Mandaue City Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, mayor of Mandaue City, raised concerns over the dim lighting on the first and second Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and suggested reverting the lighting system to LED instead of solar to improve visibility.
Ouano made the suggestion during a visit by officials from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to his office.
He said better illumination is necessary with the upcoming meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where foreign delegates and dignitaries are expected to arrive in Cebu.
“If I may suggest, since the LGUs are the ones paying for the electricity, perhaps the lights on the bridges can be reverted to LED,” Ouano told PCO officials.
In a press briefing, Ouano said he had earlier written to Pamela Baricuatro, governor of Cebu Province and head of the Bridge Management Board, to raise his concerns about the lighting system ahead of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026 held in January.
Ouano said his observations came from personal experience.
He recalled arriving home before dawn one day and counting around 20 lamps on the first bridge that were not functioning.
On another occasion, while passing through the second bridge, Ouano noticed that the lights were working but appeared dim because they were solar-powered.
He said installing LED lights on the bridges would provide better illumination.
However, Ouano clarified that solar-powered lights may still work well for roads leading to and from the bridges to help the city save on electricity costs.
He added that the city must keep the bridges well-lit because they have become iconic landmarks of Cebu.
Earlier, officials from the Presidential Communications Office visited Mandaue City Hall to strengthen coordination with the local government in disseminating information about the upcoming ASEAN Summit 2026 in May.
Assistant Secretary Mariel Eduarte led the delegation and met with Ouano on March 5 to discuss the public information campaign for the regional event.
As preparations for the summit continue, the city government has also started road improvements and strengthened traffic management measures.
Ouano said the city is ready to host possible public events for ASEAN delegates in coordination with the local business sector. (VCL)
