𝐆𝐎𝐕. 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐎 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓
𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙧
Drawing from discussions at a recent environmental summit organized by the Capitol, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro reinforced her long-standing position on climate change and environmental issues, saying that solutions to these problems must be sweeping and non-negotiable.
“Real change happens when everyone chooses to be part of the solution,” Gov. Baricuatro said during the Climate Action Summit on Monday held at Cebu Technological University.
“Protecting our environment is not a one-time effort. It requires sustained action, shared responsibility, and the courage to make difficult but necessary decisions,” she added.
Addressing local government unit (LGU) leaders, youth representatives, and environmental experts, the governor reflected on a key takeaway from the earlier Capitol-organized summit.
“I learned a lot from that gathering. But if there is one thing that truly stayed with me, it is this: we cannot do this alone,” she said.
She called the typhoons and earthquakes that battered the province in 2025 a turning point, a wake-up call, she said, that could no longer be ignored.
The summit marked the activation of the Regional Climate Change Task Force (CCTF) following the formal induction and oath-taking of its officers, as well as the reading of General Order No. 16, which placed climate response under a formal command structure.
Another highlight was the turnover of the command flag to Gamaliel C. Ermac, who was officially designated as the Regional Climate Commander of the CCTF Region VII — Central Visayas.
In a symbolic “rule of nature” approach to sustainable development, the ceremony included community singing to foster solidarity among participants.
Gov. Baricuatro doubled down on her promise of “balanced growth,” citing the Clean Cebu Campaign—an initiative led by the provincial government—as only the first step.
“I will do my best to lead Cebu toward a future where progress and environmental protection go hand in hand—where we achieve not just growth, but balanced growth,” she said.
The summit also launched a 2.5-day “Ecosaver” workshop to help local governments turn the National Adaptation Plan into action.
This program ensures that each LGU team is empowered with the tools and foundational knowledge required to shape a more resilient future through essential guidance on how early environmental data connects to broader, long-term climate planning.
Check this also: JICA Updates Cebu Officials on Metro Cebu Sewerage Master Plan Targeting 2050 Goals
