Mandaue to pilot Metro Cebu sewerage system

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City has been identified as the pilot area for the initial implementation of a centralized sewerage system in Metro Cebu to be undertaken by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Stakeholders gathered in Mandaue City on Thursday, October 29, 2026, for the presentation of the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for the first phase of the proposed sewerage system in the Mandaue Service Area. The record of discussions for the project was signed in April 2024.

The proposed centralized sewerage treatment facility will be located at the Mandaue Green Learning Center Park in Barangay Umapad.

JICA, in partnership with Hydronet Consultants, conducted a feasibility study that identified Mandaue as the most viable area to begin developing a sewerage treatment system that could eventually cover Metro Cebu.

IEE consultant Dr. Danilo Jaque emphasized the need for a centralized sewerage system, citing the pollution of bodies of water across Metro Cebu caused by untreated wastewater.

He said the absence of adequate facilities for treating domestic wastewater allows waste to flow directly into drainage systems and eventually reach creeks and rivers.

“That reflects that we do not have a proper treatment system. Ngayon para ma-cover na lahat, dapat i-collect na lang yan sa isang sewerage line that goes to a treatment facility,” he said.

Jaque said the long-term plan is to establish a system that would collect and treat wastewater from eight local government units (LGUs) across Metro Cebu, extending from Compostela in northern Cebu to Talisay City in the south and including the Mactan islands.

For the initial phase, however, the project will focus on Mandaue City, with four barangays identified as priority areas---Maguikay, Alang-Alang, Ibabao-Estancia and Casuntingan.

The proposed main sewer pipelines will run along UN Avenue, Plaridel Street, M.C. Briones Street and M.L. Quezon Avenue.

Mandaue was selected as the pilot area based on several factors, including environmental impact, financial viability, land availability and the city's receptiveness to the project.

Phikkoei International Inc. Water Department Manager Deguchi Yosuke, a Japanese consultant for JICA, said Cebu currently has no centralized sewerage system serving the entire city.

While some establishments operate modular wastewater treatment plants, these facilities do not constitute a centralized sewerage network serving the wider community, he said.

Another consultant Joan Jaque also said the proposed system is expected to improve water quality, particularly in Cebu.

“If everybody connects to it and everything will be treated, that’s the goal,” she said.

However, completing a centralized sewerage system for the entire Metro Cebu is projected to take around 80 years, while the initial phase covering Mandaue City is expected to take seven to eight years.

“We are hoping to start,” the consultant said.

The proposed system will collect wastewater from industrial, commercial and domestic sources for treatment.

At the end of the pre-feasibility study, project proponents will determine which agency will oversee construction, along with the financing arrangements and potential funding sources.

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is currently serving as the executing agency for the study.

The next stage will involve preparing a master plan, followed by a feasibility study to determine the implementing agency for the actual construction.

MCWD received a grant from JICA to conduct the study. Based on the initial assessment of Metro Cebu, Mandaue ranked first among the priority areas selected for the pre-feasibility study.

Under the proposed arrangement, Mandaue City will provide the land for the treatment facility.

During the open forum, business sector representatives, including members of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), welcomed the initiative, noting that the city's industrial base and concentration of large establishments underscore the need for a centralized system.

However, the chamber said guidelines should be established for businesses that already operate their own wastewater treatment facilities, particularly regarding how they could connect to the proposed network.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 7 Maintenance Division Chief Engr. Faustino Dela Cruz Jr. said the agency hopes to receive the complete engineering design and layout once the master plan is finalized.

This would allow the DPWH to coordinate with project proponents, particularly on pipeline sections that may pass through national roads and highways under its jurisdiction, he said.

For the city government, City Planning and Development Office head Architect Marlo Ocleasa welcomed the proposal, describing it as a positive step toward improving Mandaue's environmental conditions.

“We are hoping to implement this pilot project,” Ocleasa said.

Jaque said feedback gathered from stakeholders during the consultations would be considered as the project progresses.

“Everybody understands that there is really a need for this kind of project. It’s just a matter of educating people for a better appreciation of the project and for them to see the benefit of this,” she said. (CEBU NEWS)