MANILA, Philippines — An intense rivalry is seen in the city of Manila as former allies and partymates, incumbent mayor Dra. Maria Sheilah 'Honey' Lacuna-Pangan and Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso view for the city’s post with factor-politician Samuel 'Sam' Verzosa running as a dark horse in the mayoral derby in this year's midterm polls on May 12.

As her reelection bud's political agenda, Lacuna declared that she would pushing to sustain social amelioration programs that has been benefitting the city’s marginalized sectors since she elected as Manila's first ever woman local chief executive.

The lady mayor likewise vowed to double the senior citizens’ monthly cash allowance from 500 to P1,000 from P500 as based on the ordinance she signed last year.

On the other hand, Domagoso, also a former actor and who lost his presidential bid in 2022, committed in his comeback bid that he would be continuing the programs he had started such as socialized housing and improved social services.

On filing his certificate of candidacy as mayoral aspirant, he reasoned for his return that he wants to correct the alleged lapses in social services under Lacuna, which caused frustration among Manila's residents.

Meanwhile, Verzosa promised to provide livelihood opportunities for the city’s indigents, mentioning that as the party-list representative of Tutok to Win and co-founder of multilevel marketing firm Front row, he has the know-how to institute this to benefit Manileños.