MANDAUE City Mayor Jonas Cortes has laid down a five-point agenda that he would pursue throughout his term.
During his inaugural address at the City’s 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod on Monday, July 4, 2022 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex, Cortes said his agenda involves pandemic recovery, rationalized social housing for the homeless, efficient delivery of social services, making Mandaue a resilient smart city, and building more infrastructure projects.
Pandemic recovery
Cortes acknowledged the “tremendous” damaging effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on health, and economy.
He also cited the devastation brought about by Typhoon Odette (Rai) and the ongoing price increase of basic commodities that has paralyzed the economy even more.
With all these, he intends to strengthen and develop the City’s Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MMSME) through a series of programs to help Mandaue City’s economy bounce back.
Socialized housing
The mayor also planned to provide more socialized housing programs for the city’s homeless.
Contrary to other housing programs located far from workplaces, Cortes plans to establish more housing projects within the city to give its beneficiaries easy access to their workplaces.
Cortes showcased the Tipolo Residences as an example where the groundbreaking ceremonies for two of its five planned buildings were recently held.
Social services
Cortes said because some Mandauehanons could not avail themselves of the City’s services due to some situational restrictions, he will order City Hall departments to visit barangays with established puroks to bring services right at their doorsteps.
Resilient ‘Smart City’
Cortes vowed to work towards making Mandaue a “resilient smart city” which, he said, already started years back.
He defined a resilient city as having the capabilities to absorb, recover and prepare for future shocks in economic, social, environmental and institutional shocks.
He cited the city’s river rehabilitation program in Butuanon River and Mahiga Creek and solid waste management campaign as the primary steps.
Initiate more infrastructures
Cortes said he will move ahead with constructing several infrastructure developments to spur economic activity in the city.
He plans to build a government center and world-class arena, improve roads and bike lanes, implement a drainage master plan, and engage in public-private partnerships which will include joint-venture reclamation projects.