor Margot Osmeña (BO–PK-LDP) and four other independent candidates. Rama, who was elected vice mayor in 2019, ascended to the mayorship upon the death of Mayor Edgardo Labella in 2021. Rama also previously served two consecutive terms as mayor from 2010 to 2016. Rama's running mate, councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia (KUSUG/PDP–Laban), was elected vice mayor by defeating Osmeña's running mate, councilor Franklyn Ong.
In the Cebu City Council, Rama's ticket composed of Barug-PDP–Laban, KUSUG, and three independents won twelve seats (five seats in the 1st district and seven in the 2nd district). Meanwhile, Osmeña's BO–PK-LDP ticket garnered the remaining four seats (three seats in the 1st district and one in the 2nd district) down from the eight they held in the outgoing term.
For Cebu City's House of Representatives seats: in the 1st district, Rachel del Mar (NPC) was elected for a second non-consecutive term to the seat vacated by her father, Raul del Mar, who died in office back in 2020. Meanwhile, in the 2nd district, councilor Eduardo "Edu" Rama Jr. (PDP–Laban), Mike Rama's nephew, defeated LDP's nominee BG Rodrigo Abellanosa, son of the term-limited incumbent Rodrigo Abellanosa.
The elected officials assumed their respective offices on June 30, 2022 and are expected to each serve a three-year term until June 30, 2025.
Background
Prior to his death on November 19, 2021, then mayor Edgardo Labella chose not to seek re-election in 2022, paving the way for then vice mayor Michael Rama to seek a return to his old post as mayor. Rama, who previously served as mayor from 2010 to 2016, teamed up with incumbent city councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia as his candidate for vice mayor whom he competed against for the position of vice mayor in 2007 but has since become allies when the latter's political party KUSUG endorsed Rama's re-election in 2013.
Margarita Osmeña, a former city councilor and wife of former mayor Tomas Osmeña, has also decided to throw her hat into the mayoral race together with incumbent city councilor Franklyn Ong as her candidate for vice mayor. Ong is currently serving as Kasambagan barangay captain and as ex officio member of the Cebu City Council representing the Liga ng mga Barangay - Cebu City Chapter. Osmeña has previously served as acting mayor from May 17, 2016 to June 30, 2016 with the suspension of then mayor Rama. If elected, Osmeña will be the first woman mayor of the city.
Several personalities have also filed their candidacies such as incumbent city councilor David Tumulak as mayor, former city administrator Bimbo Fernandez as vice mayor, actor and businessman Richard Yap as representative of Cebu City's 1st congressional district, and former mayor Tomas Osmeña as representative of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district. However, Osmeña withdrew his candidacy days before the substitution deadline and was replaced by BG Rodrigo Abellanosa, son of Rodrigo Abellanosa.
Term-limited and retiring incumbents
The following are "third-termers", who are term limited.
Congressional representative Rodrigo Abellanosa (BOPK/LDP)
Councilors David Tumulak (BARUG/Nacionalista) Eugenio Gabuya Jr. (BOPK/LDP)
Candidates Official candidates The Commission on Elections is expected to publish a final list of accepted candidates by early 2022.
Filed certificates of candidacies The following have filed certificates of candidacies, formally notifying the commission that they are running.
Mayor October 4 Edgar Concha Jr. (Independent), call center agent October 7 Margarita Osmeña (BOPK/LDP), former city councilor, term limited in 2019 Crisologo Saavedra Jr. (Independent), businessman David Tumulak (Independent), incumbent city councilor October 8 Jose Layon (Reporma) Juanito Luna (Independent) Michael Rama (BARUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent vice mayor and former mayor
Vice Mayor October 4 Bimbo Fernandez (Liberal Party), former undersecretary of interior and local government and former city administrator Fernandez was initially endorsed by a group of non-government organizations to run for mayor but opted to run for vice mayor. October 5 Franklyn Ong (BOPK/LDP), incumbent city councilor and president of Liga ng mga Barangay - Cebu City Chapter October 8 Raymond Alvin Garcia (KUSUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent city councilor
1st District Representative October 3 Richard Yap (NUP), actor and businessman, lost election in 2019 October 5 Rachel del Mar (BOPK/NPC), former representative of Cebu City's 1st congressional district October 8 Prisca Niña Mabatid (BARUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent city councilor Manuel Momongan (Independent) Avenescio Piramide (Lakas–CMD)
2nd District Representative October 8 Eduardo Rama Jr. (BARUG/PDP-Laban), incumbent city councilor
1st District Representative October 1 Gian Aznar (PROMDI), former seafarer and teacher October 5 Lea Ouano-Japson (PROMDI/LDP), incumbent city councilor Winston Pepito (Reporma), incumbent Bacayan barangay councilor Joy Augustus Young (BOPK/LDP), incumbent city councilor and former vice mayor October 7 Sisinio Andales (BOPK/LDP), former city councilor Nestor Archival (BOPK/LDP), incumbent city councilor Alvin Arcilla (BOPK/LDP), former city councilor Arturo Barrit (BOPK/LDP), spokesperson of Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) Alvin Dizon (BOPK/LDP), incumbent city councilor October 8 Pastor Alcover Jr. (BARUG/PDP–Laban), former city councilor, lost re-election in 2019 Maria Buanghug (BARUG/PDP–Laban), vendors group leader Mary Ann de los Santos (BOPK/LDP), former city councilor Roland Empleo (Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi) Joel Garganera (Independent), incumbent city councilor Jerry Guardo (BARUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent city councilor Edwin Jagmoc (Independent), former city councilor Emmanuel Labella (Independent), brother of mayor Edgardo Labella Edgardo Labella II (BARUG/PDP–Laban), son of mayor Edgardo Labella, lost election in 2016 Reynald Lauron (PANAGHIUSA/Aksyon Demokratiko), incumbent Cambinocot barangay captain Melvin Legaspi (BARUG/PDP–Laban), lawyer Peter Mancao (BARUG/PDP–Laban), deputy task force leader of the city's Covid-19 vaccine rollout Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao (BARUG/PDP–Laban), former city councilor, lost re-election in 2016
