THE Mandaue City Government is seeking approval for a P218 million supplemental budget to fund several urgent projects this year, including desilting operations, solid waste management, beautification works and infrastructure upgrades.
City Administrator Sally Malig-on said in an interview on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, that the proposed budget will be sourced from accumulated savings from 2016 to 2024. These funds came from unspent allocations and surplus amounts from completed projects over the past eight years. The finance committee studied the available savings and identified the P218 million figure, which has been submitted to the City Council to align with the City’s immediate priorities for 2025.
Key projects
One of the major allocations is for the purchase of heavy equipment for the desilting program, including a backhoe and a sanitation truck. Malig-on said that Mayor Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano emphasized the importance of stepping up desilting operations to address drainage and flooding concerns in various barangays.
To improve solid waste management, the City plans to lease a compactor truck specifically for use at the public market. He added that vendors have raised concerns about delays in garbage disposal in the area, prompting the City to prioritize waste collection in high-traffic commercial zones. Additional dump trucks will also be leased for broader garbage collection efforts across the city.
Beautification works will also receive significant funding, with P80 million allotted for the improvement of Ouano Ave. This will include landscaping, streetscape enhancements and other works aimed at improving the avenue’s appearance and functionality.
For sports infrastructure, around P20 million is earmarked for the Mandaue City Sports Complex. While the budget may not be enough for a full-scale redevelopment, Malig-on said it will be used to refurbish the bleachers and upgrade the building’s integrity, given the facility’s age and wear.
In line with Ouano’s push for sustainable energy solutions, the supplemental budget also includes P5 million for the installation of solar-powered street lamps in interior roads. At present, LED streetlights are installed mainly along A.C. Cortes Ave. and other major thoroughfares, but the mayor wants interior areas to benefit from solar lighting to save on electricity costs.
The supplemental budget will be presented during the regular council session on Monday, Aug. 11, with officials expressing optimism that it will gain approval. The City aims to immediately implement the projects once funding is secured, he said.
Charter Day bonus, salary hike
In another development, City Hall employees may soon receive a Charter Day celebration bonus.
Malig-on said he has already endorsed the suggested bonus to Ouano, who in turn will forward it to the City Council for approval. He added that the budget for the bonus is still being finalized and is currently with the City Budget Management Office for review.
However, the administrator said the amount has yet to be determined and the list of qualified recipients must still be finalized.
The announcement came on the same day the City Government held a Charter Month ceremony on Friday, Aug. 8, to highlight Mandaue’s growth from a small town to a progressive city.
In his speech, Ouano praised the unity and hard work that contributed to Mandaue’s development and announced that Charter Month incentives will be given to all personnel, including job order employees who have served from July 1 to Aug. 30, barangay health workers and clean and green workers.
Ouano also confirmed the implementation of the second tranche of the salary increase for regular employees, as mandated by the Department of Budget and Management circular.
Ouano added that salaries for 10 departments were released Friday, after being delayed for a week, while the remaining 20 departments are set to receive theirs next week. / CAV