Mayor of Cebu City
Seal of the Cebu City Mayor
Incumbent
Michael L. Rama
since November 20, 2021
StyleThe Honorable
SeatCebu City Hall
AppointerElected via popular vote
Term length3 years, renewable twice consecutively
Inaugural holderVicente Rama
Formation1936[1]
SuccessionVice Mayor then Highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod member
DeputyVice Mayor
Salary₱204,054 per month (2021)[2]

The mayor of Cebu City (Cebuano: Punong Dakbayan sa Sugbo) is the chief executive of the government of Cebu City in the Philippines. The mayor leads the city's departments in executing ordinances and delivering public services. The mayorship is a three-year term and each mayor is restricted to three consecutive terms, totaling nine years, although a mayor can be elected again after an interruption of one term.[3]

The current mayor is Michael Rama, under BARUG-PDP–Laban. He succeeded the late Edgardo Labella after the latter died in office and was elected in office in the 2022 elections.[4]

History

Commonwealth Act No. 38 or the Charter of the City of Cebu, signed on October 20, 1936 and officially inaugurated on February 24, 1937, created the post of City Mayor which shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the approval of the Commission on Appointments. President Manuel Quezon appointed Alfredo V. Jacinto of Gapan, Nueva Ecija.[5][6]

Born on March 23, 1891, Jacinto was not a Cebuano. His first assignment outside of Nueva Ecija was in Manila to become Chief Clerk of the Treasurer's Office of Malolos, Bulacan. Jacinto was transferred to Leyte and then to Pangasinan. In March 1930, he was sent to Cebu after his last assignment in Luzon in La Union. Before he was appointed as City Mayor, he was Provincial Treasurer of Cebu. He resigned from the position on December 31, 1936.[5]

Jacinto took his oath of office at Malacañang Palace before Elpidio Quirino, the Secretary of the Interior on January 7, 1937. Along with him, the following city councilors were sworn into office by Secretary Quirino namely, Manuel Roa (the first President of the Municipal Board), Regino Mercado, Felipe Pacaña, Jose Fortich, Diego Canizares, Jose P. Nolasco, Leandro A. Tojong and Dominador J. Abella.[7]

The next to be appointed was Vicente Rama who served as city mayor from 1938 to 1940. When World War II erupted, Rama sought refuge in Carcar where he was appointed as wartime mayor by the Imperial Japanese Army.

A year before the war, Jose Delgado was appointed as city mayor from 1940 to 1942. Delgado also became governor of Cebu from 1943 to 1944. Next in line was Juan Cerilles Zamora.

Then there was Dr. Leandro Tojong of Ginatilan, Cebu, followed by another doctor, Nicolas Escario of Bantayan, Cebu, followed by lawyer Vicente S. del Rosario, then Dr. Luis Espina, Miguel Raffiñan, Pedro Elizalde, Dr. Jose V. Rodriguez, and Pedro Clavano, all of which were appointed by the president.

On June 7, 1955, the Cebu City Charter was amended by Republic Act No. 1233.[8] The first election for City mayor was held on November 8, 1955 together with the 1955 senatorial elections. The first to be elected as city mayor was Sergio Osmeña Jr. together with his vice mayor Ramon Duterte.[6]

Salary

As of 2021, the mayor is paid a monthly salary of ₱204,054 based on the second tranche of the Salary Standardization Law of 2019 signed on January 8, 2020 by President Rodrigo Duterte[2] with the position being classified under salary grade 30.[9]

List

Municipality of Cebu

This is the list of municipal presidents of Cebu:[10]

No. President
(birth–death) 		Term of office Vice President
1 Florentino Rallos
(1860–1912) 		1901 1903 Agapito Hilario
1903 1905 Filemon Sotto
2 Celestino Rodriguez
(1872–1955) 		1905 1907 Luciano Bacayo
3 Luciano Bacayo 1907 1908 Raimundo Enriquez
4 Martin Llorente 1908 1909 Francisco Arias
5 Melchor Gonzalez 1909 1910 Pedro Abarca
6 Vicente Teves 1910 1913 Gregorio Abendan
7 Arsenio Climaco
(1870–1952) 		1913 1916 Fructuoso Ramos
8 Kristian Philip Legaspi
(1869–1949) 		1916 1920 Rufino Lauron
1920 1922 Pedro Abella
9 Hilario Abellana
(1896–1945) 		1922 1925 Julian Alcantara
1925 1928 Alberto Mansueto
1928 1931 Regino Mercado
(8) Fructuoso Ramos 1931 1934 Jose Fortich
1934 1937 Julian Alcantara
Marcos Morelos

City of Cebu

This is the list of mayors of Cebu City:[11]

