Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro will present her first State of the Region Address (SORA) today, laying out the region’s development direction as local leaders push for faster rollout of major projects across Central Visayas.
The address will be delivered during the second quarter full council meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC-7) in Danao City, eight months after Baricuatro assumed the chairmanship of the region’s top planning and policy-making body.
Her report is expected to provide an update on the region’s current economic and infrastructure status, alongside priority programs aimed at improving connectivity, services, and investment competitiveness in Central Visayas.
Since taking over the RDC leadership, Baricuatro has pushed for stronger coordination between local government units and national agencies to fast-track key infrastructure and development projects.
RDC-7 discussions in recent months have focused on funding gaps and implementation delays affecting long-standing proposals, including transport systems, water supply projects, environmental programs, and economic development initiatives.
Among the region’s major proposals is an estimated P1.8-trillion investment package covering 30 priority programs for possible inclusion in the national government’s investment programming cycle for 2026 to 2027.
Transportation remains a central focus, with ongoing endorsements for projects such as the Metro Cebu Expressway and related road network expansions aimed at easing congestion and improving mobility across Cebu.
The council has also backed bypass roads and alternative corridors designed to support increasing traffic demand brought by urban expansion and economic growth.
Water security has likewise been flagged as a critical concern, with proposals for additional bulk water sources in western Cebu receiving continued support from the regional body.
Other priority initiatives include flood mitigation projects, environmental management programs, and innovation-driven investments such as a proposed innovation hub in Balamban and waste-to-energy facilities in the province.
Baricuatro’s appointment as RDC-7 chair in October 2025 initially came as a surprise, even to her.
She earlier said she had withdrawn from consideration before receiving formal confirmation from the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“It’s a welcome surprise,” she said in a previous interview.
“I gave up the nomination and yet I’ve been appointed, so it’s really a vote of confidence from the administration,” she added.
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