Political candidates vying for the mayoral position in Cebu City engage in a pact
Going for Gold in Cebu City: Mayoral Candidate Economic Agendas, 2025
The 2025 mayoral race in sunny Cebu City is heating up with candidates throwing their hats into the ring, each promising to bring gold to the urban metropolis. Here's a peek at their plans to get the city shining.
1. Incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia (Kugi Uswag Sugbu)
Mayor Garcia's three-pronged approach involves revitalizing the heritage district, expanding the South Road Property as a new central business district, and nurturing a creative industry hub. With the goal of making Cebu the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital of the Philippines, Mayor Garcia plans to preserve the city's cultural heritage.
2. Nestor Archival (Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan)
Archival's focus is on uplifting vulnerable sectors within the city. He targets legislation to require businesses to allocate at least 10% of their workforce to marginalized groups like the elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and single parents. Additionally, Archival proposes free healthcare services and employment opportunities for these groups.
3. Kanhi Customs Commissioner Yogi Ruiz
With the vision of making Cebu City the most livable city in the Philippines, Ruiz plans to attract tourists and investors to the South Road Property, while utilizing wasteland for city development.
4. Kanhi Mayor Michael Rama (Partido Barug – Team Rama)
Rama’s ambition is to enhance the connection between City Hall and the business sector, doubling or even tripling the support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He intends to establish a startup hub within the South Road Property, similar to innovation hubs in Singapore.
5. Juliette Co (Independent Candidate)
Unfortunately, independent candidate Juliette Co did not provide specific economic development plans during their public appearances.
In the forums, the candidates addressed the common concerns about bureaucratic red tape and hurdles to doing business in the city, especially adhering to the provisions of the Ease of Doing Business Act (RA 11032).
Stay tuned as we continue to gather detailed insights into the economic development strategies of these mayoral candidates, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision when casting your vote in 2025.
References:[1] Cebu City mayoral candidates present economic plans in CCCI forum[2] Mayor Garcia fails to attend CCCI forum for Cebu City mayoral candidates[3] Economic Development Plans of 2025 Cebu City Mayoral Candidates[4] 2025 Cebu City Mayoral Candidate Profiles[5] Michael Rama’s Vision for Cebu City
- Nestor Archival (Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan) intends to implement legislation that mandates businesses to employ at least 10% of their workforce from marginalized sectors, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and single parents, and offers free healthcare services and job opportunities for these groups.
- Independently-running candidate Juliette Co did not provide specific economic development plans during her public appearances.
- Kanhi Mayor Michael Rama (Partido Barug – Team Rama) aims to strengthen the connection between City Hall and the business sector to provide more support for micro, small, and medium enterprises, proposing the establishment of a startup hub within the South Road Property.
- Kanhi Customs Commissioner Yogi Ruiz aspires to make Cebu City the most livable city in the Philippines, attracting tourists and investors to the South Road Property and utilizing wasteland for city development.
- Incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia (Kugi Uswag Sugbu) seeks to make Cebu the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital of the Philippines by revitalizing the heritage district, expanding the South Road Property as a new central business district, and developing a creative industry hub, all while preserving the city's cultural heritage.
