Danao turns down DPWH-proposed projects

Local

THE city government of Danao has rejected several infrastructure projects proposed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for implementation in 2026 after determining that these do not address the city’s priority needs.

Vice Mayor Ivy Durano said the projects submitted to Mayor Nito Durano, largely involved road repair and re-concreting works on streets that the city government considers still usable and in good condition.

According to the vice mayor, officials from the DPWH–Cebu 5th District Engineering Office paid a courtesy call to the mayor’s office to present the proposed projects and to seek permits to proceed.

After reviewing the proposals, Mayor Durano declined to issue the required permits, saying the projects do not align with his administration’s development agenda.

“Sad to note, ang project nga gi-submit sa DPWH ngadto kang Mayor Nito for 2026 are not priority projects of the City,” she said.

She added several of the projects focus on concreting roads that do not need major rehabilitation.

Quoting the mayor, she said, “Naa pa may daghan nga angay’ng sementuhon nga karsada sa Danao, nganong gub-on man ninyo ang maayo pa.”

Instead of approving the projects, his father, wrote directly to the national government, including President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to present Danao City’s priority infrastructure requirements.

In his letter, the mayor cited recurring flooding incidents in the city that have intensified in recent years and have placed residents, property, and livelihoods at risk.

The mayor pointed to the damage caused by Typhoon Tino, which struck Danao City on November 4, 2025 and severely damaged Danao Bridge 1 in Barangay Taboc.

The bridge remains unusable, cutting off key transportation routes and leaving nearby communities exposed to future flooding.

Under the proposed 2026 national budget, DPWH has programmed about P89.35 million worth of projects for Danao City, including asphalting and widening works along the Cebu North Hagnaya Wharf Road, the retrofitting of Danao Bridge No. 2, and the completion of a DPWH district office building.

Mayor Durano said these projects, while beneficial in general, are less urgent than bridge infrastructure needed for disaster risk reduction and public safety.

The mayor also cited the SIPAG Project for the construction of a road along C.P. Garcia Street in Danao City, which has already undergone bidding.

Following an inspection by the city engineering office, the city informed DPWH that the road remains in good and serviceable condition.

In a November 24, 2025 letter, the DPWH district engineer acknowledged the city’s findings and said the project could be canceled or terminated if the city does not support its continuation.

The mayor asked that the 2026 infrastructure budget for Danao City be reprogrammed to prioritize the construction of the Guinacot to Quisol Bridge and the reconstruction of Danao Bridge 1 in Barangay Taboc, projects he said are critical to disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and public safety.

Vice Mayor Durano said the city’s stance reflects its position that infrastructure investments should respond to actual conditions on the ground, focusing on urgent needs rather than repairing roads that remain in good condition.(MyTVCebu)