CEBU – Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro now chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC-7) seen by many as her edge and added influence to advance major infrastructure projects in Cebu and Bohol.
Her appointment as RDC7 chair sparked some discussions among the opposition and has drawn debate and skepticism from some quarters within the DDS community saying that she shouldn’t accept the appointment if she is a true DDS supporter.
“One important point: Malacaรฑang is fully aware of my political affiliation. They appointed me anyway. This isn’t about them being partisan; it’s about what’s best for Cebu. If the DDS community sees partisan bias here, I ask you to judge by results and by the outcomes for our people, not by slogans,” Baricuatro wrote in her Facebook post.
She said that with her at the helm of RDC-7,
her top priority infrastructure projects will be accelerated and made possible,
including the Metro Cebu Expressway and Water security and other road diversion
projects.
This is not about politics as usual. It’s about Cebu getting a unified, national-backed plan that speeds up real, tangible benefits for families—jobs, healthcare, roads, schools, and locally driven development, Baricuatro added.
“I am really committed to bring big programs and projects to Cebu,” she said at her regular media briefing on October 29 at the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) where she inspected the facility's readiness ahead of the expected influx of passengers for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
Baricuatro points to some key initiatives already in motion such as the feasibility study for the Talisay–Naga Diversion Road that has been approved, a key project she wants completed within her term as governor and she plans to push for it in future RDC meetings.
She said that once this coastal road diversion is completed, this would ease traffic congestion along Cebu’s southern corridor passing through Talisay City, Minglanilla, and the City of Naga, providing motorists with an alternate route to and from southern Cebu.
rities are water system projects, the Metro Cebu Expressway connecting the City of Naga in the south to Danao City in the north, and additional diversion roads across the province.
Baricuatro also recognized that her new role requires her to look beyond Cebu’s interests and work for the development of the entire Central Visayas region. “As committed, I am to deliver the best programs for Cebu, I will also do my best for the whole Region 7,” she stated.
Baricuatro is set to take her oath in November before the President in Malacaรฑang where she plans to discuss the region’s infrastructure priorities with the chief executive. Her primary goal is to promote the welfare of Cebu and the region.
The RDC is the highest policy-making body in
the region and serves as the counterpart of the DEPDev Board at the subnational
level. It coordinates and directs economic and social development efforts,
ensuring local initiatives align with national development goals. (Photos: DepDev-FB)
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