MANILA, Philippines – Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and Vice Mayor Yul Servo have announced their bid for reelection, aiming for a second term as the city’s top officials.
Lacuna and Servo, who ran in tandem in the 2022 elections, announced this on Tuesday, August 27. They are running under Lakas-CMD led by Speaker Martin Romualdez.
During the press conference, Lacuna highlighted the achievements of her administration, particularly her efforts to bring city hall closer to the people through the “Kalinga Sa Maynila” program where she goes around to have dialogues with her constituents.
Lacuna said that they had gone around 500 of the city’s 1,000 barangays since she was elected as mayor.
As a doctor, Lacuna frequently conducts house-to-house visits to attend to the medical needs of Manila residents.
She also said that her administration has paid off P2.5 billion of the P17.8-billion debt she inherited from her predecessor, Isko Moreno, for the latter’s infrastructure projects. Three six-story school buildings were also built during her watch.
Servo, meanwhile, shared the city council’s efforts to enhance transparency and accessibility by launching a website where over 9,000 city ordinances can be accessed.
He also formed a legislative team dedicated to researching and crafting ordinances for the council’s consideration.
Under his leadership, the Manila City Council has approved 185 ordinances and 1,119 resolutions.
Servo, who previously served as a congressman and councilor, claims a perfect attendance record, with only one session missed as vice mayor due to arriving late on August 22.
Backlash
These achievements have been overshadowed by backlash over a measure mandating Manila employees to secure a health permit worth P625.
The Sanitation and Disinfection Code of Manila, which was approved by then-Manila mayor Moreno in April 2022, requires employees in the country’s capital to secure a health certificate from the Manila Health Department.
The Manila Public Health Laboratory in the Philippines is facing criticism for its dirty and unhygienic condition.
Further tensions have emerged within the city council as the 2025 senatorial elections approach.
Political allies of Moreno filed an injunction against Servo and councilors allied with Lacuna, accusing them of conducting an “illegal and secret session” during Typhoon Carina when government offices were supposed to be closed.
Servo dismissed these allegations, pointing out that the session was broadcast live on social media and attended by both majority and minority members.
“Kung secret po ‘yun hindi ko po ipapa-live ‘yun,” he said. (If it were a secret, I wouldn’t have broadcasted it live.)
Rumors are also circulating that Moreno may seek a return to city hall, adding to the political tension.
Servo acknowledged that these internal conflicts have led to longer council sessions but emphasized the council’s commitment to serving the people of Manila.
“Ang sinumpaan namin ay hindi sa pansarili naming kapakanan kung ‘di ano ba ‘yung magagawa naming ordinansa at resolusyon para sa mga Manilenyo at para sa bayan natin,” Servo said.
(We took an oath not for our own benefit, but for the ordinances and resolutions that we can create for the people of Manila and for our country.)
Before Lacuna entered politics, she worked from 1995 to 2004 in the city health office. From 2004 to 2013, Lacuna served as a city councilor.
In 2016, she replicated a political milestone of her father — former vice mayor Danny Lacuna — after she became vice mayor to of then-mayor Joseph Estrada.
In 2019, she partnered with Moreno and was reelected as vice mayor.
Meanwhile, actor-turned-politician Servo served as a three-term city councilor, and Manila’s 3rd District representative. – with reports from Dwight de Leon/Rappler.com