Nearly seven months after the last major coordination of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7, Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III again met with DPWH officials, September 16, to monitor the status of infrastructure projects sought by the city following the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino.

The meeting brought together Mayor Durano and Engr. Ma. Jannet Nero, District Engineer of the DPWH Cebu 5th District Engineering Office, along with DPWH technical personnel, to discuss the progress and next steps for priority rehabilitation projects, particularly the damaged bridge infrastructure serving upland communities.

The meeting forms part of Danao City’s continuing effort to ensure that infrastructure priorities identified after Typhoon Tino remain on the government’s agenda and move through the necessary funding, validation and implementation processes.

The City Government had earlier raised concerns over the prioritization of projects proposed for Danao. In late 2025, Mayor Durano held off on approving a proposed asphalt overlay for a road that remained serviceable, calling instead for available government resources to be directed toward infrastructure that sustained significant damage and posed more immediate public-safety and connectivity concerns. The City Government later formally appealed for the rehabilitation of major bridges, river protection, and other critical structures damaged by Typhoon Tino.

The position was followed by the city’s formal appeal for the rehabilitation of bridges and other critical structures damaged by Typhoon Tino. The Office of the President and DPWH subsequently supported the reprogramming of 2026 funds to address priority bridge repairs.

Among the infrastructure priorities is the Guinacot Bridge, which the Mayor has identified for urgent attention because of its importance to communities in the upland area.

For Danao, the issue extends beyond the physical repair of a bridge. Restoring the structure means restoring vital lifelines for residents who depend on the route for access to schools, markets, health facilities, livelihoods and emergency services.

This week’s monitoring was further reinforced by a regional post-Typhoon Tino assessment led by the Office of Civil Defense Region VII, headed by Rizajoy Hernandez of the Rehabilitation and Recovery Office.

The OCD’s role is particularly significant in the recovery process as it helps coordinate and facilitate post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery efforts among national government agencies and affected local governments. In Central Visayas, OCD Region VII has been working with regional agencies on post-disaster needs assessment, recovery planning and the identification and validation of priority interventions needed to support affected communities.

The OCD-led team included representatives from OCD-7, DILG-7, DEPDev-7 and DPWH-7, together with the Danao City Government. The team conducted an on-site assessment of damaged infrastructure and other areas requiring rehabilitation support.

The assessment is part of the process of determining which recovery and rehabilitation interventions require priority government support, particularly those involving critical infrastructure, public safety and the restoration of essential community connections.

Following the site inspection, the team proceeded with a desk evaluation, where the DPWH District Engineer presented the prioritized project proposals and supporting documents to members of the Regional Project Validation and Evaluation Team (RPVET).

Based on the site validation and subsequent evaluation, the RPVET submitted its assessment and recommended that funding for the identified projects be released and prioritized, particularly those necessary to address public safety, restore damaged infrastructure and strengthen Danao City’s disaster resilience.

The development comes as Danao continues to coordinate with national government agencies on post-Tino recovery. For the City Government, the continuing follow-through is part of a broader approach to infrastructure governance— identify what is most urgent, monitor where it stands, and push for action where communities remain affected.

The focus is particularly critical in areas where damaged infrastructure directly affects connectivity. For Danao, recovery cannot end with damage assessment. Roads, bridges and protective structures must be restored because they are lifelines that connect people to essential services and opportunities.

The city’s continuing engagement with DPWH, OCD and the regional validation team reflects this priority—that resources must be matched with actual needs, projects must be properly validated, and critical repairs must move as quickly as government processes allow.

As the rehabilitation proposals move through the next stages, Danao City continues to monitor progress, with the restoration of critical connectivity and the safety of communities remaining central to its post-Tino recovery efforts.