The long-awaited construction of a new Mandaue City College (MCC) campus and a modernized Mandaue City Hospital (MCH) is finally moving forward this year. City officials confirmed that both major infrastructure projects have received funding under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), with implementation targeted before the end of the first quarter.
National Budget Allocations Kickstart Vision
City Administrator Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. announced that the national budget has allocated P415 million for the hospital project and P450 million for the college, totaling an initial P865 million. This funding marks the first concrete step in realizing Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano's vision to significantly expand access to education and upgrade healthcare services for Mandauehanons.
Malig-on emphasized that while these amounts are substantial, they do not yet represent the full funding requested by the city. He explained that additional financial pledges from national senators are anticipated to be released in subsequent phases. The city government had previously secured around P1.5 billion in total pledges following Mayor Ouano's advocacy trip to the Senate in August 2025.
Key Supporters and Implementation Plans
Among the national officials who pledged support are Senators Christopher “Bong” Go, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, and Raffy Tulfo. Mandaue City Lone District Representative Emmarie “Lollypop” Ouano-Dizon also played a crucial role, with a significant portion of the GAA allocation credited to her endorsement.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been designated as the implementing agency for both projects. To ensure quality and compliance, the City Government is currently funding and overseeing a detailed engineering design (DED), particularly critical for the more complex hospital project, which will then be adopted by the DPWH.
Phased Development for Immediate Use
Once completed, the projects will transform the city's landscape: the hospital will be upgraded to a Level II facility, and a new MCC campus will rise at Norkis Park in Barangay Looc, relocating from its current site at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Mayor Ouano provided further details, noting that the total estimated cost for the MCC project is around P700 million, meaning the current GAA covers roughly half. He stressed a practical, phased approach, instructing the DPWH to ensure that completed floors of both buildings can be used immediately, even as construction continues on other phases. He assured the public that services at the existing Mandaue City Hospital will not be disrupted.
Furthermore, the city is coordinating with Cebu Technological University (CTU), which has its own P80-million project slated for the same site as the new MCC. Soil testing is underway, and construction for both institutions could begin around April 2026. With MCC and CTU each currently serving about 5,000 students, careful space planning on the 7,000-square-meter site is essential for future growth.
"The mayor and the congresswoman are very happy that their dream for the people of Mandaue City is finally becoming a reality," Malig-on concluded, marking a new chapter for the city's public service infrastructure.
