Mandaue City Government Center: City Council authorizes Cortes to sign contract

Despite opposition from some councilors, majority of the members of the Mandaue City Council approved on Monday a resolution granting Mayor Jonas Cortes the authority to enter into a contract for the construction of the multi-billion peso Mandaue City Government Center (MCGC). 

The City Council also adopted a legal opinion of the City Legal Office supporting the legality of the proposed P2.4-billion MCGC and contiguous infrastructure development.

Based on the authority the council granted to Cortes, the mayor will sign a contract with the WT Construction for the execution of the project within the duration of 35 months upon receipt of the notice to proceed.

Members of the opposition, led by Councilor Nerissa Soon-Ruiz tried to object but the majority outvoted them. Aside from Ruiz, the other councilors who opposed the project by taking out a P3.5-billion loan are Joel Seno, Cesar Cabahug, Jr., and Andreo Icalina.

Ruiz explained that instead of taking out a loan, which the Mandauehanons will be burdened to pay, she suggested to do it through Public-Private Partnership (PPP). 

“Ang atong gitan-aw nga mas makaayo ta sa Mandaue na dili nata mo-utang anang 3.5 billion kay naa man diha, naay proposals under the Public Private Partnership (PPP),” said Ruiz.

She said that Mandauehanons will end up paying the loans through their taxes and will result to some services not be rendered.

“Kung mangutang man ta adto man gihapon na ihan-ok sa mga Mandauehanon through their taxes mga in ana, ug ubang services siguro ma alkanse, makulangan kay we have to pay back the loan, so mao nay among objection. Why don’t we look into something na dili kay makagasto ang Mandaue. So that was the objection namo,” said Ruiz.

Earlier, Cortes said that new Mandaue City Government Center, which is set to break ground on August, is aimed at centralizing government offices and other agencies in the city.

Cortes said that it is high time for the city to have a new center for a much better services among Mandauehanons, considering that the current offices of the city are scattered in various locations.  The new government center will serve as the seat of the city government.

The proposed government center will be built on four-hectare Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) compound. The CICC building, which was heavily damaged by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Cebu on October 15, 2013 and the Super Typhoon Yolanda in November of the same year, will be refurbished and would serve as the main building.

The iconic building will house the executive and legislative offices, public parks, and playground, parking building, and commercial spaces.  The main building will house the frontline offices, a one-stop shop, and a convention center.

A public transport terminal will also be constructed within the property, which the city government is looking for a Private-Public-Partnership.