Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes and Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado signed a resolution before Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia at the Provincial Capitol during the latter’s 67th birthday on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
The resolution finally put the issue to rest by letting the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria) do its work of delineating territories in accordance with the law.
Both parties also agreed to give a 50-meter easement or setback “landward” from the agreed boundary line, as well as a 100-meter water waterway easement in Cansaga Bay so as not to choke the waterway.
“During the meeting dated April 1, 2022 held at the Provincial Capitol, the parties have agreed that the starting point of their territorial water boundary would be the political boundary between the City of Mandaue and the Municipality of Consolacion particularly in MBM14 CBM 10, and CAD-1015D,” stated the resolution.
The consensus was reached following several negotiations between the two parties, the latest of which was done with Garcia and delegates from Namria on Oct. 5.
During the negotiation, Garcia asked both parties to honor and respect the outcome of the work to be done by Namria, the central mapping agency of the government.
Garcia said it would be a precious gift on her birthday to have Mandaue City and Consolacion ink the resolution and stand on common ground regarding the issue.
Along with Garcia, Provincial Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco and Cebu Sixth District Rep. Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano witnessed the signing of the joint resolution.
With the agreement, both Consolacion and Mandaue can now move forward with their respective reclamation projects near Cansaga Bay.
Mandaue City is at the advanced stages of its preparations for a 101-hectare, P20 billion reclamation project near Cansaga Bay along the Mactan Channel.
Dubbed Global City Mandaue, the project is set to be the first waterfront city for Mandaue and the entire Cebu Province.
Consolacion is also set to reclaim 235 hectares of land near Cansaga Bay along the coastal area of Barangay Tayud.
Styled as the Economic Hub of Consolacion, the 235-hectare mixed-use land area will cater to government agencies, as well as residential, commercial and industrial spaces. (LMY)