Governor Pamela Baricuatro has ordered the creation of a Provincial Education Secretariat to address what she described as an “education crisis” in Cebu.
Baricuatro said she will sign an executive order establishing the Cebu Provincial Education Secretariat (PEdS) under the Office of the Governor to coordinate and strengthen education programs across the province.
“I agree with the education committee nga kinahanglan ta og education secretariat… I’m hoping nga mahimo ning ordinance ang education office unta sa matag LGU… because I believe there is an education crisis here in the province,” she said.
The governor cited findings from the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which showed that many elementary learners in Cebu, particularly in early grades, struggle with reading and comprehension.
“Wala gyud ko na-surprise ana nga report considering nga taas ang malnutrition rate sa province. Kani nga literacy rate nato, this is a by-product of malnutrition kay kung bata dili makat-arong tuon kay walay kaon, maapektuhan ang ilang pag-eskwela,” she said.
The assessment estimates that about half of learners do not meet expected literacy levels, highlighting long-standing challenges in foundational education.
Under the executive order, the PEdS will serve as the province’s central coordinating, planning, and implementing arm for education-related programs.
It will cover basic education, early childhood development, technical-vocational training, higher education support, and lifelong learning initiatives.
The office will also act as the technical and administrative secretariat of the Cebu Provincial School Board and oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Special Education Fund.
The PEdS will develop and implement education programs led by local governments, including initiatives on early childhood care, nutrition and feeding, and literacy and numeracy.
It will also craft a Provincial Education Development Plan based on data and research and establish a monitoring system to track literacy rates, participation, and learning outcomes.
The new office will coordinate with national agencies such as the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, as well as local governments and private sector partners.
It will also support school infrastructure development and strengthen education-industry linkages.
The secretariat will be headed by a Provincial Education Officer and organized into units covering administration, programs, policy and research, monitoring, technical-vocational development, and learner services.
Baricuatro also urged local government units in Cebu to establish their own education offices to complement the provincial structure.
“I’m hoping nga mahimo ning ordinance… ang education office unta sa matag LGU naa siyay education office,” she said.
The executive order also calls on the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to pass an ordinance institutionalizing the education office and allocating funds for its operations.
The move aligns with a 2025 joint circular issued by the Department of Education, Department of Budget and Management, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Finance, which encourages local governments to establish dedicated education offices.
Within 90 days of its creation, the PEdS is expected to finalize its internal rules, draft an initial Provincial Education Development Plan, and set up a data-driven monitoring system. (LLP)
