CEBU CITY – Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced on Monday that the Malaysian government is keen on supporting Cebu City’s infrastructure initiatives, particularly the construction of dams to enhance the city’s water supply. Garcia revealed that discussions with Malaysian representatives, facilitated by the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce, focused on potential public-private partnerships (PPP) to fund these projects. The mayor expressed gratitude towards the Malaysian officials for their willingness to assist Cebu City, noting that they visited his office to discuss cooperative efforts in infrastructure development. The Malaysians are expected to return with more detailed proposals, while the city government prepares to outline specific challenges and identify sectors for collaboration. Garcia also highlighted the cultural similarities between Cebu and Penang, Malaysia, emphasizing their shared commitment to preserving historical sites. In addition to the Malaysian collaboration, Cebu City is set to engage in a ‘city-to-city project collaboration’ with Yokohama, Japan, focusing on disaster and waste management, blue carbon initiatives, and solar power for local government facilities and vehicles, with assistance from Japanese consultants Nippon Koei and Adventic.
