The construction of the new Mandaue City Government Center in Barangay Tipolo has reached 31 percent completion, with city officials saying the project is progressing steadily despite delays that affected its earlier timeline.
City Administrator Atty. Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. said the latest accomplishment report was presented during a Project Management Committee meeting, where officials reviewed the current status of the 10-storey government building being built on the former site of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
“Nalipay ang city, that is a big progress,” Malig-on said.
Malig-on said construction has already reached the third level of the planned structure, which is targeted for completion by the end of 2027.
The project has an estimated construction cost of P2.5 billion and is intended to serve as a one-stop government center that will consolidate various city offices and departments once completed.
The new facility is being funded through a P3-billion loan secured by the previous city administration from the Development Bank of the Philippines. The remaining P500 million from the loan package was allocated as a standby fund for interior works and other requirements after construction.
The project formally began with a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 29, 2024, during Mandaue City’s Charter Day celebration. However, construction encountered delays in 2025 after the city government issued a temporary suspension order.
The stoppage was implemented in September 2025 after Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano acted on the recommendation of the City Engineering Office following the contractor’s failure to immediately submit required documents, including the Detailed Engineering Design and Estimates (DEDE).
Construction resumed after around three months when the contractor, WT Construction Inc., complied with the remaining engineering requirements set by the city government.
Malig-on said the City Engineering Office and the contractor also developed a catch-up plan to help recover the project’s schedule and ensure continued progress.
Ouano had earlier said the new government center would provide a more suitable workplace for city employees, noting that the current Mandaue Presidencia in Barangay Centro is already old and no longer sufficient for the city’s expanding operations.
Malig-on clarified that city offices will only transfer once the entire building is completed and declared ready for occupancy.
Meanwhile, the city government is exploring the possible redevelopment of the old CICC property through a public-private partnership (PPP).
Malig-on said some groups have already expressed interest in the redevelopment, although the city has yet to begin a formal process for the project.
He added that the mayor wants to finalize a PPP agreement before the completion of the new government center, with the planned redevelopment expected to generate revenue that could help support the repayment of the city’s loan.
Photo courtesy of My Booming Cebu / Facebook
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