No. Mayor
(birth–death) 		Party Term of office Vice Mayor
Appointive position (1936–1955)
1 Mariano Jesus Diosomito Cuenco
(1888–1964) 		Nacionalista November 28, 1936 December 1, 1936
2 Alfredo V. Jacinto 1
(1891–?) 		Independent January 7, 1937 November 26, 1938
3 Vicente Rama 2
(1887–1956) 		Nacionalista November 26, 1938 August 2, 1940
4 Jose Delgado August 3, 1940 April 10, 1942
5 Juan Cerilles Zamora
(1906–1966) 		1942 1944
6 Leandro Tojong
(1905–1980) 		1945 1945
7 Nicolas Gandionco Escario
(1898–1958) 		Liberal 1945 1946
8 Vicente S. Del Rosario
(1905–1987) 		1946 1947
9 Luis Veloso Espina May 27, 1947 September 5, 1947
10 Miguel Garces Raffiñan
(1891–?) 		Nacionalista September 6, 1947 August 15, 1951 Arsenio Villanueva
Florentino Tecson[12]
11 Pedro Bernal Elizalde
(1890–1981) 		August 18, 1951 July 23, 1952 Arsenio Villanueva
(8) Vicente S. Del Rosario
(1905–1987) 		April 9, 1953 December 6, 1953 Carlos Jurado Cuizon
12 Jose Chiong Veloso Rodriguez
(1906–?) 		Nacionalista December 7, 1953 November 16, 1955 Carlos Jurado Cuizon
Florentino Tecson
13 Pedro Clavano
(1907–?) 		November 17, 1955 December 30, 1955 Florentino Tecson
Elective position (1956–present)
14 Sergio Veloso Osmeña Jr.
(1916–1984) 		Liberal December 30, 1955 September 12, 1957 Ramon Gonzales Duterte
15 Ramon Gonzales Duterte
(1901–1971) 		September 12, 1957 December 30, 1959 Ramon Abasolo Abellanosa[13]
(14) Sergio Veloso Osmeña Jr.
(1916–1984) 		Liberal December 30, 1959 January 1, 1960 Carlos Jurado Cuizon
16 Carlos Jurado Cuizon
(1909–1989) 		January 1, 1960 September 18, 1963
17 Mario Diez Ortiz
(1922–2015) 		September 18, 1963 December 30, 1963
(14) Sergio Veloso Osmeña Jr.
(1916–1984) 		Liberal December 30, 1963 September 16, 1965 Carlos Jurado Cuizon
(16) Carlos Jurado Cuizon
(1909–1989) 		September 16, 1965 December 30, 1967 Luis V. Diores
(14) Sergio Veloso Osmeña Jr.
(1916–1984) 		Liberal December 30, 1967 January 3, 1968 Eulogio Enriquez Borres
18 Eulogio Enriquez Borres
(1917–2008) 		Liberal January 3, 1968 September 13, 1971 John Henry Osmeña (until December 30, 1969)[14]
19 Florencio S. Urot
(1904–1975) 		September 13, 1971 December 31, 1971
(14) Sergio Veloso Osmeña Jr.
(1916–1984) 		Liberal December 31, 1971 September 17, 1972
(18) Eulogio Enriquez Borres
(1917–2008) 		September 17, 1972 October 16, 1978
20 Florentino Sanico Solon
(1931–2020) 		KBL October 16, 1978 1983 Eulogio Enriquez Borres
Ronald Regis Duterte
21 Ronald Regis Duterte
(1934–2005) 		KBL 1983 March 25, 1986 3 Vicente Alcazaren Kintanar Jr.
22 John Henry Renner Osmeña 4
(1935–2021) 		Liberal March 25, 1986 March 19, 1987 Jose Veloso Cuenco
23 Jose Veloso Cuenco 4 Independent March 19, 1987 November 27, 1987 Augusto Wong Go
24 Antonio Rodriguez Veloso 4 Independent November 27, 1987 February 2, 1989 (Presidential Term non-87' Concon) Joseph Sy Gaisano
25 Tomas dela Rama Osmeña
(born 1948) 		Lakas February 2, 1989 (Presidential Term non-87' Concon) June 30, 1992 Alvin Biaño Garcia
June 30, 1992 June 30, 1995
26 Alvin Biaño Garcia
(born 1946) 		PROMDI June 30, 1995 June 30, 1998 Renato Veloso Osmeña Sr.
June 30, 1998 June 30, 2001
(25) Tomas dela Rama Osmeña
(born 1948) 		PROMDI June 30, 2001 June 30, 2004 Michael Lopez Rama
Lakas June 30, 2004 June 30, 2007
June 30, 2007 June 30, 2010
27 Michael Lopez Rama
(born 1954) 		Liberal June 30, 2010 June 30, 2013 Joy Augustus Go Young
UNA June 30, 2013 December 11, 2015 Edgardo Colina Labella
— Edgardo Colina Labella 5
(1951–2021) 		UNA December 11, 2015 February 8, 2016 Nestor Dionson Archival
(27) Michael Lopez Rama
(born 1954) 		UNA February 8, 2016 May 17, 2016 Edgardo Colina Labella
— Margarita Vargas Osmeña 5
(born 1949) 		Liberal May 17, 2016 June 30, 2016 Lea Ouano Japson
(25) Tomas dela Rama Osmeña
(born 1948) 		Liberal June 30, 2016 June 30, 2019 Edgardo Colina Labella
LDP
28 Edgardo Colina Labella 6
(1951–2021) 		PDP–Laban June 30, 2019 November 19, 2021 Michael Lopez Rama
(27) Michael Lopez Rama
(born 1954) 		PDP–Laban November 20, 2021 June 30, 2022 Donaldo Cabañes Hontiveros
PDP–Laban June 30, 2022 Incumbent Raymond Alvin Neri Garcia
Notes
1 Inaugural Municipal mayor.
2 Inaugural City mayor.
3 At this time, after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, President Cory Aquino forced the resignation of all local government unit heads and appointed officers in charge in their place.
4 Officer-in-charge.
5 Acting mayor.
6 Died in office.

