INSUFFICIENT lighting, medicine, and equipment were some of the observations made by Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro during her visit to Ramon Maningo Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, Camotes Island on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.
In addition to the hospital, she also inspected Esperanza Elementary School, where she found classrooms in need of repair.
Baricuatro first visited the hospital, bringing along a member of the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) to provide recommendations and immediate solutions for the necessary repairs.
According to Baricuatro, one of the reasons she chose Camotes Island for the first Caravan of Services was to bring additional medical attention and other services to the constituents.
“It is because they also need it since our islands are the farthest away from the Province. It’s not only Camotes, but we’re also going to Bantayan, so these are the places that really need our help from the Capitol,” said Baricuatro on Friday.
“Not for anything else, there’s no political agenda, but they are really far, and they are the ones who truly need help,” she added.
She also became emotional during her visit with the beneficiaries after seeing the people’s condition.
“The last time I was here, I saw in their eyes that they wanted to support me, but they couldn’t openly do it. So earlier, I saw their real sentiments that they gave me a very warm welcome. I saw that most of them really needed healthcare,” said Baricuatro.
In addition to the hospital, she also visited Luciano B. Rama Memorial High School, where she socialized with students and teachers.
In her message, she appealed to students to avoid smoking, drinking and using illegal drugs, which can contribute to the deterioration of one’s health and future.
The second school she visited was Esperanza Elementary School in the town of Poro, where she saw the poor condition of the students’ classrooms.
In a talk with Superbalita Cebu, Raymond Roluna, a Grade 6 teacher, said they sometimes have to stop their classes because they get wet during the rainy season.
And during the summer, the surroundings are noisy because the classroom walls are not enclosed, and the sound of children from other classrooms can be heard.
“When the weather gets bad, we just pack up our things. If it rains heavily, we have to suspend classes because some kids have to cross a river. For example, when we’re in class and the weather changes, our class gets distracted because the roof leaks,” said Roluna.
The students also don’t have a functional canteen because it is broken and dirty.
As a result, students and parents either bring their own food or sell food inside so the students have something to eat.
Dr. Nikki Catalan, the Capitol’s health consultant, also wants to inspect the school clinic to ensure that children who need medical attention have access to initial treatment.
Baricuatro described the caravan as successful, having served hundreds of residents, and she thanked all the agencies that assisted in the caravan. / ANV