City Government of Mandaue, NRC, and partners pledges partnership for resilient city
In a significant step towards building a more resilient Mandaue city, the National Resilience Council (NRC) and the City Government of Mandaue, together with Vivant Foundation Inc. (VFI), Visayan Electric Company (VECO), University of San Carlos (USC), and Carlos P. Romulo Foundation (CPRF), have gathered on February 8, 2024 at the Hall of Fame, Mandaue Presidencia to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening the city’s climate and disaster resilience with the implementation of the NRC’s Resilient Local Government Unit Program (RLGUP) through the Adopt-a-City Initiative.
In his opening message, NRC’s Executive Director Silvestre Z. Barrameda Jr. stated that the people are at the core of building resilience through the public-private-people partnerships, and the whole-of-society approach, involving all sectors and stakeholders, is necessary in building resilience.
The signing of the MOU signifies a shared commitment to enhancing the city’s preparedness and ability to withstand and recover from disasters, economic challenges, and other potential disruptions. Through this agreement, the parties involved pledge to work together in implementing science- and technology-based comprehensive strategies and initiatives that promote resilience across various sectors.
In his vision of resilience for the City of Mandaue, Mayor Jonas C. Cortes shared, “In Mandaue City, we have been promoting sustainable urban living, mobility and resilience, and with the support of our esteemed partners, we are poised to make even greater strides towards our shared goals.”
Mayor Cortes and Mr. Barrameda are joined by the other notable signatories: Mr. Shem Jose Garcia, President and Executive Director of VFI, Mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City, Engr. Mark Kindica, AVP for Engineering – Operations of VECO representing Engr. Raul Lucero, President and COO of VECO, and Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, President of USC. Joined as witnesses of the agreement are VAdm. (ret) Alexander P. Pama, Senior Resilience Advisor of the NRC and Member of ARISE Global Board, and Councilor Jennifer S. Del Mar, SP Committee Chair of DRRM.
By working together, Mandaue City and its partners are determined to create a resilient city that serves as a model of inspiration for other communities nationwide, most specially for the Cebu Province.
With its MOVE MANDAUE campaign, the city has already taken its initial steps to address climate and disaster challenges – from having grassroots capacity-building initiatives down to the puroks to providing training for communities.
In 2015, Mandaue was named as APEC’s Low Carbon Model Town, rightly recognized for the city’s comprehensive plan involving land use, green building, and transportation. And in September 2023, the Solar PV Hybrid System supported by VECO and Vivant Foundation to Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School (MCCNHS) ensures reliable power supply during critical times like typhoons, engages the academe, and empowers the youth through the STEM strand of the school.
The National Resilience Council (NRC) is a science and technology-based public-private partnership that supports the national and local government, academe, civil society, and the private sector in advancing the intersecting goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, Making Cities Resilient 2030 and other international frameworks.
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