2nd District Councilor October 5 Raul Alcoseba (BOPK/LDP), incumbent city councilor October 6 Alejandro Cabido (Independent) Janet Calleno (Independent) October 7 Josephine Abella-Maglasang (BOPK/LDP), sister of the late Atty. Amay Abella Gremar Barete (BOPK/LDP), incumbent Buhisan barangay captain Roberto Cabarrubias (BOPK/LDP), former city councilor Cornelio Jaca (BOPK/LDP), retired Municipal Trial Courts in Cities judge Omar Kintanar (BOPK/LDP), incumbent Cogon Pardo barangay councilor Ana Gabriela Beatriz Osmeña (BOPK/LDP), daughter-in-law of former mayor Tomas Osmeña October 8 Raymundo Crystal (PANAGHIUSA) James Anthony Cuenco (BARUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent city councilor Assumed office on September 15, 2020 to replace his father, Antonio Cuenco. Alan Dinampo (Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi) Harry Eran (BARUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent Cogon Pardo barangay captain Pancrasio Esparis (BARUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent Quiot barangay captain Rey Gealon (BARUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent city legal officer Donaldo Hontiveros (Independent), incumbent city councilor Renato Osmeña Jr. (BARUG/PDP–Laban), incumbent city councilor Samuel Panilagao (Independent) Jocelyn Pesquera (BARUG/PDP-Laban), former city councilor Simeon Romarate (PANAGHIUSA), incumbent Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) head Phillip Zafra (Independent), incumbent city councilor
Candidates who withdrew These are the candidates who have filed candidacies, but later withdrew: Michael Bantasan (NUP) On October 8, Bantasan filed to run for representative of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district. On October 12, Bantasan withdrew his candidacy. Tomas Osmeña (BOPK/LDP), former mayor On October 7, Osmeña filed to run for representative of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district. On November 12, Osmeña withdrew his candidacy and was substituted by BG Rodrigo Abellanosa, son of Rodrigo Abellanosa. Michael Matañoza (PROMDI) On October 8, Matañoza filed to run for mayor of Cebu City. On November 15, Matañoza withdrew his candidacy. Clifford Jude Niñal (BOPK/LDP), incumbent San Nicolas Proper barangay captain On October 7, Niñal filed to run for 2nd district councilor of Cebu City. On November 15, Niñal withdrew his candidacy and was substituted by Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa, son of Rodrigo Abellanosa.
Declined to be candidates For mayor Rodrigo Abellanosa (BOPK/LDP), incumbent representative of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district Abellanosa considered running for city mayor but ultimately gave way to Margarita Osmeña. Chuck Barandog, police official Tomas Osmeña (BOPK/LDP), former mayor and former representative of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district
For 1st District representative Mary Ann de los Santos (BOPK/LDP), former city councilor De los Santos, who unsuccessfully ran for vice mayor in 2019, opted to run for city councilor. Mariano Osmeña (PROMDI), businessman
For 2nd District representative Jocelyn Pesquera (BARUG/PDP-Laban), former city councilor Pesquera, who unsuccessfully ran for representative of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district in 2019, opted to run for city councilor.
For 1st District councilor Garry Lao, former Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention head and incumbent City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention head
For 2nd District councilor Gerardo Carillo, former city councilor Jessica Resch, incumbent Sangguniang Kabataan Federation - Cebu City president
Non-candidates Antonio Cuenco (BARUG/PDP–Laban) – Died on June 27, 2020. Served his first term as Cebu City councilor. Raul del Mar (BOPK/Liberal) – Died on November 16, 2020. Served his third and last term as representative of Cebu City's 1st District. Edgardo Labella (BARUG/PDP–Laban) – Died on November 19, 2021. Did not seek re-election for mayor of Cebu City.
Opinion polling + Mayoralty elections Fieldworkdate(s) Pollster Samplesize MoE ConchaInd. LunaInd. OsmeñaLDP RamaPDP–Laban SaavedraInd. TumulakInd. Others /None Feb 14–21 ±3.0% — — 25 30 — 38 — — — Apr 1–5 ±3.0% — — 37 22 — 34 — 7 —
Mayoralty and vice mayoralty elections Mayor Margarita Osmeña, a former city councilor and wife of former mayor Tomas Osmeña, is challenging incumbent mayor Michael Rama for the position of mayor. Outgoing city councilor David Tumulak has also joined the race as an independent candidate.
Vice mayor Incumbent city councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Franklyn Ong are competing for the position of vice mayor along with former city administrator Bimbo Fernandez.
District representatives 1st District
Actor Richard Yap is running again as 1st district representative after losing to the late Raul del Mar in the 2019 elections. Yap will face off with former party mate and incumbent city councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid and del Mar's daughter Rachel, who previously served as the district's representative from 2010 to 2013.
2nd District