Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has called for a coordinated and sustained development strategy for the province, saying plans to establish new economic centers should complement existing growth areas rather than compete with them.
In a letter dated Nov. 3, Baricuatro responded to Vice Gov. Glenn Anthony Soco’s proposal to establish the North Cebu Economic Zone (NCEZ), which aims to attract investments and generate employment in the northern part of the province.
The governor said northern Cebu had already been identified as a potential growth area in the province’s draft Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) for 2019-2028, but the proposed direction was not pursued further.
She said the experience showed why long-term development priorities must be carried forward even when provincial leadership changes.
“This experience underscores the importance of continuity in development planning, where strategic initiatives and long-term development directions are carried forward beyond administrative transitions to ensure their eventual realization,” Baricuatro said.
She proposed integrating the planned economic zone into a broader development strategy for northeast Cebu, linking its growth with the economic activities of Metro Cebu and western Cebu.
Baricuatro said the goal should be to develop complementary economic centers that contribute to the province’s overall growth instead of creating competing hubs.
“In this regard, the objective is not to create competing growth centers but to establish complementary areas of development that collectively contribute to Cebu’s overall economic growth,” she said.
She also called for environmental considerations to be included in the planning, particularly in light of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu on Sept. 30, 2025.
Improved infrastructure, transportation links and supporting industries could help northeast Cebu develop into another economic hub while extending opportunities to communities outside established urban centers, she said.
Baricuatro added that the municipalities and city in the Fourth District had already been considered in the formulation of the provincial development plan because of their strategic location and potential to support Central Cebu.
She also cited the Regional Development and Physical Framework Plan (RDPFP) 2026-2050, which she said was advanced during her tenure as chairperson of the Regional Development Council 7.
Soco initially presented the NCEZ proposal in a letter dated Oct. 22, asking the governor to include the initiative in the provincial government’s development and investment priorities and bring it before the RDC.
The proposed zone would cover the City of Bogo and the municipalities of Medellin, Daanbantayan and San Remigio. The area is envisioned to host economic centers for trade, investments, technology, livelihood, education and industrial activities.
Soco also proposed exploring a dedicated freeport zone within the development area, operating as a separate customs territory similar to the Freeport Area of Bataan.
He said northern Cebu could help ease development pressures in Metro Cebu, where urban centers such as Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City face challenges involving congestion and recurring flooding.
Baricuatro called for closer coordination between Soco’s office and the provincial Committee on Commerce and Industry to advance economic development initiatives.
She also welcomed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s support for institutionalizing the Cebu Provincial Investment and Economic Office.
The governor said the province’s economic direction should recognize the distinct strengths of its districts and local government units while encouraging cooperation among them.
“But, like I said, the executive department cannot do this alone,” Baricuatro said, stressing the need for continued collaboration among provincial officials and other stakeholders in pursuing balanced and sustainable development.
📷 Capitol PIO
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