The Mandaue City Government is preparing to move a new group of evacuee families to a temporary housing site this week. This follows a coordination meeting led by Mayor Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano on the morning of Monday, January 5, 2026.
Batch Transfer to Ensure Utility Management
City Administrator Gonzalo "Sally" Malig-on announced that approximately nine additional families are scheduled for transfer to the Pasilong sa Paradise temporary shelter in Barangay Guizo. The move is planned for either Wednesday, January 7, or Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Malig-on explained that the city is conducting the relocation in batches. This strategy is necessary to properly manage the utilities at the site. A total of 50 housing units are ready at Pasilong sa Paradise. However, the water and electricity systems use sub-meters, which require careful clustering of units for efficient distribution.
"We expect to move another nine families this Wednesday or Thursday," Malig-on stated. "Clustering the units makes it easier to manage the distribution of utilities, so we usually move families in groups of nine."
Holiday Break Caused Brief Delay
The relocation process experienced a short pause due to the extended holiday season. Malig-on clarified that the long break, which lasted over a week, resulted in limited available manpower to carry out the transfers.
"The transfer was delayed because of the long holiday period," he said. "During that time, only essential services were operating... There were no available workers we could tap for the relocation."
With regular government operations now back in full swing, the city is making the evacuee transfer a top priority. Mayor Ouano's coordination meeting involved key offices like the City Engineering Office, the Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO), and the Department of General Services (DGS).
Relocation a Priority for the New Year
Malig-on emphasized the city's commitment to continuing the relocation effort as one of its first major actions for 2026. "This coordination meeting was the first thing the mayor called for this morning," he noted. "This shows that resuming the relocation of evacuees is a priority of the City Government."
City officials have assured the public that the remaining families will be transferred gradually. The phased approach is designed to ensure that all necessary preparations for utilities and facilities are complete. The ultimate goal is to guarantee safety, efficiency, and proper living conditions for all residents at the temporary shelter site.
