MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY – Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro marked her first day as the governor of Cebu Province with the signing of 12 executive orders (EOs) that aims at strengthening Cebu provincial hospitals, promoting transparency, and addressing healthcare needs, among others.
“I reflect on my first day as governor of Cebu, expressing my sense of responsibility and emotional connection to the people I now serve. I see familiar faces from the campaign, my supporters and you, the media and colleagues. We are here today to fulfil our mandate to serve the people with integrity, accountability and inclusive governance,” Baricuatro said, in her inaugural message.
The governor emphasized their role of responsibility rather than power or decision-making. With that, Baricuatro signed and issued 12 Executive Orders (EOs) to start her first day as “The Governor” of Cebu Province noting her 100-day focus on improving the healthcare services, employment and livelihood, education and a collaborative and people-centric governance.
Executive Order 1 calls for the urgent release of funds to improve and strengthen the 16 provincial hospitals’ healthcare response and capacity, while EO-2 is the reconstituting the Provincial Health Board for the term 2025-2028, EO-3 is the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI).
Baricuatro outlined her orders that would strengthen healthcare, freedom of information to promote transparency and accountability in public service; creating task forces ad the Cebu People’s Action Center to address issues related to programs, investments and promotions of the Province.
Baricuatro also met with Vice-governor Glenn Soco and members of the legislative board, department heads and some local officials, youth groups and various civil society organizations signaling their support to the new administration.
“Our conversation revolves around the upcoming legislative session on July 7, where the governor will present plans and programs that require legislation. The session will also serve as a meeting point for the government and the board members and part of an orientation period that includes instruction on house rules, committee chairmanships, and other preparatory activities. It was a pleasant meeting and with the commitment to working together,” Vice-governor Soco told the media.
At the press conference, Baricuatro announced the appointment of former DOT-secretary, Ace Durano, as the new Provincial Administrator; Paul Uy as her Chief of Staff and Ruben Licera, as Provincial Public Information Officer.
“It’s a very crucial appointment. I’ll help her, it’s the role that she needs me to play especially with her priority agenda on healthcare. We have a very strong team,” Durano said, in a side interview.
Durano bared that the next 100 days are crucial. The team has yet to finalize the healthcare priority appointment and the governor said to maintain the current department heads, collaborate with everyone inside the department and industries; schedule additional meetings in the next few days and to prioritize and cluster tasks.
Baricuatro’s inauguration began with the tour/inspection of the Capitol, meetings with various groups, a mass, press conference and ended with a concert amid the rains.
