Gov: Cebu needs more aviation professionals to sustain growth

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu needs to build a stronger pipeline of aviation professionals as the province seeks to expand tourism, investment and international connectivity, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said at the Cebu Aviation Summit 2026.

Baricuatro, a former senior flight attendant who entered public service and becoming governor, said aviation remains closely tied to Cebu’s economic prospects and that the industry’s future will depend on the people who operate and support it.

“Cebu has long been one of the country’s major gateways to the world,” Baricuatro said during the summit. “As we continue to strengthen our tourism and economy and attract more visitors, investments and international events, aviation will remain an important part of Cebu’s growth.”

Her remarks come as Cebu seeks to strengthen its position as a regional tourism and business hub, with air connectivity playing a central role in bringing visitors, workers and investment into the province.

Baricuatro said the aviation industry offers young Filipinos career opportunities extending beyond pilots and cabin crew to aircraft maintenance, engineering, ground operations and other technical and support roles.

She urged students and aspiring aviation professionals attending the summit to look beyond the glamour associated with the industry and prepare for the discipline and responsibility required to work in aviation.

“Aviation may look glamorous from the outside—the uniform, the aircraft, the travel, the destinations and the opportunity to see different places,” she said. “But once you are inside the industry, you realize that aviation is really about discipline, responsibility, teamwork and service.”

Drawing from her own experience in the industry, Baricuatro said working as a senior flight attendant taught her how to manage pressure, work with people from different cultures and respond to unexpected situations.

Those lessons, she said, remain relevant in her current role as governor.

“Today, I may no longer be serving passengers onboard aircraft. I am serving the people of Cebu,” Baricuatro said. “The environment may be different, but many of the lessons are the same: stay calm under pressure, work as a team, be prepared for the unexpected, and never forget the people you are there to serve.”

She also called on aviation industry partners to create more opportunities for Cebu’s youth to train and build careers in the province, helping ensure that the sector’s expansion is supported by a skilled local workforce.

“Ultimately, an industry is only as strong as the people who will carry it forward,” she said.

Baricuatro said her own transition from aviation to government service illustrates how skills developed in the industry can carry over into other fields.

“The uniform may be what first inspires you. The destination may be what excites you. But it will be your discipline, your character, competence and willingness to serve that will determine how far you will go,” she said.

The governor’s aviation background has also given her a personal connection to the sector. She recalled working international flights and experiencing the rapid movement between cities, describing aviation as an industry that exposed her to different cultures, personalities and working environments.

For Cebu, however, she said the value of aviation goes beyond individual careers. A stronger aviation sector can support the province’s broader ambitions in tourism, trade, investment and international events, making the development of aviation talent a strategic economic priority.