HOUSE Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez said he is considering running for mayor in Cagayan de Oro in the 2022 elections.

Rodriguez said in a radio interview that consultations with barangay officials and leaders are still ongoing.

"Yes, ako nang gikonsiderar ang akong pagdagan sa pagka-mayor," Rodriguez said.

"Naa kita karon sa proseso sa consultation with our barangay officials, our core leaders, atong mga sitio leaders. So consultation pa kini," he added.

Rodriguez said a national convention will be conducted by the Centrist Democratic Party to discuss the 2022 elections. This will be done via Zoom.

Meanwhile, Phividec Administrator Pompee La Viña said he was not surprised by Rodriguez's plan to run for city mayor, adding that this will make the coming 2022 elections exciting.

For his part, La Viña said that he has two options: to run for mayor of Cagayan de Oro, or to retire from his position as the administrator of Phividec on June 30, 2022.

He assured that before he retires, he will finish his plans for Phividec, which includes the signing of the memorandum of agreement to establish the Integrated Steel Mill in Misamis Oriental.