Mayor of General Santos

The mayor of General Santos (Filipino: Punong Lungsod ng Heneral Santos) is the head of the local government of General Santos in South Cotabato, Philippines. The mayor's term is three years. The Mayor is the executive head and leads the city's departments in executing city ordinances and operating public services.

Mayor of General Santos
Incumbent Lorelie G. Pacquiao since June 30, 2022
Appointer	Elected via popular vote
Term length	3 years, not eligible for re-election immediately after three consecutive terms
Inaugural holder	Datu Sharif Zainal Abedin
Formation	1939
Succession	Vice Mayor then highest ranking Sangguniang Panlungsod member
Deputy	Vice Mayor

Ronnel Rivera became the incumbent mayor in 2013.^[1]

Functions and duties

The Local Government Code of 1991 outlines the functions and duties of the city mayor as follows:

• Exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the city government;
• Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the city and in the exercise of the appropriate corporate powers provided for under Section 22 of the Code, implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the city;
• Initiate and maximize the generation of resources and revenues, and apply the same to the implementation of development plans, program objectives and priorities as provided for under Section 18 of the Code, particularly those resources and revenues programmed for agro-industrial development and countryside growth and progress;
• Ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17 of the Code;
• Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.

List

No.	Name	Image	Term Began	Term Ended	Notes	Ref.
*		Datu Sharif Zainal Abedin	1939	1943	Appointed as Municipal District Mayor of Buayan Municipal District, the former name of General Santos.	[1]
1		Ireneo L. Santiago	1943	1955	Appointed as Mayor of Rajah Buayan District, another former name of General Santos.
2		Pedro A. Acharon, Sr.	January 1956	December 1959	Previously served as vice mayor of the 1st Municipal Council of the former Buayan from 1948 to 1951.
3		Jorge P. Royeca	January 1960	December 1963
4		Lucio C. Velayo	January 1964	December 1967
5		Antonio C. Acharon	January 3, 1968	September 4, 1968	Last elected Municipal Mayor prior to cityhood.
Mayor of the City of General Santos
(5)		Antonio C. Acharon	September 5, 1968	March 14, 1986	First City Mayor following cityhood.
6		Dominador A. Lagare	March 21, 1986	March 30, 1987	Appointed in an officer in charge (OIC) capacity following the EDSA People Power Revolution.
7		Rosalita Nuñez (Rosalita Tolibas Nuñez)	May 22, 1987	December 3, 1987	Served in an officer in charge (OIC) capacity, having previously served as OIC vice mayor of the 6th City Council from April 1986 to March 1987.
8		J.F. Antonio S. Munda	December 1987	April 1988	Served in an officer in charge (OIC) capacity.
9		Marcelo Argullana	1988		Served in an officer in charge (OIC) capacity
(7)		Rosalita Nuñez (Rosalita Tolibas Nuñez)	c. 1988	June 30, 1992	Elected as City Mayor.
10		Adelbert W. Antonino (Adelbert Welborn Antonino)	July 1, 1992	June 30, 1995	Previously served as representative of South Cotabato's 1st congressional district from 1987 to 1992.
(7)		Rosalita Nuñez (Rosalita Tolibas Nuñez)	July 1, 1995	June 30, 1998
(10)		Adelbert W. Antonino (Adelbert Welborn Antonino)	July 1, 1998	June 30, 2001
11		Pedro B. Acharon, Jr. (Pedro Busgano Acharon Jr.)	July 1, 2001	June 30, 2010	Previously served as vice mayor of the 12th City Council from July 1, 1998 to June 30, 2001.
12		Darlene Antonino Custodio (Darlene Magnolia Ricasa Antonino-Custodio)	July 1, 2010	June 30, 2013	Previously served as representative of South Cotabato's 1st congressional district from 2001 to 2010.
13		Ronnel C. Rivera (Ronnel Chua Rivera)	July 1, 2013	June 30, 2022	Previously served as city councilor from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013.
14		Lorelie G. Pacquiao (Lorelie Ocmar Geronimo Pacquiao)	July 1, 2022	Incumbent (Term expires 30 June 2025)

Post-mayoral life

After leaving office, a number of mayors held various public positions and made an effort to remain in the limelight.

• Rosalita Nuñez currently serves as the City Vice Mayor of General Santos City since 2022 (term expires in 2024).^[2]
• Pedro B. Acharon, Jr. served as representative of South Cotabato's 1st congressional district from 2010 to 2019.