New Mandaue gov’t center 31% complete

CEBU, Philippines — Despite delays, the construction of the new Mandaue City Government Center in Barangay Tipolo on the former site of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), has reached 31 percent completion, with city officials saying the project remains on schedule.

City Administrator Atty. Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. said the latest accomplishment report was presented during a Project Management Committee meeting, where officials noted the project’s steady progress.

“Nalipay ang city, that is a big progress,” Malig-on said.

Malig-on said construction has already reached the third level of the planned 10-storey structure. The new government center, estimated to cost P2.5 billion, is targeted for completion by the end of 2027.

Once completed, the building will serve as a one-stop government center that will house various city offices and departments. The project is being financed through a P3-billion loan secured by the previous administration from the Development Bank of the Philippines, with the remaining P 500 million set aside as a standby fund for interior works.

The project was formally launched through a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 29, 2024, during Mandaue City’s Charter Day celebration by the previous administration. However, construction was temporarily delayed after the city government issued stoppage orders in 2025.

The project was suspended in September 2025 after Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano ordered a halt in construction upon the recommendation of the City Engineering Office. The suspension came after contractor WT Construction Inc. failed to immediately submit required documents, including the Detailed Engineering Design and Estimates (DEDE).

Construction resumed after about three months when the contractor complied with the remaining engineering requirements imposed by the city government. Malig-on said the City Engineering Office and the contractor also implemented a catch-up plan to help restore the project’s original completion schedule.

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 adequate for the city’s growing operations.

Malig-on clarified that all government offices will transfer only after the entire building has been completed and is ready for occupancy.

Meanwhile, the city government is considering redeveloping the old CICC property through a public-private partnership (PPP). Malig-on said there have already been parties that expressed interest in the project, although no formal process has begun.

He said the city mayor aims to finalize a PPP agreement before the new government center is completed, with the project expected to generate revenue that could help pay the principal amount of the city’s loan.