Cebu City Council: A bold mix of old and new

From seasoned lawmakers to fresh faces, Cebu City's 2025 City Council will bring together a diverse mix of re-elected officials, comeback veterans, community leaders, and first-time legislatorsincluding a retired police officer, a clinical psychologist, a lawyer, and a beauty queen-turned-youth advocate.

- lris Hazel Mascardo Staff Member

While there were only two parties represented in the 2022 batch of councilors, this year's newly elected legislators come from three political parties: BOPK, which belongs to the new administration; Partido Barug; and Partido KUSUGwhose standard-bearers have also previously served as city mayors.

In the recently concluded midterm elections, the 18 councilors of the City Council were named and proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) board of canvassers.

SOUTH DISTRICT

For the South District, topping the council seats is current Basak Pardo Barangay Captain Dave Tumulak, who is also a former legislator. Tumulak ran for mayor in the 2022 elections.

Taking the second spot was re-elected Councilor Philip Zafra under the banner of Partido Barug, who will be serving his last term.

Zafra thanked supporters who helped him finish strong in the polls, though he couldn't help but be affected by the loss of their standard-bearer, former Mayor Michael Rama, and vice mayoral candidate Donaldo Hontiveros.

Moving forward, however, Zafra said he will embrace this fresh mandate and aims to make his final term impactful and memorable.

Despite being part of a different party from the current administration, Zafra vowed cooperation.

In this new batch of council members assessed to be diverse Zafra expressed hope that public service will prevail.