Alegado vows to turn Consolacion into “Smart City”

CEBU, Philippines — Consolacion Mayor Teresa “Nene” Alegado, who is seeking reelection in the 2025 midterm polls, has vowed to continue transforming Consolacion from a “sleepy town” into the richest municipality in Cebu Province.

In her guest appearance on The Freeman’s “Know Your Candidate” on April 15, 2025, Alegado said she should be re-elected because she has a plan to develop Consolacion into a “Smart City.”

She said that since she was the one who transformed the town from what was once quiet and unknown, her term should be continued as she still has many plans for the future.

“Kaning akong pagpanerbisyo this is more of a passion and determination bringing forth transformation sa akong lungsod,” said Alegado, who reiterated the big-ticket projects initiated under her administration.

One of these is the P16.9-billion New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP) in Barangay Tayud, which officially broke ground on February 5, 2025.

The new port is strategically located to alleviate bottlenecks in the logistics chain, enabling faster and more cost-efficient transport of goods while enhancing the competitiveness of local businesses both regionally and internationally.

Alegado said she is determined to make this project a reality, as she believes it can transform the image of Consolacion.

As part of the plan to eventually convert Consolacion into a city, Alegado said they have long aspired for cityhood, but the process has been delayed due to certain requirements.

The mayor said that in terms of income, they have already met the requirement—with P200 million locally sourced, P800 million from the National Tax Allotment (NTA), and P2.2 billion in assets.

Meanwhile, in terms of land area, Consolacion is relatively small. That’s why they are now focusing on meeting the next requirement, which is population.

Alegado said that based on the survey from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Consolacion is now qualified to become a city, as its population has reached 161,000.

She said this is one of the reasons why she needs to remain mayor—because there is a lot of paperwork and other tasks she has been handling to achieve the goal of cityhood.

In line with her vision, she believes Consolacion is heading in the direction of neighboring cities like Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu. She has prepared a 235-hectare reclamation project in the coastal area of Barangay Tayud, anticipating future development in the region.

She said the town has received an unsolicited proposal from a group of developers for the reclamation area, which she finds promising, as it could help address challenges such as traffic and other issues once Consolacion becomes a city.

Alegado said that the reclamation process is ongoing. In fact, they have already received approval from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and have completed Level 2 of the Philippine Reclamation Authority’s process.

She said the only remaining requirement is the Environmental Compliance Certificate from the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau for the project to proceed.

In defense of the shipyards operating in the area, Alegado said that out of the 11 shipbuilders, only two will be allowed to stay beyond 2028, as the rest of their leases will expire by then.

She also referred to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of Consolacion, which finalized its revisions in 2024. The plan categorizes the area where the shipyard is located as designated for commercial industries, no longer for heavy industries like shipbuilding.

Additionally, she mentioned that in 2019, the Sangguniang Bayan of Consolacion approved the categorization of the entire shoreline and foreshore area as an economic hub.

Alegado further emphasized that her vision is not to benefit only a few in the town, but to consider the greater good for everyone in Consolacion.

“Gusto nako andamon ang lungsod nga mahimong syudad,” said Alegado.

She also assured that displaced workers, including fishermen who continue to fish in the area, will be included in her plans.

She said that only a small fishing area remains, and she plans to create a communal fishpond for the fisherfolk.

Alegado added that the town’s aquatic resources are no longer safe due to the presence of the shipyard.

Once the government’s plan is realized, Alegado assured that those affected will be properly taken care of, as they are part of her plan.

Traffic concerns

Although Consolacion is not yet a city, one of the major concerns associated with the town is traffic congestion.

However, Alegado maintained that traffic does not occur all the time, but only during peak hours. She added that in any progressive area, traffic is inevitable—and this is also true for Consolacion.

She explained that the stretch of Consolacion is only 2 kilometers long with 23 junctions, which has definitely contributed to traffic congestion over the years.

But with the actions of the local government unit (LGU), she said they have opened up five junctions and doubled the personnel enforcing traffic laws in the town.

She said she has instilled discipline among the traffic enforcers and has sought consideration from motorists passing through the 2-kilometer national road of the town.

“Ni-improve man karon… if the area is already progressive, natural ang traffic,” Alegado justified.

With a solution in place, Alegado revealed that in addition to the National Road in Barangay Tayud and the National Highway, there is also a budget of P955 million for another road project from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

An ongoing construction project is currently underway between Barangay Tayud and the mainland of Consolacion, traversing Barangay Nangka and Barangay Tugbongan, and will eventually cross Barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City.

Another potential solution Alegado is considering is the construction of a flyover in the town.

Mother and son tandem

As Alegado seeks reelection alongside her son, Joannes “Joyjoy” Alegado, who previously served as mayor of Consolacion from 2019 to 2022, she said he is her trusted person to run the town.

She vowed that, with their dynamics, they have no “bad intentions” for the town, but instead offer a tandem that will help achieve their vision for Consolacion.

“It is not a deterrent for relatives to work together if you do not have any bad agenda at all,” Alegado said. — (FREEMAN)