Wenceslao’s Mandaue reclamation project to proceed after 20-year delay

Insider Spotlight

• Wenceslao-led consortium to begin long-delayed Mandaue City reclamation
• Supreme Court affirmed MLC’s position as rightful joint-venture partner
• Local political shifts finally cleared the way for project launch

The Wenceslao Group’s long-stalled reclamation project in Mandaue City is finally set to proceed, more than two decades after its initial approval, following legal victories and political realignment.

Driving the news:

Mandaue Land Consortium (MLC), the joint-venture partner of the city government, announced that the reclamation can commence “as soon as permits and documentation requirements are obtained.” MLC is part of the Wenceslao Group.

Background:

The Mandaue reclamation project, which envisions a central business district and public amenities, was first approved in 2001 and 2003 under then-Mayor Thadeo Ouano Sr., father of the current mayor.

But the plan was derailed in 2007 when then-Mayor Jonas Cortes brought in Sultan 900 Consortium, which later assigned its rights to Global City Mandaue Corp. (GMC), a company associated with former Congressman Mikee Romero.

Delfin Angelo Wenceslao

The young CEO of the Wenceslao Group will be spearheading the project's long-delayed execution. 

In 2016, MLC brought the matter to arbitration. The Construction Industry Arbitration Commission ruled in its favor, ordering the city to honor its original contract and comply with all obligations. The decision became final and executory.

Legal and political twists:

Although the local government issued a notice to proceed in 2019 under then-Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, the project stalled again after Cortes returned to office that same year and backed GMC.

In 2024, Cortes was dismissed by the Ombudsman for cause. With Mayor Ouano Jr. now in office, the project is moving forward.

Meanwhile, legal disputes between GMC and another party, Paradigm PH, played out in a Pasig court. That court was unaware of the CIAC ruling and the prior notice to proceed. MLC was barred from participating in that case but later secured a Supreme Court affirmation that its interests were unaffected.

What’s next:

MLC said the project would advance once remaining regulatory hurdles are cleared.