The Mandaue City Government has proposed a P3-billion budget for at least 15 priority projects for 2027 during the Regional Development Council (RDC) consultation and technical budget review.
City Administrator Atty. Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. said the proposal was presented to align the city’s priority projects with the national government’s development agenda.
The city delegation was led by Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano.
Mayor Ouano and Mandaue lone district Representative Emmarie “Lollypop” Ouano-Dizon attended the alignment meeting, held at the House of Representatives on Monday, February 9.
Malig-on said the RDC convened representatives from highly urbanized cities, members of Congress, and regional directors of national line agencies in Central Visayas to harmonize proposed projects.
“Local government units presented their respective ‘wishlists’ to ensure that projects prioritized by LGUs are also supported by their congressional representatives,” Malig-on said.
“Para dili bitaw makaana nga ‘wala mi kahibaw ani’ or ‘di ni mao among priority,’” he added, stressing that the main purpose of the meeting was for all stakeholders to reach a consensus.
For Mandaue City, the proposed 15 projects include the completion of the Mandaue City Hospital, one of the flagship commitments of Mayor Ouano’s administration.
Other priorities include unfunded drainage improvements, particularly in Barangay Banilad, as well as drainage and road enhancement projects in the North Reclamation Area (NRA) commercial district.
Malig-on clarified that while the proposed budget amounts to around P3 billion, it remains subject to approval.
He added that national line agencies also presented their own proposals during the meeting.
Following the RDC consultation, the city’s proposals will undergo further evaluation before being endorsed to the national government for inclusion in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the executive branch’s proposed budget to be submitted to Congress.
“Kay kung dili ni i-push, dili ni masod sa gitawag nga president’s budget, dili ni ma-submit didto sa Congress,” Malig-on said, emphasizing the importance of submitting the city’s “wishlist.”
Among the top priorities is the construction of a detention pond to address persistent drainage and flooding problems, particularly in Barangay Looc.
Malig-on said Mayor Ouano is strongly pushing for the project, which would temporarily hold floodwaters and help manage excess water during high tide while ongoing drainage improvements are implemented.
“This has not yet been done in the city, but it is one of the strategies being considered to address flooding,” he said, noting that the detention pond will complement ongoing drainage initiatives. (VCL)
Photo from Mayor Jonkie Ouano/Facebook
