NEWLY-INSTALLED Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano has vowed to set aside politics in changes that will be made in the composition of departments at City Hall as the new administration begins its term.
Ouano said the administration’s approach to the transition will be anchored on continuity and functionality; and only positions deemed truly necessary for reassignment or restructuring will be reviewed and adjusted.
On his first day in office, Monday, June 30, 2025, Ouano said critical offices such as the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team), Mandaue City College (MCC), and Mandaue City Hospital will remain untouched.
“There are only very minimal changes. We really didn’t change anything there,” he said.
The day began with a unified flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall grounds, a symbolic gesture of solidarity between outgoing and incoming officials.
City employees and department heads joined the event, which set a cooperative tone for the city’s next chapter.
As part of the transition, Ouano will conduct an internal audit of the City’s properties, cash on hand, inventory, and personnel records.
The review aims to ensure transparency in the turnover process and address operational inefficiencies.
Ouano said some City Hall employees had raised concerns after being reassigned to different units, while others requested for job order (JO) workers to help cope with the workload.
This as the new administration started reassessing the City’s JO program, which Ouano hinted may have been bloated under the previous administration.
A memo was recently issued to streamline manpower at the Mandaue City Hall.
“There are really many job order workers. From our perspective, it seems like a form of political accommodation,” said Ouano referring to offices allegedly created to employ purok leaders and political allies.
While these offices will not be dissolved outright, Ouano said their relevance and necessity will be thoroughly reviewed.
The City’s reported workforce of 13,000 employees, higher than the earlier estimate of 11,000, has raised a red flag for the new administration.
Ouano said a reassessment is needed to identify redundant positions and realign funds toward more urgent social services.
Ouano assured the focus will not be on replacing people but on ensuring that the City Government remains efficient, responsive, and transparent during the transition.
Unity
During his inaugural address, Ouano called on public officials and constituents to set aside political differences and work together for the city’s progress.
“I stand before you not to divide, but to unite. We may come from different political camps, but we all share a common purpose and that is to uplift the lives of the Mandauehanons,” he said.
Joining him in office is Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede, who previously served as city mayor.
Completing the new leadership team are 12 city councilors, a mix of new and returning officials: Joel Seno, Fritz Villamor, Eugene Andaya, Benjamin Basiga, Jimmy Lumapas, Carlo Fortuna, Immaline Cortes-Zafra, Jun Arcilla, Ting Sol Cabahug, Jennifer Del Mar, Anjong Ouano-Icalina, and Raul Kevin Cabahug.
Former Vice Mayor Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, in her farewell message, offered her full support to the incoming administration.
“This is not the end, but the beginning of a new era,” she said, adding that she remains committed to serving Mandaue in any way she can.
Bercede, who turned over the City’s leadership, also expressed confidence in Ouano’s governance, stressing the need for continuity, cooperation, and responsible public service moving forward. / CAV with Trixcy Shien Cobarde, Benedicto College Intern