Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has embarked on an official visit to Fujian Province in China, a trip that carries environmental and development goals alongside its health-focused agenda.
While the three-day mission was first positioned as a learning exchange on healthcare practices, the governor confirmed that Cebu’s growing solid waste concerns have pushed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technology to also be prioritized during the visit.
Baricuatro said the opportunity to study Fujian’s modern WTE systems was added after recent waste management challenges in Cebu underscored the need to explore long-term technological solutions.
“Initially wala na siya na apil pero with what happened with the Binaliw incident nu, i requested nga i-apil and basin pa diay maka benchmark ang Cebu Province sa technology,” Baricuatro said in an interview.
According to the governor, the visit stems from an invitation extended by Fujian officials last year, as part of continuing exchanges between the Chinese province and Cebu, which maintain sister-province ties.
The delegation’s schedule includes site visits to facilities that convert waste into usable energy, a system Baricuatro described as employing advanced and environment-conscious technologies.
She noted that Cebu’s leadership wants to determine whether similar approaches could be adapted locally to help ease pressure on landfills and improve overall waste management.
Aside from environmental technologies, the mission also covers healthcare cooperation, particularly in understanding how traditional Chinese medicine is practiced and integrated into their system.
Baricuatro said the province is not only there to observe but also to exchange knowledge, with Cebu expected to present its own healthcare practices during meetings with Chinese counterparts.
The visit is also seen as an avenue to deepen collaboration beyond health and environment, with discussions anticipated on tourism promotion, educational exchanges, and potential investment partnerships.
Joining the governor are members of the Cebu Provincial Board who head key committees, including those overseeing health, environment, tourism, foreign relations, and higher education.
While Baricuatro is away, Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco has assumed the role of acting governor to ensure uninterrupted provincial operations and oversight of daily governance.
The governor expressed optimism that lessons from Fujian’s experience, particularly in sustainable waste solutions and complementary medical practices, could help shape future programs and policies once the delegation returns to Cebu. (SBA)