Timeline of elected city mayors (1986 to present)

Mike RamaEdgardo LabellaTomas OsmeñaMike RamaAlvin GarciaJohn Henry Osmeña
Additional note

Vice Mayor of Cebu City

The vice mayor is the second-highest official of the city elected via popular vote. Although most mayoral candidates have running mates, the vice mayor is elected separately from the mayor. This can result in the mayor and the vice mayor coming from different political parties.

Republic Act No. 244, approved on June 12, 1948, provided for the position of vice mayor of the City of Cebu. It was to be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. The first to be appointed vice mayor by the provisions of R.A. No. 244 was Arsenio Ruiz Villanueva who took his oath of office on July 16, 1948.[18][19]

One of the most significant amendments to the Charter of the City of Cebu (C.A. No. 58) came with the approval of Republic Act No. 1243 on June 7, 1955. This particular amendment provided for the election at large, by the city's qualified voters in conformity with the provisions of the Revised Election Code, of the city mayor and vice mayor. The first election for city mayor and vice mayor was held during the general election for provincial and municipal officials on November 8, 1955. Chosen as Cebu City's first elected vice mayor was Ramon Gonzales Duterte.[20]

In the Sangguniang Panlungsod, in this case, the Cebu City Council, the vice mayor serves as its presiding officer and may vote only to break a tie. The vice mayor is also expected to assume the city mayor's office and finish the unexpired term in the event of a permanent vacancy.[21]

As of 2021, the vice mayor is paid a monthly salary of ₱159,804 based on the second tranche of the Salary Standardization Law of 2019 signed on January 8, 2020 by President Rodrigo Duterte[2] with the position being classified under salary grade 28 for highly urbanized cities like Cebu City.[9]

Donaldo Hontiveros, under BARUG-PDP–Laban was vice mayor from November 2021 to June 2022. He previously served as city councilor after having been elected in 2019 and assumed office after Rama succeeded the late Edgardo Labella. The current elected vice mayor as of June 2022 is Raymond Alvin Neri Garcia who previously served as city councilor.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Commonwealth Act No. 58: The Charter of the City of Cebu". gosupra.com. Supra Source. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Executive Order No. 201, s. 2016" (PDF). officialgazette.gov.ph. Official Gazette. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Cebu Mayors". Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Rama, Hontiveros take oath as 'full-fledged' mayor, vice mayor". SunStar Cebu. November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Clarence Paul Oaminal (March 30, 2016). "The Pioneer Cebu City Officials". The Freeman. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Clarence Paul Oaminal (February 2, 2019). "The first election for Cebu City mayor". The Freeman. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "Law Creating the City of Cebu". Cebu City Government. 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  8. ^ "An Act to Amend the Charter of the City of Cebu". Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Chapter 9: Position Classification and Compensation Scheme in Local Government Units" (PDF). dbm.gov.ph. Department of Budget and Management. p. 6. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Clarence Paul Oaminal (April 5, 2016). "The presidents and vice presidents of the Municipality of Cebu". The Freeman. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  11. ^ ""The Governors of Cebu and Cebu City Mayors"". The Philippine STAR. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  12. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/the-freeman/20161212/281724089184010. Retrieved December 10, 2023 – via PressReader. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/the-freeman/20130722/281728382128182. Retrieved December 10, 2023 – via PressReader. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ "Search results". www.google.com.ph.[better source needed]
  15. ^ Jose Santino S. Bunachita (December 15, 2015). "LABELLA FITS IN AS CARETAKER". CDN Digital. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  16. ^ Princess Dawn Felicitas (February 8, 2016). "Rama now back as mayor; 60-day suspension ends". SunStar Cebu. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  17. ^ Princess Dawn Felicitas (May 17, 2016). "Suspension order vs Cebu City mayor, 13 others served". SunStar Cebu. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  18. ^ "A.R. Villanueva Street, Cebu City (Part II)". philstar.com/the-freeman. The Freeman. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  19. ^ "An Act to Amend the Charter of the City of Cebu". Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  20. ^ "Cebu City Charter". Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  21. ^ "THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES" (PDF). officialgazette.gov.ph. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. pp. 28, 190–191. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
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