Mandaue, Cebu City to collab on river rehab

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Council has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the city’s Beyond Borders program with Cebu City to strengthen cooperation on river rehabilitation, flood mitigation, and environmental protection.

In an interview yesterday, Councilor Jennifer del Mar, author of the proposed ordinance, said the measure will strengthen inter-city collaboration in addressing shared environmental, socioeconomic and development challenges.

“Two cities, one unified action when it comes to our waters and rivers,” Del Mar said.

She explained that while previous agreements between the two cities were formalized through signed documents, the proposed ordinance will institutionalize the program to ensure its continuity regardless of changes in local leadership.

“As committee chair on environment, mas nice nga ma-continue ang commitment sa both cities bisan kinsa pay ga lingkod,” she said.

She added that flooding does not distinguish between administrations.

The proposed ordinance seeks to establish a formal framework for the two cities to address shared environmental concerns, particularly those involving the Butuanon River, Mahiga River and Tipolo Creek, which affect communities across their jurisdictions.

The initiative began in 2022 as a joint effort to address water quality and flooding concerns through coordinated planning and project implementation.   Since then, the program has progressed through collaborative planning sessions, identification of tasks and timelines, preparation of implementation plans, and the signing of a commitment statement identifying six priority projects in 2025.

Under the proposed ordinance, Mandaue City will institutionalize the initiative by establishing a dedicated technical working group (TWG) responsible for coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating projects under the Beyond Borders Implementation Plan.

The Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office (MCENRO) will chair the TWG and serve as the program’s implementing office, with the City Planning and Development Office as co-chair.

Other members are the City Engineer’s Office, Housing and Urban Development Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Budget Office, City Legal Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, General Services Office and Liga ng mga Barangay.

The proposed ordinance identifies six initial priority areas, including the rehabilitation of the Mahiga River, particularly near the Subangdaku Bridge, and water catchment interventions in the upstream portion of the Butuanon River.

Other priorities include the rehabilitation and development of riverbanks and easement areas including bamboo planting, the establishment of early warning systems for the Butuanon and Mahiga rivers, solid waste management interventions such as the installation and maintenance of trash traps, and the review and coordination of the drainage master plans of Mandaue and Cebu cities.

The program will also cover watershed protection, wastewater management, river cleanup activities, drainage planning, flood mitigation, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.

The proposed measure authorizes the Mandaue City mayor to enter into and sign a memorandum of understanding with the Cebu City government to formalize cooperation under the program, subject to applicable laws and regulations.

The TWG will coordinate with counterpart offices in Cebu City on joint projects, technical studies, data sharing, monitoring and evaluation.

MCENRO will require TWG members to submit monthly status reports on project implementation and consolidate these reports for presentation during quarterly meetings of the Butuanon-Mahiga Rivers Watershed Management Board.

The group will review the implementation plan annually to assess project accomplishments, budget utilization, implementation gaps, and environmental and social impacts.

The proposed ordinance also requires projects to have an approved work plan, budget and necessary authorizations before implementation. Additional projects may be included based on recommendations from the TWG and approval by the proper authorities.

The measure cites Section 33 of the Local Government Code, which allows local government units to coordinate their efforts, services and resources for purposes beneficial to them.

It also references Regional Development Council Central Visayas Resolution No. 58, series of 2024, which endorsed the Beyond Borders implementation plans of Mandaue and Cebu cities for adoption.

The proposed ordinance was endorsed last September 30, 2026, to the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on environmental protection for review and consideration, particularly in relation to the two cities’ shared commitment to rehabilitating and protecting the Butuanon River.

Following its approval on first reading last Monday, October 12, the proposed ordinance will undergo further legislative review before it can be enacted into law.  (CEBU NEWS)