The Cebu People’s Action Center (CPAC), established by Governor Pamela Baricuatro in June 2025, handled over 1,300 assistance cases in its first year, providing medical aid, burial support, social services, and emergency response across the province.
Data from CPAC’s annual report showed the center played a key role during major crises, including the 2025 earthquake and the impact of Bagyong Tino.
CPAC facilitated 223 medical assistance cases and 289 burial assistance requests for families, many of whom belonged to Cebu’s most vulnerable communities.
Food and relief operations formed the bulk of CPAC’s activities.
The center served 300,874 hot meals during disaster responses and distributed 580,800 relief items, including food packs, bottled water, sleeping kits, and kitchen kits.
Since becoming operational, CPAC also received 1,408 assistance requests, reflecting a steady flow of residents turning to the center as a direct link to provincial services.
CPAC was formally created through Executive Order No. 5, Series of 2025, signed by Baricuatro on her first day in office.
The order established the center as a 24/7 centralized response hub to streamline government action and bypass bureaucratic delays.
The center operates as a multi-channel platform, allowing residents to lodge complaints, raise concerns, or request assistance via hotlines, an online portal, and a mobile app.
Requests are coordinated with the relevant Capitol offices for immediate action.
Governor Baricuatro described CPAC as a volunteer-driven initiative to mobilize resources quickly, particularly for residents with limited means.
“Born from an Executive Order, CPAC is a volunteer-driven mechanism to serve the people more effectively,” she said.
However, the center’s visibility has drawn scrutiny. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently declined CPAC’s proposed P14-million 2026 budget, with the Committee on Budget and Appropriations arguing that the center primarily supplements other offices—a point disputed by the executive branch. (SBA)
Photo from Cebu People’s Action Center FB Page
