Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has been sworn in as a full-fledged chief executive of Cebu City. 

According to the Cebu City Government's Public Information Office, Garcia, who has been in an acting capacity since the suspension of then mayor Michael Rama last May by the Office of the Ombudsman, formally took his oath of office on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 before Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 Director Leocadio Trovela. 

"Garcia will serve the remainder of the unexpired term of Rama until June 30, 2025, after the latter was dismissed from his post and barred permanently from running for public office by the Ombudsman on grounds of nepotism and grave misconduct," said a post on Cebu City News & Information, the official news portal of the Cebu City Government.

“It is an honor to now serve in a permanent capacity. Just as I have demonstrated as acting mayor for the last five months, I promise to serve with honor, integrity and dedication,” Garcia said after he was sworn in.

He plans to stay for now at the Vice Mayor’s office.

On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Garcia filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for mayor with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City, along with running mate Atty. Joey Daluz, former chairman of the Metro Cebu Water District.