Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro defended her decision to attend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), saying her presence at the annual event was part of her responsibilities as a leader in the Regional Development Council (RDC).
Speaking during the distribution of fuel subsidies in Sibonga on Wednesday, Baricuatro said attending the President’s address was expected given her role in coordinating regional development concerns with the national government.
Baricuatro said she currently serves as chairperson of the RDC in Central Visayas and was later selected by fellow governors to lead RDC Visayas.
She explained that only three governors representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are tasked with directly reporting regional projects and concerns to the President.
“Unya kahibaw man siguro mo nga RDC head ko. Sa duha ka Gobernador diri sa Region 7 akoy gipili nga regional head. Unya sa lima sad ka governors diri sa Visayas ako nasay gipili nila ug RDC Visayas head. So tulo rami ka gobernador nga mo-report mi directly to the President regarding projects,” Baricuatro said.
With this responsibility, Baricuatro said attending the SONA was part of her duty.
“So knowing that, nganong dili man ko moadto sa SONA, di ba?” she said.
The governor also addressed criticism she received online after attending the event, saying her decision was based on respect for the presidency and the institution.
“Niadto ko sa SONA ug akong gisuportahan ang Presidente. Pero gi-bash kog maayo, gi-bash ko og nganong niadto ko. Nganong dili man? I respect authority, a president is a president,” she said.
Despite the backlash, Baricuatro said she remains thankful for the support she continues to receive from Cebuanos.
“Pasagdii na lang ninyo kay ang mga bashers dili na taga-Cebu. Ang mga Sugbuanon kay namati gyud nako ang inyong mainit nga pagpangga nako,” she added.
Beyond the issue surrounding her attendance, Baricuatro said several points raised during the President’s speech aligned with the priorities of the provincial government.
She highlighted the administration’s focus on disaster preparedness, citing Cebu’s need to further strengthen its resilience following recent calamities.
“I am particularly glad that strengthening disaster response was mentioned, especially given Cebu’s experience during recent calamities,” Baricuatro said.
The governor also welcomed the government’s continued focus on food security and agriculture, saying these remain important concerns for communities across the province.
She likewise expressed support for proposed measures aimed at expanding tax exemptions for workers and removing system loss charges from electricity bills, saying these could provide relief to households.
Baricuatro also welcomed the administration’s commitment to increase medical scholarship opportunities.
Photo courtesy of Cebu People’s Media / Facebook
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