CEBU Vice Governor Glenn Soco expressed his support and openness to Governor Pamela Baricuatro’s plan to discontinue two of the province’s major tourism programs: Suroy Suroy Sugbo and Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.
In an interview on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Soco said the Provincial Board is open to discussing and possibly amending relevant ordinances to align with the governor’s priorities.
He clarified that only Suroy Suroy Sugbo is backed by an ordinance, passed in 2012.
Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, on the other hand, is not legislated and relies solely on annual budget appropriations, making its continuation an executive decision.
“Kanya-kanya man gud ang priority sa matag chief executive. If mao iyang priority, amo gyud nang tagaan ug pagtagad. I cannot speak for everybody, but it is something that we can discuss diha sa Provincial Board,” said Soco.
He said that while he has yet to fully review the Suroy Suroy ordinance, it will be subject to Provincial Board deliberation in light of the governor’s proposed direction.
Baricuatro first revealed her intention to reallocate funds from Suroy Suroy and Pasigarbo during her campaign on November 5, 2024. She promised to shift focus toward healthcare, poverty alleviation, and other essential public services.
Despite the planned discontinuation of the long-running programs, Soco assured the public that the Provincial Board remains committed to promoting Cebu’s tourism and is ready to support alternative initiatives proposed by the governor.
As of now, Soco said he has no detailed information regarding the allocation of funds in the 2025 annual budget as it relates to either program.
Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, launched in 2008, is a province-wide festival competition that showcases the local cultural celebrations of Cebu’s local government units and is traditionally held every August to mark the founding anniversary of Cebu Province.
Suroy Suroy Sugbo, introduced in 2004, is a tourism program offering curated travel experiences to promote the unique destinations of Cebu’s municipalities and towns.
“We are discontinuing extravagant events such as Pasigarbo sa Sugbo and Suroy Suroy Sugbo. Culture matters, yes, but not at the cost of essential services,” said Baricuatro during her speech on July 1, 2025. (Jeanette Arinque and Julie Anne Sajetarios, HNU interns)