Mandaue City believes that participation and collaboration among the government, local community and civil society ensures inclusive growth. It is therefore committed to providing effective business registration procedures, promoting small businesses and investments and nurturing businesses to last.

In the annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development. As of 2018’s ranking, it also won the 2nd most improved LGU, jumping from 26th to 13th, and from 72nd to 15th in the overall competitiveness score, which is the sum of scores on four main pillars, which are: economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure and resilience.

Mandaue City was also named as one of the Most Business Friendly LGUs in the Philippines by none other than the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and was even awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance by the Department of Local Government. The Seal of Good Local Governance symbolizes integrity and good performance of local governments. It is a continuing challenge for provincial, city, and municipal governments to do better today and in the years to come.

More recently, it received the distinction of being one of the top three local government units in the Digital Governance Awards, under Customer Empowerment, with its use of the Guardian Emergency Response System. This is an application that allows the public to use their mobile phones to either seek assistance during emergencies or report incidents with a single tap on the phone, allowing the agencies concerned to better organize the deployment of responders and assets, especially during major incidents like conflagration in task force alpha level, flash floods and disasters.

Another crucial area of concern that every modern and evolving city must consider is the threat of pollution and traffic. This is why one of the key strategies is enforcing environmental laws, counteracting pollution and also creating and implementing a Comprehensive Traffic Plan.

The main driver of economic growth in Mandaue City is the close working relationship between the business community and the local government. Over the course of 3 years, the local annual budget alone in the City has grown 62%, a majority of which goes to initiatives meant to help businesses take seed and grow.

As a result, business registrations have grown significantly. 2018 saw a rise from 13, 168 to 18,103.

Central Visayas is one of the fastest growing economies and has consistently been among the top growing regions in the country for the past four years and Mandaue is one of the biggest contributors to this growth, being considered as the manufacturing hub of the Visayas.

Daily Minimum Wage Rate (in Peso)

• Non-Agricultural Php 00
• Agricultural (Non-Sugar) Php 00
• Agricultural (Sugar) Php 00

Cost of Land in a Central Business District (Php per Sqm)

• Php 12,000/sq.m

Cost of Rent for Commercial Space (Php per Sqm/month)

• 32/sqm – 1,500/ sqm

Cost of Electricity (Php per KwH)

Commercial:

• Small Php 11.72
• Large Php 10.14

Industrial:

• Small Php 9.16
• Large Php 36

Cost of Water (Php per Cubic Meter)

• Commercial Php 15.20
• Industrial Php 15.20

Mandaue City is committed to sustaining the robust outlook on the economy, taking proactive steps in attracting capital and technology that complements local resources with a liberal program of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, as specified under the New Investment Code of Mandaue City (City Ordinance # 12-2015-1073).

In line with the vision of sustainable development while maintaining livability, new companies will be required to construct environment- friendly buildings based on the standards specified by Mandaue’s Green Building Code. Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence rating system or BERDE, was developed by the Philippine Green Building Council. Buildings that comply with the BERDE rating system will enjoy tax incentives.

Since Mandaue became a chartered city on August 30, 1969 and recognized as a Highly Urbanized City (HUC) in 1991, it has grown into a world-class livable destination.

Not just a hub for business and industry, Mandaue aims to also be an ideal place for urban living. Those planning to move here can choose from sprawling subdivisions, affordable apartments and high-rise condominiums located all over the city.

Commercial and hospitality centers have also sprouted, offering unique experiences for locals and tourists alike to enjoy. There is so much to do in Mandaue: have fun in a trampoline park; stay in hotels with international standards and savor their selection of fine culinary creations; and party the night away at the city’s best clubs with music from international talents.

Despite its progressive march into the future, Mandaue City does not forget its roots and has made efforts to ensure its culture and history are cared for. In line with these values, a number of heritage houses have been recognized and carefully preserved, keeping their storied histories alive. One such place is the Mandaue Presidencia, the city’s seat of government, a beautiful reminder of yesteryear.

Considering the variety of ways to discover and experience Mandaue City, there is bound to be something for those who plan to settle here.

Mandaue is famous for being a “Bridge City”, not only because of the two major bridges that connect it to Mactan Island, but also because it connects visitors and citizens alike to important destinations such as the Cebu International Port, the Mactan International Airport and the North Reclamation Area.

Mandaue also serves as the main gateway to the northern half of Cebu. As such, the city aims to provide the best roads and highways for the driving and commuting public. Mandaue City’s road network is composed of a national highway which connects the city to its neighboring cities and municipalities, and a national secondary road which traverses the city’s metropolitan area. The total length of the city road network (paved and unpaved) and the four bridges, is about 133.7 km (83.1 mi), broken down into:

• National roads – 13.2 km (8.2 mi)
• City roads – 57.1 km (35.5 mi)
• Barangay roads – 63.4 km (39.4 mi)

Road density is 5.31 km/km2 (8.55 mi/sq mi) of land. In terms of population, road density is 0.04 km (0.025 mi) per one thousand inhabitants.

