PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has formally endorsed the candidacies of Mayor Mike Rama and Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia as mayor and vice mayor of Cebu City for the May 9, 2022 elections.The President formally made his endorsement during the PDP-Laban Grand Rally and Joint Forum of the National and Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, March 31, 2022.Rama expressed his gratitude to Duterte for the endorsement, the second time he received from the Chief Executive after he was also endorsed by the latter in 2019 when he ran for vice mayor.The President raised the hands of Rama and his running mate Garcia during the proclamation rally of PDP-Laban candidates in Cebu Province and the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, before a sea of people who attended the event in an open field adjacent to the first Mandaue Bridge in Barangay Pajo.Duterte also endorsed the congressional candidacies of Niña Mabatid and Edu Rama, as Cebu City’s representatives for the north and south districts, respectively.“I am delighted and honored to be endorsed by no less than our President. I praised the Lord for the endorsement. I believe that PRRD’s endorsement will definitely enhance the chance of all candidates under the Partido Barug, my party, PDP-Laban, and MARINO Partylist to win the elections,” Rama said.The mayor shared that he is thankful to Duterte for “the trust and confidence and promise to make the President’s good governance principles” as his guiding post in leading the City of Cebu toward full opening from the pandemic and adaption with the new normal.Rama has made strides in pushing Cebu City on the right track in safely reopening the city to revive its economy and enjoin the Cebuano people to move on from the pandemic with caution.Cebu City has since allowed big social events to take place, as a sign of its intention to adapt with the new normal. The City is also now keen to resume face-to-face classes in certain schools, as a step towards its reopening policy.Meanwhile, in his speech during the rally, Duterte urged the Cebuanos to continue to adhere to the principles of his administration such as his campaign against the use and sale of drugs, crimes, and criminality among others.“Public interest and public service go together. Pagpili mo og kanang moserbisyo, moserbisyo gyud alang sa mga tawo,” Duterte told the Cebuano crowd. (PR)