Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 12, 2025, as part of the 2025 Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city elected a mayor, a vice mayor, district representatives, and councilors. Both the mayor and the vice mayor are elected via a first-past-the-post electoral system. On the other hand, the legislative branches include the two district representatives of Cebu City, electing one district representative with 8 councilors. The officials elected will assume their respective offices on June 30, 2025, for a three-year term.
Cebu City councilor and minority leader Nestor Archival won the election, garnering 256,197 votes, defeating incumbent mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, former mayor Mike Rama, and two other candidates. Rama has served as a mayor for over 9 years, having been first elected into the position in 2010 to 2016, and served again in 2021 after the death of mayor Edgar Labella.
For Cebu City's House of Representatives election, in the first district, incumbent congresswoman Rachel Del Mar (NPC) was re-elected for a second term, defeating three other congressional candidates. On the other hand, in the second district, incumbent Eduardo Rama Jr. (Lakas–CMD) defeated BOPK-Independent candidate Rodrigo Abellanosa, winning another second term.
Background In 2021, after the death of former mayor Edgar Labella, then-vice mayor Michael Rama was assumed to his old post again as mayor. He would later again re-run for the mayorship, partnering with Cebu City councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia as his running mate, whom Rama competed against in the 2007 local elections for the vice-mayor post. Rama would later be reelected in the 2022 elections, giving him a full 3-year term along with his running mate Raymond Alvin Garcia.
In October 2024, months before the end of his term, Rama would later be suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman after he was found guilty of nepotism after employing his brother-in-law's as casual employees of the Cebu City Hall. Rama would later be disqualified from holding public office due to the nepotism case, thereby then-vice mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia assuming the mayorship and Cebu City councilor Dondon Hontiveros later assuming the vice-mayor post.
Despite his disqualification and suspension as mayor, Rama still opted to seek re-election, with Dondon Hontiveros as his running mate. Meanwhile, then-mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia also opted to rerun for the mayor post, choosing former Metro Cebu Water District chairman Joey Daluz as his vice-mayoral candidate. Then-Cebu City councilor Nestor Archival also filed his candidacy for mayor, with former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña as his running mate.
Tickets Candidates italicized indicate incumbents seeking reelection.
Administration coalition +PFP-NPC-Aksyon/Kusug–PanaghiusaPosition#CandidateParty Mayor3.Raymond Alvin Garcia Vice mayor1. Joey Daluz Representative(1st district)2.Rachel del Mar Representative(2nd district)1.Eduardo Rama Jr. Councilor(1st district)3. Jun Alcover 8.Glena Bontuyan 12. Joel Garganera 13. Harold Kendrick Go 15.Ailien Guardo 19.Edgardo-Jaypee Labella 25.RJ Osmeña 27.Winston Pepito Councilor(2nd district)2. Pie Abella 6.Opel Abellanosa 17.James Cuenco 21.Rey Gealon 22. Jeson Guardo 25. Eugene Labella 31. Renato Osmeña 36. Dave Tumulak
Opposition coalitions +PDP-Lakas-LDP/Partido Barug BagOng SugboPosition#CandidateParty Mayor4.Mike Rama Vice mayor2.Dondon Hontiveros Representative(1st district)4. Franklyn Ong Representative(2nd district)2.Eduardo Rama Jr. Councilor(1st district)2. Mae-Anne Aguipo 7. Titing Biton 16. Ernesto Herrera II 9. Maria Pino Buanghug 20. Rey Lauron 23. Rex Millan 30. Jessica Resch 32. Noel Wenceslao Councilor(2nd district)3. Nobie Abella-Cabatino 8. Ramon Alcoseba 10. Gremar Barete 18. Harry Eran 19. Francis Esparis 32. Joy Pesquera 33. Mikel Rama 38. Phillip Zafra +Liberal-Akbayan/BOPKPosition#CandidateParty Mayor1.Nestor Archival Vice mayor3.Tomas Osmeña Representative(1st district)1. Mary Ann de los Santos Representative(2nd district)1.Rodrigo Abellanosa Councilor(1st district)4. Bebs Andales 5. Nice Archival 6. Alvin Arcilla 10. Jijing Candungog 11. Alvin Dizon 14. Mac Gordon 18. Boy Labella 22. Mat Eric Medalle Councilor(2nd district)1. Michelle Abella 5. Jose Abellanosa 7. Raf Alcoseba 13. Robert "Bobcab" Cabarrubias 20. Jun "Jungabs" Gabuya 26. Paul Labra 28. Boyet Ocampo 30. Ian Osmeña +Partido CebuanoPosition#CandidateParty Mayor1.Yogi Ruiz Councilor(1st district)17. Niceforo Iroy 26. Lary Otadoy 29. Ren Ranche Councilor(2nd district)9. Bonel Balingit 11. Susan Jaca Berido 12. Vic Buendia 24. Omar Kintanar 27. Emman Maranga 29. Renil Oliva 34. Arlene Salahuddin
Other candidates
+Candidates not in ticketsPosition#CandidateParty Mayor2. Julieto Co Representative(1st district)3. Bert Lerios Councilor(1st district)1. Edgar Aballe 21. Niña Mabatid 24. Gyle Ombajin 28. Mike Ralota 31. Kevin Anthony Sanchez Councilor(2nd district)4. Win-Win Abellana 14. Ali Cabido 15. Yvonne Cania 16. Jerone Castillo 23. Rom Regala Gutobat 35. Aldem Tello 37. Abdon Verdida Jr.
Mayoralty and vice mayoralty elections Mayor
Vice mayor
District representatives Cebu City's 1st district Incumbent Rachel del Mar (Nationalist People's Coalition) ran for a second term. She was previously elected in 2022 with 45.99% of the vote and a 50,350 vote (20.65%) margin over her closest opponent.
Del Mar ran against three other candidates, including Cebu City councilor Mary Ann de los Santos (BOPK-Liberal) and Cebu City Liga ng mga Barangay president Franklyn Ong (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino). Both Del Mar and Ong ran under BOPK in the previous elections, with Del Mar defecting from her late father Raul's longtime party (BOPK), in favor of incumbent mayor Garcia's Kugi Uswag Sugbo.
Del Mar won re-election, albeit with a decreased margin of 23,876 votes (9.56%), over second-placer Ong.
Cebu City's 2nd district Incumbent Eduardo "Edu" Rama Jr. (Lakas–CMD) ran for a second term. He was first elected in 2022 under PDP–Laban with 54.43% of the vote and a 25,615 vote (8.78%) margin over opponent BG Rodrigo Abellanosa, Rodrigo Abellanosa's son.
Rama is running against former representative Rodrigo Abellanosa (BOPK-Independent). Rama, a candidate for Partido Barug BagOng Sugbo coalition, is also adopted by the Kusug–Panaghiusa coalition as a guest candidate.
Rama won re-election with an increased margin of 49,332 votes (15.78%) over Abellanosa.
City Council elections
1st district Cebu City's 1st councilor district consists of the same area as Cebu City's 1st legislative district. Eight councilors are elected from this councilor district.
31 candidates were included in the ballot.
2nd district Cebu City's 2nd councilor district consists of the same area as Cebu City's 2nd legislative district. Eight councilors are elected from this councilor district.
38 candidates were included in the ballot.
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