The Malaysian government is interested in supporting the infrastructure projects of the city government, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said Monday.

Among the projects eyed is the construction of dams to boost the city’s water supply.

“They are very much willing to help Cebu City with our infrastructure projects. We talked about building dams and improving infrastructure, and they are looking into conducting a study on a possible PPP (public-private partnership),” Garcia said in a press conference at the City Hall here.

The Malaysian government, through the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce, sent representatives to Garcia’s office to talk about the areas of cooperation in terms of infrastructure undertakings of the city, he said.

“They came to my office. I am very thankful they have signified their intent to help the city of Cebu,” he said, thanking the intermediaries who brought the Malaysian officials to the City Hall.

The Malaysians will go back with more detailed proposals while the city government is preparing to present specific challenges needing solutions and identify sectors that will work with the proponents.

Garcia cited some similarities between Cebu and Penang in Malaysia, noting that both share a rich cultural heritage and a commitment to preserving historical sites.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City government will enter into a “city-to-city project collaboration” with Yokohama, Japan in areas of disaster and waste management, blue carbon initiatives, and solar power generation for local government buildings and vehicles.

Japanese consultants from Nippon Koei and Adventic will assist in the implementation of the projects. (PNA)