Lani Cayetano

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Clariño, the birth surname or paternal family name is Lopez, and the marital name is Cayetano.

Lani Cayetano
Mayor of Taguig
Assuming office June 30, 2022
Vice Mayor	Arvin Alit (elect)
Succeeding	Lino Cayetano
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019
Vice Mayor	George Elias (2010–2013) Ricardo Cruz (2013–2019)
Preceded by	Sigfrido Tiñga
Succeeded by	Lino Cayetano
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Taguig's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2019
Preceded by	Pia Cayetano
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Taguig–Pateros's 1st district
In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Arnel Cerafica
Personal details
Born	Maria Laarni Clariño Lopez (1981-12-11) December 11, 1981 Tiwi, Albay, Philippines
Political party	Nacionalista Party
Spouse	Alan Peter Cayetano ​ (m. 2004)​
Residence	Taguig
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Centro Escolar University (BA)
Occupation	Politician

Maria Laarni "Lani" Lopez Cayetano (born Maria Laarni Clariño Lopez; December 11, 1981) is a Filipina politician serving as the Representative of the legislative district of Taguig since 2019. She previously served as the Mayor of Taguig from 2010 to 2019 and was the Representative of Taguig–Pateros from 2007 to 2010.

She is the wife of former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

Early life

Cayetano finished a special course in Innovative and Developmental Local Governance and Policy Making for Local Chief Executives and Legislators at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Centro Escolar University.

Political career

Cayetano was 22 when she established the Progressive Ladies' League of the Philippines (PLLP), an organization that promotes women's rights and welfare. Starting with 1,300 members, PLLP now has more than 16,000 members. At the age of 23, she put up the Angat Lahat Multi-Purpose Cooperative to help people find an alternative source of income through various livelihood undertakings. She was 25 years old when she became the first female representative of the Taguig-Pateros, at its newly-created first district, in Congress in 2007. She succeeded her husband Alan Peter Cayetano. She also became the youngest elected President of Zonta Club of Pateros and Taguig from 2008 to 2010.

At the age of 29, Mayor Maria Laarni "Lani" Lopez Cayetano is among the youngest local chief executives of a highly urbanized city in the Philippines, and the first female Mayor of Taguig in 2010.

For her notable achievements as a young leader, Mayor Lani was cited as One of the Most Distinguished Alumna of Centro Escolar University in 2008. In 2009, she earned the United Nations Associations of the Philippines recognition for her accomplishments in Politics and Government Service. She also received distinctions from other groups, including a commendation from her fellow members of Congress.

In March 2017, Cayetano was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) as Representative for Local Government Units. She used this opportunity to promote the ideals of the President.

In October 2018, Cayetano filed her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) to run for representative of Taguig's 2nd District. Her candidacy faced disqualification cases for not possessing the minimum residency qualification and she and her husband Alan, both running for representative of two separate districts of Taguig–Pateros, claimed living in separate residences as indicated on their respective COCs, which is not in accordance with Article 69 of the Family Code. The case was later dismissed on May 7, 2019. On May 14, 2019, she was elected as representative of Taguig's 2nd District after defeating Che-Che Gonzales. Her brother-in-law, Lino Cayetano, was also elected as Taguig's mayor after defeating incumbent Taguig–Pateros 1st district representative Arnel Cerafica. Her husband Alan Peter Cayetano was also elected as representative of Taguig–Pateros's 1st District after defeating Allan Cerafica, the outgoing representative's brother.

Before the end of her term in Congress, Cayetano ran for Mayor of Taguig in 2022. She eventually won, earning her fourth term.

Advocacies

10K Ayuda

An economic stimulus program that provides P10,000 to families, alleviating the effects of the pandemic by helping them with loan payments, purchase of daily necessities, and most especially to start/finance a small business that will sustain their livelihood. As a result, this will collectively revitalize the economy.

Regularization and Benefits for Barangay Health Workers

Since day one, barangay health workers have been denied compensation that matches their crucial role in building the foundation of every Filipino's health — from mothers’ pregnancy, babies’ vaccination, until the nutritional intake of children. Now, they have also been risking their own safety to protect their communities from COVID-19. Filing measures that will allocate funds to elevate them from volunteer status to job order, contractual, or regular government worker will justly reciprocate the time, effort, and skills they exert in maintaining our citizens’ health.

Establishment of Safe Pathways Network Of Bicycle Lanes and Slow Streets

The host of negative effects of COVID-19 in the country's health, mobility, and economy amplified the need for alternative modes of transportation that are safe and convenient. Biking to work, in particular, has offered front liners a safe transport mode that doubles as a mental break. Allocating funds for the establishment of kilometers- long, meters-wide protected bike lane network will provide these benefits to essential workers and all Filipinos during the pandemic and beyond.