- Women Mayors writers
- 57 minutes ago
- 3 min read
One-third of Filipino mayors are women
The Philippines has one of the highest ratios of women mayors in the world, but family connections matter
Women mayors of the Philippines (from left): Menchie Abalos, Mayor of Mandaluyong City; Belen Fernandez, Mayor of Dagupan City; Raisa Treñas, Mayor of Iloilo
May 2025: In the Philippines’ 2025 mid-term elections, held on 12 May, the country elected a new House of Representatives. Twelve of the Senate’s 24 seats were also contested. Together, the House and the Senate form the Congress of the Philippines.
Local and regional elections were also held in every province, city and municipality of the country. In 17 municipalities within the Metro Manila conurbation and in 29 independent cities, voters elected and/or re-elected mayors. Of the 46 newly confirmed mayors, 15 (32.6%) are women. The Philippines has one of the highest ratios of women mayors in the world.
The Philippines is a country where political family connections matter. In Las Piñas City, population 607,000, April Aguilar was elected mayor, while her mother won as vice mayor. The closest rival of the newly elected mayor was her cousin Carlo Aguilar. Three other Aguilars are elected as city councillors. An Aguilar has occupied the mayoral post since Las Piñas became a city in 1997. Imelda and her husband, the late Vergel Aguilar, took turns serving as mayor of Las Piñas.
In Iloilo City (population 458,000), Raisa Trenas will succeed her father as mayor. Nancy Binay, the newly elected Mayor of Makati City (population 293,000), is the daughter of former Filipino vice president Jejomar Binay. She will take over as mayor from her younger sister, Abigail. Nancy’s brother served as mayor from 2010 to 2015.
The most controversial result of the 2025 mayoral contests is the election of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in his home town of Davao. Rodrigo Duterte is currently detained by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The former president’s youngest son, Sebastian, the incumbent mayor of Davao, was declared Davao’s vice mayor.
Women mayors of the Philippines
Quezon City
Popl: 3.0 million
Mayor: Joy Belmonte
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: SBP (local party founded by the Mayor)
Taguig City
Popl: 1.26 million
Mayor: Ate Lani Cayetani
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: Nationalist Party (conservative)
General Santos City
Popl: 698,000
Mayor: Lorelie Pacquiao
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: People’s Champ Movement (right-wing)
Las Piñas City
Popl: 607,000
Mayor: April Aguilar
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: National Party (conservative)
Lapu-Lapu City
Popl: 498,000
Mayor: Cindi Chan
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: Lakas-CMD (conservative, centre-right)
Iloilo City
Popl: 458,000
Mayor: Raisa Treñas
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: National Unity Party (centre-right)
Marikina City
Popl: 457,000
Mayor: Maan Teodoro
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: National Unity Party (centre-right)
Pasay City
Popl: 441,000
Mayor: Emi Calixto-Rubiano
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: Philippine Democratic Party (centre-left, populist)
Mandaluyong City
Popl: 426,000
Mayor: Menchie Abalos
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: Federal Party of the Philippines (centre-left, populist)
Malabon City
Popl: 381,000
Mayor: Jeannie Sandoval
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: Nationalist Party (conservative)
Makati City
Popl: 293,000
Mayor: Nancy Binay
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: United National Alliance (centre-right, populist)
Ormoc City
Popl: 231,000
Mayor: Lucy Gomez
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: Federal Party of the Philippines (centre-left, populist)
Naga City
Popl: 210,000
Mayor: Leni Robredo
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: Liberal Party
Dagupan City
Popl: 175,000
Mayor: Belen Fernandez
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party:
Santiago City
Popl: 149,000
Mayor: Tan Sheena
Elected/re-elected: May 2025
Party: Lakas-CMD (conservative, centre-right)
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