Pam’s promises begin taking shape

CEBU, Philippines — Exactly a year ago today, Governor Pamela Baricuatro walked into the Cebu Provincial Capitol following a landslide victory that ended former governor Gwendolyn Garcia's long reign. She entered office on a platform that promised to prioritize healthcare over festivals, transparency over politics, and ordinary Cebuanos at the center of government.

Twelve months later, the question is no longer what she promised—but how much of it has become a reality.

Health-first agenda

If there is one campaign commitment that has defined Baricuatro's first year, it is healthcare.

Throughout the campaign, she repeatedly said healthcare would be her administration's top priority, citing shortages of doctors, medicines, and equipment in Capitol-run hospitals.

On her first day in office, Baricuatro ordered the immediate release of appropriated funds intended for provincial hospitals, signaling a shift in priorities. Her administration also reconstituted the Provincial Health Board to strengthen policy direction for Cebu's healthcare system.

The Capitol likewise launched the Right to Care Program through Executive Order No. 29, expanding access to healthcare by recognizing designated care partners even outside traditional family relationships.

The province also significantly increased investments in healthcare manpower. According to Capitol data, the number of doctors assigned to Cebu's 16 provincial hospitals rose from 177 in July 2025 to 303 by April 2026, a 71-percent increase.

The expansion addressed long-standing staffing shortages, particularly in provincial hospitals in Carcar, Danao, Balamban, and Bogo.

To support the healthcare agenda, the provincial government allocated P2.9 billion in the 2026 budget for the operation of its 16 Capitol-run hospitals, in addition to P1.2 billion for the Provincial Health Office.

Transparency was another recurring campaign pledge.

In an interview for The Freeman's Know Your Candidate series during the election campaign, Baricuatro vowed to make the Capitol more open to public scrutiny and improve accountability in government transactions.

Within her first year, she signed an executive order institutionalizing Freedom of Information (FOI) in the Cebu Provincial Government, expanding public access to official documents and government information.

The Cebu Provincial Board also approved on third and final reading the Freedom of Information Ordinance of 2026, formally guaranteeing public access to government records and official documents.

The administration likewise launched the Cebu Infrastructure Project Management and Monitoring System (CIPMMS), a digital dashboard that allows both government offices and the public to monitor infrastructure projects from planning to completion.

The platform represents one of the administration's most significant transparency initiatives by allowing taxpayers to track the progress of public projects in real time.

Improving accessibility

Baricuatro also campaigned on making the Capitol more responsive to ordinary Cebuanos.

To support this commitment, the provincial government established the People's Action Center through an executive order.

The center serves as a centralized public assistance mechanism designed to simplify requests for government services and improve public access to provincial offices. Instead of requiring citizens to navigate multiple departments, it functions as a one-stop assistance hub.

For residents seeking medical assistance and other provincial services, the center represents one of the administration's efforts to make government services more accessible.

Disaster preparedness

Baricuatro also pledged to strengthen disaster preparedness.

One major development was the approval of the P88.7-million Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Trust Fund Program, which will finance disaster preparedness and resilience projects across Cebu.

The 2026 provincial budget also increased allocations for disaster response equipment and emergency vehicles.

One of the administration's more controversial initiatives, however, remains the proposed procurement of a sea ambulance.

Provincial officials said the promised sea ambulance has yet to be acquired because the proposed purchase still requires approval from Malacañang.

During last year's budget deliberations, officials clarified that the vessel currently operating in Cebu is only a prototype or test unit temporarily provided by a supplier and has not been purchased by the provincial government.

Reforms still in progress

Despite significant gains in doctor deployment, several healthcare reforms remain unfinished.

In her first State of the Province Address, Baricuatro acknowledged continuing shortages in hospital equipment, medicines, and specialized healthcare personnel.

Her administration's Prime 4H 2Ps agenda includes upgrading hospitals, completing staffing requirements, and ensuring a steady supply of medicines. Employment also remains part of the governor's long-term agenda.

During the campaign, Baricuatro emphasized the need to better connect businesses with workforce training so more Cebuanos could secure employment. She also pledged to strengthen, rather than abolish, existing livelihood programs such as Sugbo Kahanas and Sugbo Negosyo.

One year later, Sugbo Kahanas continues under her administration, with hundreds of graduates—including persons with disabilities and scholars—receiving tool kits and financial assistance.

Food security likewise remains a key pillar of Baricuatro's governance agenda.

The administration has announced plans for Community and Mobile Kitchens, as well as a People's Food Center aimed at connecting farmers and fishermen directly with consumers.

These initiatives have been introduced as part of the province's long-term development strategy. However, most remain in the implementation stage, with measurable outcomes yet to emerge.

For instance, the People's Food Center, funded under a P13.3-million budget, has yet to be completed. The project aims to improve market access for local producers while lowering food costs for consumers.

During the elections, Baricuatro emphasized that the role of a governor is to prioritize the welfare of the people, stating, “That’s really the job of a governor, to look after the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants.”

Running under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Baricuatro received 1,107,924 votes against Garcia's 765,051. — (FREEMAN)