Pam vows tougher fight vs corruption

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro issued a strong warning against corruption, stressing that public funds belong to the people and must be used with purpose, prudence and accountability.

In her second State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday, Baricuatro said her administration would treat corruption not only as a legal issue to be addressed after an offense has been committed, but also as a problem within government systems that must be prevented at every stage of public spending.

“Ang kuwarta sa gobyerno dili amo, Dili ako. Kuwarta kini sa katawhan. Busa, ang matag sentimo kinahanglan gamiton nga adunay katuyoan, kaalam ug tulubagon,” said Baricuatro.

She made the statement as she outlined the provincial government’s push for transparency, public participation and mechanisms that would allow Cebuanos to examine how government decisions are made and how public funds are spent.

Baricuatro said efforts to rebuild public trust must include greater access to information and closer public scrutiny of government transactions.

“The people have every right to know how decisions are made, how public funds are spent and how services are delivered,” she said.

She cited the province’s Freedom of Information ordinance, digital project monitoring, live procurement, citizen participation and open records as among the measures that form part of her administration’s approach to governance.

For Baricuatro, transparency should not be reduced to publicity or statements from government officials. Trust, she said, must instead be demonstrated through actual government performance.

“Trust is not demanded through publicity. It is earned through proof, protected by transparency and renewed every day through service,” she said.

Baricuatro also emphasized the direct effect of corruption on ordinary Cebuanos, saying its consequences go beyond government documents, investigations or legal cases.

“Corruption is a moral issue and has a human cost,” she said, pointing to situations in which public funds are diverted, overpriced, wasted, manipulated or exchanged for personal favors.

She said the people ultimately bear the cost when government resources intended for public services are lost to corrupt practices.

“It is the patient who finds no medicine. It is the child left in an unsafe classroom. It is the farmer who never receives the assistance listed under his name,” Baricuatro said.

She also cited families affected by flooding who wait for interventions that were funded but not properly delivered, stressing that every corrupt transaction creates an “unseen victim.”

“Every peso lost to corruption is a peso taken from a Cebuano who needed government to work,” she said.

Accountability

Baricuatro said the provincial government would seek to address corruption before damage occurs by strengthening accountability throughout the government process.

She identified planning, budgeting, procurement, delivery, inspection, payment and public reporting as stages where safeguards against corruption must be applied.

The governor also reminded Capitol employees and officials that approving documents carries responsibility beyond simply affixing a signature.

“To every Capitol employee and official: a signature is not a routine mark on paper. It is a declaration that you are willing to be accountable for what you approve,” she said.

She likewise called on contractors and suppliers to comply with their obligations and ensure that public projects and services are delivered properly.

“To every contractor and supplier: compete fairly, deliver completely and honor every peso entrusted to you,” Baricuatro said.

Baricuatro also placed part of the responsibility for protecting public funds on the Cebuano public, urging citizens to remain involved in monitoring government work.

“To the Cebuano people: continue asking questions. Request records. Examine our work. A government committed to integrity should never fear an informed and watchful public,” she said.

She acknowledged that corruption cannot be eliminated through a single speech, executive order or administration, but said this should not prevent the provincial government from taking steps within its authority to curb the problem.

“We will not pretend that corruption disappears through one speech, one executive order, or one administration. But neither will we allow this to do what we can to stop corruption,” Baricuatro said.

She ended her warning with a broader statement on the purpose of public office, drawing a distinction between government service and personal gain.

“Public office is not a business opportunity. Public money is not a private fund. Public trust is not a political entitlement,” Baricuatro said.

“Ang kapitolyo dili negosyo. Ang Kapitolyo Serbisyo,” she added.

Baricuatro further stressed that government projects should not be measured solely by completion, saying a project loses its value if it comes at the expense of integrity.

“No project is successful if it is completed at the cost of integrity,” she said.

The governor warned that public service would lose its purpose if government positions became a means of enriching individuals. She said Cebu cannot claim to be a premier province if corruption continues to make its people poorer. — (FREEMAN)