Mandaue City is part of the Sixth District of Cebu joined with the municipalities of Consolacion and Cordova. Although qualified for a lone district since 1991, this was neglected by lawmakers. Mandaue is an independent highly urbanized city but is legislatively administered with the supervision of the provincial government.
Mandaue became independent from being an American Commonwealth and a Japanese garrison on July 4, 1946 along with the entire nation. Mandaue became a chartered city on June 21, 1969. The city was recognized as a HUC (Highly Urbanized City) in 1991.
The ongoing North Reclamation Project, now known as the North Special Administrative Zone, currently has about 180 ha (440 acres) reclaimed land. Of the 180 hectares, about 36 ha (89 acres) belong to the city. The existing mangrove area will be retained as a marine habitat, part of the area's parks and open spaces.
In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 189,712 registered voters, meaning that 52% of the population are aged 18 and over.
Mandaue Fiesta:Celebrated on May 8 in honor of the patron St. Joseph. There are many events that occur in this feast like the inter-barangay sports competition, Queen Prince and Princess coronation, rodeos, street festival, bailes, fairs and many more.
Panagtagbo: Translacion (Gathering of the Holy Family), coincidentally the patrons of Cebu are Santo Niño and Birhen sa Guadelupe, Saint Joseph in Mandaue City. This is celebrated every January when the three statues meet in the national shrine of Saint Joseph often called the Translacion where a fluvial procession follows. There are singing and dancing competitions and street dancing that happen during the Bibingkahan in honor of the Sto. Niño.
Many famous Cebuano meals like the lechon or inasal, eaten with achara or pickled vegetables. The sugba or barbecue of either isda (fish), baboy (pork), manok (chicken) or baka (beef) is found all over Mandaue eaten with the puso a diamond-shaped hanged rice covered in coco leaves. Kinilaw is raw meat usually pork or fish drenched in vinegar and salt. The buwad or dried seafood either fish or squid can be pungent with a crunchy and chewy texture. There are some exotic meals you can find like the dinugoan or pig's blood which is eaten like a soup. Barbecued chicken feet are liked by many locals. Original cuisine in Mandaue includes the bibingka which is steamed rice cakes mixed with coconut and sometimes egg. Binangos paired with rice is made of ground up corn with Bolinao fish. This dish is found only in Mandaue; other delicacies includes the tagaktak, the seasonal buriring fish (stewed with iba) and the famous masareal.
Schools in Mandaue City follow a system of 6 years for primary education and 6 years for secondary education. There are technical schools like TESDA in Banilad and Looc and othe private institutions that provide certificate degrees. Associate degree, Baccalaureate Degrees, Master's and Doctoral programs are available in specific Universities.