𝐆𝐎𝐕. 𝐏𝐀𝐌 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐔𝐏 𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒, 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔’𝐒 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐍 “𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘𝐀 𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔”
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro sat down for a candid interview at the Capitol talk show “Istorya Cebu,” streamed live on the province’s official Facebook page on January 9, making her the program’s first guest of the year following its launch late last year.
Hosted by Provincial Information Officer Ainjeliz de la Torre-Orong, the talk show drew insights from the governor on a wide range of topics, including her priority agenda, leadership style, working relationship with Cebu mayors, family support, and key development projects for the province.
The governor described 2025 as a challenging year, recalling that she was still adjusting to office when at least three major calamities struck Cebu within the first four months of her administration. She said she dealt with the difficulties by taking them one day at a time.
“I am glad I am at an age that I am prepared to take on any challenges in life. Any challenge does not rattle me na. I take it a day at a time,” she said.
She also credited her faith and spirituality for keeping her grounded amid adversity.
“You have to be centered spiritually. It’s your aura that would exude. Those who shine inside don’t need the spotlight,” she said.
The governor said her top three priorities were shaped by the most pressing needs she observed during her years of advocacy work and through her foundation, Simply Share.
Healthcare, she said, remains her foremost priority, citing the clamor of communities whose medical services had been relegated to the background in recent years. Environmental protection is another key focus, as no one can withstand the wrath of nature, while food sustainability also ranks high on her agenda—an advocacy long championed by her foundation, which provides meals to underserved communities in Cebu.
Gov. Baricuatro said she is encouraged by the support she has received from both the Provincial Board and Cebu mayors, many of whom chose to work with her despite her being a political newcomer.
“The mayors are very receptive. I am just so glad that despite the political differences, they are willing to work with us, kay after all, it’s for the people of the Province of Cebu,” she said.
𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗦
With the approval of the ₱11.9-billion provincial budget for 2026, the governor said she is ready to go all-out in implementing her priority programs, particularly in improving healthcare services, which she said have afflicted ordinary Cebuanos for far too long.
She also expressed gratitude to her daughter, Dr. Nikki Catalan, who has been advising her on health matters and has been instrumental in improving healthcare services in the province—from the massive hiring of medical personnel to equipment upgrades, replenishment of medical supplies, and partnerships with both public and private sectors.
Addressing the paradox of Cebu being the country’s richest province yet posting a high poverty incidence, Gov. Baricuatro said her administration is pushing for ease of doing business and increased investments.
“Our goal is to implement ease of doing business sa probinsya, dili lisod-lisoron ang investors,” she said, adding that investments are crucial to stimulating the province’s economy.
She added that her husband, Dr. Brian To, has been lending his expertise in this effort, particularly in organizing the first Cebu International Investment Summit scheduled on January 12–15, which aims to attract local and foreign investors and position Cebu as a key economic hub in the Asia-Pacific region.
Despite these initiatives, the governor acknowledged the criticisms and cases filed against her and her family members, which she attributed to political opponents, but stressed that she remains focused on delivering services to the Cebuanos.
She also welcomed the improved working relationship between the Capitol and Cebu City Hall, describing Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival as humble, efficient, and vision-oriented.
“Kinsa may dili ganahan makatrabaho si Mayor Nestor?” she said, adding that they both shared a common vision of pushing for development but not at the expense of the environment.
Gov. Baricuatro likewise expressed pride in the Cebu Provincial Police Office, led by Police Colonel Abubakar Udang Mangelen Jr., which recorded a 27.40-percent reduction in crime in 2025 compared to the previous year—affirming the effectiveness of its modern, disciplined, and people-centered policing strategies.
She said her support for the police force, the Police Regional Office 7 under the leadership of Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Field Unit 7 under PCol. Christopher Bermudez, will be all-out, even as she warned criminal elements against turning Cebu into a hub for illegal activities, particularly the drug trade.
Beyond public safety, the governor said her priority infrastructure projects include lobbying for the construction of dams to mitigate flooding and conserve water during the dry months, as well as pursuing a waste-to-energy initiative. She noted that the project has already attracted interest from private groups and is expected to reduce Cebu’s waste while providing an additional source of energy. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶
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