Cebu is moving beyond rebuilding from past setbacks and preparing for challenges ahead, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said as she delivered her second State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday, Aug. 31.
Baricuatro used her 2026 SOPA to outline the provincial government’s priorities for the next 12 months, covering healthcare, agriculture, disaster preparedness, water security, education, transportation and infrastructure.
“Cebu is no longer standing still. Cebu has been recovering. Cebu has been rebuilding. And Cebu has been moving forward with purpose,” Baricuatro said.
She said the administration’s first year focused on six key result areas: housekeeping, healthcare, hunger, happiness, partnerships and linkages, and predicting and preparing Cebu for future development.
In governance, the province adopted its 2026-2028 Public Financial Management Improvement Plan and settled P63 million in obligations dating back to 2018.
The provincial government also moved bid openings online, streamlined procurement and contractor payments, and established the Cebu Infrastructure Project and Management Monitoring System to track projects.
Nearly P1 billion was also released directly to local government units and barangays during the administration’s first year, the province reported.
Healthcare accounted for P4.8 billion in provincial investments, including more than P650 million for equipment and infrastructure. The province also doubled patient meal allocations from P150 to P300 per meal.
All 16 provincial and district hospitals are now PhilHealth YAKAP-accredited and provide 24-hour laboratory services.
As of July, the province reported 325 doctors, 818 nurses, 159 medical technologists, 56 pharmacists and 1,422 support personnel. It also has 73 medical scholars for school year 2026-2027.
For the coming year, the province plans to expand the Provincial Health Office with a medical and dental clinic and an Animal Bite Treatment Center.
The Argao and Malabuyoc district hospitals are also set for upgrades from infirmaries to Level 1 hospitals, while septage treatment plants will be installed in all 16 provincial hospitals.
The province also plans to establish AMPING Cebu Desks in provincial and district hospitals.
Agriculture will receive a larger proposed budget for improved seeds, farm equipment, irrigation, post-harvest facilities, market access and modern agricultural technology.
Over the past year, the province constructed five small farm reservoirs, established five corn-processing sheds and distributed machinery, livestock and seeds.
Four People’s Markets are also being built in Medellin, Poro, Carcar City and Danao City, while Agrilink-Cebu was launched to connect local producers with consumers.
Under the Bigay-Bigas sa Masa program, 312,500 sectoral beneficiaries received 10-kilogram rice packages.
Disaster preparedness will likewise be expanded, with two satellite warehouses planned in northern and western Cebu to preposition food, equipment and other supplies.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will also expand its satellite offices beyond Balamban as the province prepares for a possible Super El Niño.
“We learned the cost of being unprepared. We will not pay that price again,” Baricuatro said.
Water security remains another priority under the province’s 10-year Water Security Plan.
Cebu is targeting an additional 29 million liters of water per day from existing treatment projects, as well as another 15 million liters per day for Dalaguete, Pinamungajan and Alcantara by next year.
The province will also continue its SMART Classroom program to address classroom shortages and provide learning spaces that can remain functional and connected during emergencies.
In transportation, the P20-million Tabang PangByahe program is scheduled to roll out in October with funding from the Department of Transportation and support from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
The program will use fixed dispatch schedules and designated stops, with a succeeding phase expected to add routes and solar-powered SMART waiting sheds equipped with digital bus-arrival displays and phone-charging stations.
Six transport cooperatives are also expected to receive electric buses within the next 12 months, with eventual expansion to Bantayan and Camotes.
For flood control and long-term water management, the province is pursuing feasibility studies for watershed protection, retention systems, impounding facilities and dams.
Immediate flood-control measures will continue through waterway clearing, identification of flood choke points, stronger early-warning systems and closer coordination with local governments.
Baricuatro said the programs would be monitored based on specific targets, timelines and implementation.
Photo by Jacq Hernandez
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