Construction of Mandaue’s new government center set to start

Local

THE new government center of Mandaue City will soon rise at the site where the controversial Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) is currently located.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the P3-billion project was held on Thursday, August 29. The ceremony was attended by suspended Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, Acting Mayor Glenn Bercede, and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Funded by a loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines, the center is designed to centralize all city government services into a single location.

This will streamline access for residents and improve public service efficiency. The contract for construction was awarded to WT Construction. The eight-story building will rise on a 4.3-hectare lot. It will feature various facilities, including offices for city and national government functions, a public terminal, a park, and ample parking spaces.

The building's design incorporates green building elements, emphasizing sustainability, and is inspired by a modern watchtower, symbolizing vigilant leadership.

Cortes in his speech emphasized the importance of the project, saying that the center represents a collective vision for progress and a commitment to enhancing public services.

He described it as a long-awaited dream finally coming to fruition.

Meanwhile, Garcia noted the historical importance of the site.

The CICC, once a landmark hosting the 12th ASEAN Summit and the 2nd East Asia Summit in 2007, was severely damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Mandaue acquired the property in 2019 for P300 million. Garcia described the new center as a “redemption” of the CICC’s legacy.

The construction is expected to take 35 months, including a four-month design phase to finalize the building's plans.

Once completed, the government center will be a cornerstone of Mandaue City's modernization efforts, enhancing public service delivery and providing a state-of-the-art facility for its residents.(MyTVCebu)