Formally finalized donation of 15 vehicles to SK leaders acknowledged
Council Approves Controversial Vehicle Donation Before City Change
In a heated city council meeting on June 9, 2025, the Mandaue City Council approved the questionable donation of 15 box-type vans, worth approximately P17 million, to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons across the city's 15 barangays. The decision, however, was not unanimous, with three councilors voicing their objections.
Among those voting against the donation were councilors Joel Seno, Andreo Icalina, and Cesar Cabahug, who are allies of Mayor-elect Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano. Seno, in particular, questioned the timing of the donation, suggesting that it may have been a last-minute bid to benefit the current administration's allies rather than a genuine gesture of support for the SK councils.
Seno argued that the vehicles had already been delivered to the SK chairpersons as early as November 2024, several months before the proposal was officially deliberated. He expressed concerns that the donation might be an attempt to preempt the incoming administration from making decisions on the assets' usage and that the SK councils might lack the operational capacity to maintain the vehicles.
According to city records, the 15 vehicles were procured under the 2024 budget and distributed to each barangay SK council for use in youth programs and community activities. However, some critics contend that the vehicles could have been better allocated to city departments with pressing logistical needs, such as the City Health Office, Market Operations, and the Agriculture Office, which still lack adequate transportation.
SK Federation President and Councilor Fleuritz Gayle Jumao-as defended the donation, stating that the vehicles had assisted the SK councils in conducting their programs more efficiently. She emphasized that the vehicles are intended for official SK use and not for personal use by the SK chairpersons. Jumao-as disclosed that the city government is shouldering the salaries of the job order (JO) drivers assigned to each SK vehicle.
Some critics have expressed concerns about political favoritism, as the recipients of the vehicles are reportedly from barangays that are considered allies of the outgoing administration. However, Jumao-as denied any political motives, explaining that the budget only provided for 15 vehicles, and the barangays selected were those with the most urgent need for transportation.
The donation was formalized only now due to the election ban that prevented the administration from acting earlier. The incoming city administrator, Gonzalo "Sally" Malig-on, expressed doubts over the SK councils' ability to manage the vehicles, citing restrictions in the SK Reform Act that prohibit the hiring of personnel and the allocation of SK funds for salaries or personal services. He suggested that decisions involving city assets should be carefully evaluated and ideally left to the incoming administration, which will take over on June 30.
As the debate over the donation continues, there remains a cloud of suspicion over the timing of the decision, the political motivations of the outgoing administration, and the capacity of the SK councils to manage and maintain the assets. Nonetheless, the vehicles will now be in the possession of the SK chairpersons as they continue to serve the city's youth and communities.
- The controversy surrounding the vehicle donation approved by the Mandaue City Council in June 2025 has sparked discussions about policy-and-legislation, with critics questioning the timing and potential political motivations involved.
- The general news buzzes with debates on the management and maintenance of the 15 box-type vans, donated to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons, considering the capacity of the SK councils and the restrictions imposed by the SK Reform Act.
- In the context of the city's culture and politics, the heated debate over the controversial vehicle donation sheds light on the role of government in policy decisions, particularly during transition periods, and the implications for the city's health and community services.
