Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano has provided a detailed explanation of the city's ongoing cleanup operations following a recent typhoon, clarifying the strategy of prioritizing major thoroughfares before moving into the interior sections of barangays.
The first action taken after the typhoon was to ensure the major roads were cleared of debris, a task the mayor stated cannot be completed in a single day. He highlighted the persistent challenge along UN Avenue, where cleaned areas quickly face new garbage accumulation from residents in interior zones.
Boosting Cleanup Operations with Equipment and Contractors
To accelerate the process, the city government acquired two additional equipment units and enlisted private contractors to concentrate on key areas like UN Avenue. This concerted effort yielded positive results within a week, with noticeable improvements in Barangay Casuntingan and the Tingub bridge area.
Mayor Ouano also confirmed that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is assisting in clearing the interior portions of barangays such as Alang-alang, Umapad, and Opao. A significant hurdle remains in narrow inner roads where large equipment, including pay loaders and dump trucks, simply cannot access.
Addressing Resident Concerns and Equipment Shortages
The mayor directly addressed queries from residents, particularly in Opao where he resides, who wonder why their areas are not cleaned first. He reiterated the critical need to prioritize major roads to re-establish city-wide mobility before deploying resources inward.
Responding to requests for street flushing, Ouano appealed for public understanding, citing a widespread lack of water supply. Using water for flushing roads while many families lack water for basic hygiene could cause understandable frustration, he explained.
To tackle the garbage backlog, the city is renting more equipment from ARDA, including four dump trucks and one pay loader, expected to arrive within the week. Ouano revealed that Mandaue City itself only possesses three dump trucks, two of which were damaged when he assumed office on July 1, 2025. The situation was so dire that the city had to borrow trucks from barangays, reversing the usual dynamic.
With the support of the City Council and Vice Mayor Glenn Bersede, a supplemental budget was approved to rent more equipment in the coming months. For now, the city, which remains under a state of calamity, continues to borrow from private contractors.
A Call for Patience and Community Coordination
Mayor Ouano earnestly asked for patience as the cleanup progresses. "We are doing everything we can," he assured, noting that while they have equipment, the numerous interior areas cannot all be addressed immediately.
He encouraged residents to coordinate with their barangay officials, who have been reporting areas where floodwater persists. In some locations, like Barangay Opao, drainage is blocked by mud, and several houses built directly on the waterway complicate the situation. Removing these structures is a necessary but time-consuming process that cannot be done instantly.
The mayor concluded by affirming that his administration is working to solve these problems as quickly as possible but emphasized that the issues in each barangay cannot be fixed overnight.