Mandaue City is a major commercial & industrial hub, where almost 20,000 industrial and commercial businesses are based. For years it has served as a focal point for manufacturing in the country, with many of the region’s largest companies, including corporate giants like San Miguel and Coca-Cola, operating in the city.

It has also been the springboard for many Filipino industries that have dominated the world market. The City of Mandaue is home to a large number of the Philippines’s furniture export companies. Furniture pieces from brands such as DEDON, Vito Selma, and Detalia Aurora, are designed and manufactured in Mandaue before being shipped around the world.

Today, Mandaue continues to develop and foster an environment where industries take seed and grow. The most visible and prominent is the North Reclamation Project, now known as the North Special Administrative Zone, which currently has about 180 hectares of reclaimed land of which 36 hectares belong to the city. On this stretch of reclaimed land are Mandaue landmarks such as Mandani Bay, Bai Hotel, Parkmall, and world-class hospitals such as Chong Hua & UCMed.

In addition to commercial establishments, manufacturing and real estate developments, the city has several IT Parks that dot its metropolis, such as the Gothong IT Center, HVG Arcade and KRC, all of which are along Subangdaku, while AS Fortuna has Oakridge, Benedicto IT Center, Norkis Cyberpark and the JMall IT Center.

Through education and training, The City of Mandaue has a developed workforce of highly skilled and trainable, English-speaking residents. The literacy rate for Central Visayas now based on the 2015 census of population is at 98. Overall education data showed that 38.8 percent of those five years old and above had attended elementary,
33.6 percent reached or finished high school while 97.7 percent were in college undergrads and 10.6 percent are degree holders. Over 60 percent belongs to the working age population.

A majority of the schools in Mandaue are privately-owned, accounting for over 60% of the classrooms in the city. Cebu Doctor’s University is the most preeminent learning institution for those pursuing careers in Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Medical Sciences, Rehabilitation, Pharmacy & Dentistry, while the University of Cebu Lapu Lapu- Mandaue offers courses ranging from Accountancy & Financial Management to Computer Science, Electronics and Communications Engineering.

In Mandaue, both private and public schools offer six (6) years for primary and elementary education. For the Secondary Education, Mandaue City has already implemented the K-12 system starting 2016. Students will spend four (4) years in Junior High and an additional two (2) years for Senior High School to complete the Secondary Curriculum. There are twenty-three (23) Secondary public schools in the City as of calendar year 2018-2019.
The City has also created the Mandaue City College (MCC) and Mandaue City College Technological and Entrepreneurial Skills Training (MCCTEST) to serve the Mandauehanons and residents of neighboring towns and cities who aspire for careers in the business and industrial sector.

To complement the city’s robust infrastructure, Mandaue has also installed state of the art monitoring systems to ensure the proper management of traffic. The equipment registers traffic violations such as speeding, illegal parking, counterflowing, illegal turns and immediately transmit images of the violation and the license plate of the violator to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The City of Mandaue also received the distinction of being one of the top three local government units in the Digital Governance Awards, under Customer Empowerment, with its use of the Guardian Emergency Response System. This is an application that allows the public to use their mobile phones to either seek assistance during emergencies or report incidents with a single tap on the phone, allowing the agencies concerned to better organize the deployment of responders and assets, especially during major incidents like conflagration in task force alpha level, flash floods and disasters.

The City of Mandaue is also a destination for the arts and culture with its historical roots based on craftsmanship and woodworking. The Venetian chronicler Antonio Pigafetta wrote of a settlement called “Mandani” which existed in the area with a chieftain named Apanoaan. Even before the Philippines was colonized by Spain, it was already noted for its artisans. During colonial times, it was exporting carved wooden furniture to Spain in the late 1500s. Today, Mandaue continues to assert its relevance by showcasing its designers’ exquisite products innate homegrown ingenuity to the world.

As with the rest of the Philippines, Mandaue considers religion as the most enduring piece of heritage from the Spanish. Every January, the city celebrates the Traslacion, a fluvial procession of the images of the Holy Family: The Child Jesus or the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe will stay overnight at the National Shrine of St. Joseph, the patron saint of Mandaue City. In addition to the fluvial procession, there are singing and dancing competitions and a parade highlighted by street dancing.

Despite being known as a modern industrial hub, lovers of history may visit the Quijano Museum and the Luis Cabrera Ancestral House and Museum. The city has also managed to preserve several historical locations, such as the Bantayan sa Hari, the National Shrine of Saint Joseph and the Mandaue Presidencia, a Neo-Grec style building that serves as the seat of government for the city of Mandaue, erected during the time when the Philippines was a Commonwealth of the United States.
The City of Mandaue is also a destination for adventure and activities. Travelers may also enjoy natural sites such as the Cansaga Bay, Casili Hills, Jagobiao Spring and the Butuanon Rivers. They may also enjoy live music and DJs at any of the popular nightlife establishments, or enjoy wholesome fun at several waterparks within the city. All these while staying in world-class hotels such as Bai Hotel and Maayo Hotel.