POLITICAL newcomer Pamela Baricuatro, who secured an upset victory in the race for Cebu governor, pledged to adopt a collaborative approach to governance in pushing her agenda, despite facing a Provincial Board (PB) dominated by allies of her defeated rival, outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
“There will be friendly ways because… governance has to be collaborative,” Baricuatro told SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
“I’m sure that they, the seasoned PBs, know that as government workers and public servants, we are responsible and accountable to deliver as swiftly and as efficiently, the services to our constituents,” she added.
Baricuatro’s agenda includes enhancing the Provincial Government’s accessibility by creating satellite offices in northern and southern Cebu.
Baricuatro, who won decisively in the May 12 midterm elections, emphasized unity as she prepares to take office on June 30 as the Province’s second female leader. She will navigate the challenges of advancing her agenda with a legislature controlled by One Cebu Party, which is led by Governor Garcia.
The governor-elect, endorsed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, ran without a runningmate and did not also field candidates for the PB, which has 16 elective seats, or two seats for each of the seven districts and the Mandaue City Lone District. Completing the PB composition are three ex-officio members from the provincial federations of Association of Barangay Councils, Sangguniang Kabataan and Councilors League.
“I ran and campaigned without political machinery, unusual and even laughed at by seasoned and traditional politicians. This will be a challenge, of course, but then again, while we may be politically different, we have the same responsibility and accountability, sworn for the benefit of the Cebuanos,” Baricuatro said.
Willing to collaborate
The PB’s incoming presiding officer, Vice Gov.-elect Glenn Soco of One Cebu, told reporters in a brief interview after his proclamation at the Provincial Capitol on Tuesday, May 13, that he will work with Baricuatro. Soco is an outgoing PB member from 7th District.
Following the vote canvassing on Tuesday, Baricuatro received 1,107,924 votes, surpassing Garcia’s 765,051 by more than 340,000. Independent candidate Valeriano Gingco garnered 33,583 votes.
When asked how she will address potential gridlock caused by disagreements with the PB, Baricuatro said, “We will cross the bridge when we get there.”
The close friend of the late Dr. Rowena Burden, a fierce critic of Governor Garcia, expressed her belief in collaborative governance as a means to work effectively with the PB and Soco.
“As long as the PB and VG (vice governor) uphold the benefits of the Cebuanos based on my priority objectives, there is no problem,” Baricuatro said.
Baricuatro acknowledged concerns about her relative inexperience compared to the seasoned board members, noting that her mandate and authority come from the Cebuanos who elected her.
Regarding potential friction from reviews of existing programs, particularly those championed by board members, Baricuatro said alignment with her priorities would prevent issues.
She voiced confidence in finding collaborative methods to secure funding for her key initiatives, recognizing the board’s influence over budget allocations. She acknowledged the inherent challenges in advancing her agenda, given that she campaigned without a full slate of candidates.
Incoming PB composition
The incoming members of the PB are Jojo Bacaltos and Lakambini Reluya (1st District), Stanley Caminero and Raymond Calderon (2nd District), Oloy Corominas and Lorenz Lagon (3rd District). Kerrie Shimura and Nelson Mondigo (4th District), Red Duterte and Mike Villamor (5th District), Larenz Lagon and Alfie Ouano (6th District), Lingling Rozgoni and Sarsi Baricuatro (7th District) and Malcolm Sanchez and Olin Seno (Mandaue City Lone District).
Eleven of the winners are affiliated with One Cebu: Calderon, Caminero, Corominas, Shimura, Mondigo, Villamor, Duterte, Larenz, Rozgoni, Sarsi Baricuatro and Sanchez.
Bacaltos and Reluya ran under Nacionalista Party, while Lorenz, Ouano and Seno ran under Lakas-CMD.
Agenda
A few hours before her proclamation on Tuesday, Baricuatro shared some of her agenda with reporters, including making the Capitol more accessible to the public.
She proposed establishing satellite offices in northern and southern Cebu to bring the Provincial Government closer to the people.
Baricuatro also opposed the outgoing administration’s proposal to transfer the Capitol’s seat to Balamban town in western Cebu, citing logistical inconvenience. The proposed relocation was to a developed hillside in Barangay Cambuhawe.
She will also review Governor Garcia’s ongoing and proposed programs and infrastructure projects, adding that she would also explore alternatives to Garcia’s flagship tourism and cultural programs Suroy-Suroy Sugbo and Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.
“We will look into it. As I have said, if it works or it’s good for the welfare of the province, then we will keep it that way. There’s no need to change it just because it belongs to the previous administration,” Baricuatro said. / EHP