JULY 15, 2025 – (Danao City) The City Government of Danao has officially advanced its participation in the City-to-City (CTC) Collaboration Project Grant with Yokohama City, Japan— an initiative under the Y-PORT (Yokohama Partnership of Resources and Technologies) Program.

This marks a significant milestone in Danao’s journey toward sustainable, and zero-carbon urban development.

Following a series of technical exchanges and strategic dialogues, a face-to-face meeting was successfully held on July 15, 2025, at the Danao City Hall. The meeting gathered key stakeholders from the City of Yokohama, Consultants from Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Nippon Koei, GUUN Co., Ltd., TOHO-LEO Co., Ltd., Advantech. Co. Lt., AssemblePoint Co. Ltd., and Danao City officials led by Mayor Nito Durano, Vice Mayor Ivy Durano, City Councilors and Department Heads.

The discussions centered on the formal introduction of the CTC Project and the rollout of nextphase implementation plans. Danao City, alongside two other Metro Cebu cities, was selected for this grant based on prior engagements and data collected through years of cooperation.

As the only component city selected for this cycle, Danao becomes the first locality outside a highly urbanized area in Cebu to participate in this strategic partnership. Cutting-edge Japanese zero-carbon technologies will support local initiatives like the Smart Merkado sa Danao, alongside renewable energy solutions for government infrastructure and Transport System.

The CTC Collaboration aims to promote the deployment of leading Japanese zero-carbon technologies and systems in local governments abroad, contributing to climate-resilient development while strengthening energy efficiency and environmental management. 

With funding support under Japan’s Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM), the project will provide both technical assistance and project implementation support to participating cities.

Owing to the strong trust and confidence placed in the leadership and governance of Danao City, the local government is making every effort to move this initiative forward, especially as it forms part of the city’s renewed roadmap and strategic direction.

“Relationship is not limited to connecting alone, it needs to be nurtured and tested through time. This is what Yokohama City and Danao City have built and established since 2022. May this engagement continue until we will see Danawanons lives lifted up, inspired to do more and be more,” said Mayor Nito Durano.

Previous engagements laid the groundwork for this initiative. In November 2024, Danao City and Y-PORT discussed potential decarbonization projects, while the February 2025 meeting reaffirmed Danao’s participation in the CTC project. Notably, the city also announced plans to initiate LGU-led renewable energy projects to power the Smart Merkado sa Danao and enhance the energy infrastructure of local government facilities.

This strengthened partnership builds on over a decade of cooperation between Metro Cebu and the City of Yokohama under the Y-PORT framework, which contributed to the development of the Mega Cebu Vision 2050 and several urban master plans.

The CTC Collaboration represents a continued step forward for Danao City in realizing a lowcarbon future through international cooperation, local innovation, and sustainable governance. //

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