2022 Cebu City local elections

Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 9, 2022 within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city will be electing candidates for the following elective local posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative, and eight councilors at-large for each district. There are two legislative districts in the city.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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
BG Rodrigo Abellanosa is eyeing to succeed his father, incumbent district representative Rodrigo Abellanosa. He will face off against Eduardo Rama Jr., an incumbent city councilor and nephew of incumbent mayor Michael Rama.

City Council elections
Incumbents are expressed in italics.

1st District

 * Key: Italicized: incumbent

2nd District

 * Key: Italicized: incumbent