Fierce mayoral battles expected in Metro Manila

The upcoming midterm elections are drawing attention not only for the senatorial races but also for the mayoral contests, particularly in Metro Manila.

Home to approximately 13.5 million Filipinos, Metro Manila is composed of 16 cities and one municipality: Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Malabon, Navotas, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Pasay, Valenzuela, Marikina, Muntinlupa, and the municipality of Pateros.

In this election, more than 7.56 million voters are expected to cast their ballots in Metro Manila—votes that will determine who will lead their respective local governments for the next three years.

Tight races to watch

Of the 16 cities and one municipality in the country’s capital region, 11 mayors are vying for reelection, including Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, and Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan.

Also seeking reelection are Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano.

Of the 11 incumbent Metro Manila mayors seeking reelection, at least six are expected to retain their hold on their respective cities—namely Belmonte, Gatchalian, Biazon, Cayetano, Tiangco, Rubiano, and Zamora.

The rest, however, are locked in intense races against either political newcomers or returning rivals.

Three-way battle in Manila

In the capital city, a tight three-way race is unfolding between incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna, her former ally, former Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso, and Tutok To Win Party-List Representative Sam Verzosa.

Domagoso is aiming to reclaim control of Manila City Hall from Lacuna after his unsuccessful presidential bid in the 2022 elections, where he lost by a wide margin, finishing fourth out of ten candidates with close to two million votes.

Verzosa, on the other hand, is facing an uphill battle against Lacuna and Domagoso—two well-known names whose surnames echo like the blaring horns of jeepneys across the city.

Teodoro vs Quimbo in Marikina

The mayoral race in the shoe capital of the Philippines is also expected to be a tight one, with the administration of Teodoros challenged by Quimbos.

Marikina 1st District Representative Maan Teodoro is aiming to replace her husband, suspended Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, and is in a head-to-head battle with Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo.

Family feud in Makati

Another mayoral race expected to be an intense one is the mayoral race in Makati City, which is between in-laws, Senator Nancy Binay and Makati 2nd District Representative Luis Campos, husband of her sister, Mayor Abby Binay, who is now seeking a Senate seat.

Term-limited, Senator Binay is aiming to continue her family's decades-long political legacy in one of the country’s richest cities.

While political clashes within the Binay clan are not new to Makati, the highly personal dynamics of this year’s race have intensified public interest.

‘Old guards vs newcomers’

Moving on from family power struggles, Caloocan City is also gearing up for a compelling mayoral race, with Malapitan vying for his second term against former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV.

Trillanes, a political newcomer in Caloocan, is facing an uphill battle against Malapitan, whose family has maintained a stronghold in the birthplace of the Philippine revolution.

Will the people of Caloocan overturn the political landscape in their city through Trillanes, or will they maintain the dominance of the Malapitan clan?

A similar situation is unfolding in Pasig City, where Sotto is seeking his third and final term against political newcomer and billionaire Sarah Discaya.

Sotto’s administration has been questioned over the allegedly “overpriced” construction of Pasig City Hall—a claim that has already been debunked by the incumbent mayor.

Pasigueños now have the chance to either allow Sotto to continue delivering his brand of leadership rooted in good governance or stand with Discaya, whose promises are as grand as the Pasig River.

The 2025 midterm elections is not only significant due to the high stakes in the national elections, particularly the Senatorial race, but also to the local race, which will shape the nation and communities for the next three years.