Campaign period for local polls kick off on March 28

Metro Manila, Philippines - The local elections race is expected to intensify further as the 45-day campaign period for the 2025 midterm election kicks off on Friday, March 28.

Supporters of local candidates in Metro Manila showed up in proclamation rallies and motorcades as several bets officially launched their campaign.

Here were some of the opening salvo of notable local races:

Manila

In Manila, mayoral campaigns started with early morning motorcades and culminated in proclamation rallies. Former mayor Isko Moreno, incumbent mayor Honey Lacuna, and businessman-lawmaker and Tutok to Win party-list Rep. Sam Verzosa made the streets of the nation’s capital busy on Friday.

Makati and Taguig

Term-limited Sen. Nancy Binay went on the ground and visited residents of Brgy. Pio del Pilar in Makati City on Friday morning for her mayoral bid.

Her rival and brother-in-law Luis Campos posted on social media a photo of praying to God.

“The future is always in the hands of God,” Campos wrote. He will be having his proclamation rally on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in Taguig City, incumbent mayor Lani Cayetano and former Taguig-Pateros Rep. Arnel Cerafica made their respective campaign kick-off events.

Races in Makati and Taguig would see how candidates woo voters from EMBO barangays. The Supreme Court ruled these areas belong to Taguig, not Makati.

Pasig

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto mounted his campaign for a third and final term at the Pasig City Mega Market, telling voters that his administration has wiped the city hall clean from “palakasan” and corruption. He promised expanding programs and services of the local government.

During his party’s Giting ng Pasig sortie, his father, the famous TV host Vic Sotto, quipped: “Ito na ang susunod na presidente ng Pilipinas [Here is the next president of the Philippines].”

“Wag na natin pansinin ‘yon, baka na-carry away lang [Let’s not mind that, maybe he got carried away],” the reelectionist mayor said.

From his three opponents emerged Sarah Discaya, a businesswoman who had alleged ties with St. Timothy Construction Corp., a company which was formerly part of the joint venture of Miru Systems, the technology provider for the midterm polls. The construction firm withdrew from the joint venture after the controversy came into light.

Marikina

Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro was unfazed with the suspension order from the Ombudsman due to alleged misuse of public funds for his campaign kick-off.

“We’ll present our reply… The money is still intact, it’s properly utilized,” Teodoro told NewsWatch Plus.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has canceled Teodoro’s certificate of candidacy for Marikina’s first district congressional seat due to residency rule — although it’s still not final and executory. He will be fighting against graduating Sen. Koko Pimentel.

Teodoro’s wife Maan, a lawmaker, is fighting against Stella Quimbo, another lawmaker, for the mayoralty.

Naga City

Former Vice President Leni Robredo started her mayoral bid in Naga City, after her loss in the 2022 presidential race. Before the local campaign began, she showed up in campaign sorties of former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan.

Robredo’s rivals are three independent bets.

Leyte

The unopposed House Speaker Martin Romualdez called for unity and a prayer for victory in an honest and peaceful election. He met allies and fellow candidates under the banner of Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats in Tacloban City.

Romualdez, a presidential cousin, is running for his third term as representative of the Leyte first district.

Cebu

In the vote-rich Cebu, Gov. Gwen Garcia toured some of the municipalities in the province for the One Cebu party’s caravan.

She was accompanied by administration-backed senatorial candidates: reelectionists Francis Tolentino and Bong Revilla, former Sen. Manny Pacquiao, and former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

Meanwhile, Pam Baricuatro, PDP’s gubernatorial bet, decided to start her official campaign on Saturday.

“In honor of Tatay Digong, I’d love to celebrate today just for him,” she said in her announcement.

Davao City

Supporters of the Dutertes were more focused on celebrating the 80th birthday of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

Karlo Nograles, a former Cabinet secretary in the Duterte administration, made a house-to-house visit for his mayoral bid as he vowed “voters will be at the center of our campaign.”

Nograles’ social media strategy on Friday included posting his campaign jingle.

Local campaign rules

Under rules and regulations of the Fair Elections Act, or Republic Act No. 9006, the national candidates’ campaign period runs from February 11 to May 10, while local bets can only campaign from March 28 until May 10, 2025.

Candidates are prohibited from campaigning on April 17 (Maundy Thursday) and April 18 (Good Friday).

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) guidelines state that local candidates are allowed to have 60-minute airtime for broadcast election material on TV and 90-minute radio ads.

Comelec rules also dictate the following sizes for election campaign materials.

- election pamphlets, leaflets, and stickers should be 8.5 by 14 inches

- posters and standees should be 2 by 3 feet

- streamers for campaign rallies should be 3 by 8 feet

Comelec said it would issue notices to candidates who do not follow the guidelines, ordering them to remove unlawful election materials within three days after the warning.

Those who fail to comply could face an election offense, which may lead to disqualification.

According to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), local bets with road user permits are allowed to conduct motorcades only during weekends and holidays.

The midterm elections are set on May 12. Overseas voters may cast their votes from April 13 to May 12, while local absentee voters may cast their votes from April 28 to 30, 2025.