Pam’s team remains in the ‘dark

CEBU, Philippines — As the June 30 turnover nears, Governor-elect Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro’s transition team continues to face difficulties in accessing necessary key documents from the outgoing Capitol administration, raising concerns over transparency and readiness.

Baricuatro, after visiting the Office of the Vice Governor and other offices in the Legislative Building on Wednesday, expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation from the current administration.

“Ask her. Nothing,” Baricuatro said, referring to outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

“Naglangoy mi on our own. Treading waters,” she added.

Baricuatro compared their experience to that of the Cebu City Government, where Mayor-elect Nestor Archival has already begun holding meetings and reviewing documents with some City Hall offices.

“They stay there (Cebu City Hall) until maybe past midnight to look at documents, but nothing’s happening with us,” she said.

In a Facebook post on June 24, Baricuatro reiterated that there had still been no formal turnover of records from the outgoing administration.

“This is to inform the public that until now, wala pay formal nga turnover of records sa Transition Team ni GPB from the office of the outgoing Governor,” the post reads.

In a press release issued Wednesday, Baricuatro’s Local Government Transition Team (LGTT) confirmed that they are closely coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) despite the delays.

Transition Committee Head Atty. Edmund Lao said that as of press time, no official turnover or briefing has been conducted.

Lao, however, gave assurance that a formal turnover will proceed as scheduled on June 30, in accordance with Section 445 of the Local Government Code.

“Governor Pam has constantly reminded our transition team of the importance of professionalism, transparency, and inclusivity,” Lao said.

He added that the team is doing everything within legal bounds to prepare for Baricuatro’s assumption of office.

An executive briefing with department heads is being proposed for July 3, which will present updates on Cebu Province’s five governance pillars: economic, social, environmental, disaster risk, and institutional.

“We are doing our best to ensure continuity of service at the Capitol despite all the challenges facing this transition,” Baricuatro said.

A coordination meeting with DILG Cebu Provincial Director Dr. Jesus Robel Sastrillo Jr. is scheduled on June 27 at 3 p.m. to finalize plans for the turnover ceremony and briefings on Baricuatro’s first 100 days.

Baricuatro said she is hopeful that the meeting will provide a breakthrough.

In a separate report, Sastrillo confirmed that the June 27 meeting will focus on charting the direction of the new administration’s key programs, policies, and priorities. The discussion will be structured around four phases: transition, mobilization, planning and budgeting, and execution.

These steps are considered critical in shaping the first 100 days of Baricuatro’s term.

Meanwhile, Lao, in a phone interview, said they have accessed some documents via the Full Disclosure Portal, but these were not enough to validate issues with department heads.

“The full documents we still have to acquire on June 30,” he said.

Lao stressed the need to sit down with department heads to fully understand the content and context of the documents.

“Naa mi nakuha from the portal pero insufficient siya to confirm with department heads regarding ang katong concern,” he said.

He reiterated that the July 3 executive briefing is crucial for the incoming administration to assess the province’s performance and identify areas of concern.

Thanksgiving celebration

Meanwhile, a two-day thanksgiving celebration in honor of the Governor-elect is slated for June 29 and 30.

Organized by the Cebu DDS Coalition and led by Ian Gacrama and Jun Abines, the Thanksgiving Concert will be held at 4 p.m. on June 29 at Plaza Independencia in Cebu City.

The event is expected to draw as many as 12,000 DDS supporters.

At a press conference Wednesday, Gacrama said invitations were sent to key national figures, including Vice President Sara Duterte, Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, and Senators Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and Rodante Marcoleta.

While attendance of the invited guests remains unconfirmed, Gacrama said their participation would give added significance to the people’s gathering.

“It’s a Sunday, so we expect a huge turnout,” Gacrama said. “We’re encouraging everyone, especially those who’ve been following us online, to join us at Plaza Independencia. This is a celebration for our supporters and the public.”

Originally proposed for the Capitol grounds, the concert was moved to Plaza Independencia due to logistical constraints.

“The Capitol area couldn’t accommodate 12,000 to 15,000 people. The space is barely one hectare, and it would have been a nightmare for parking, sound setup, and crowd control,” Abines explained, adding that the thanksgiving concert is purely voluntary and meant for the masses who supported Baricuatro and the Duter10 senatorial candidates.

Gacrama also unveiled the confirmed lineup of nine bands performing at the concert, including Voice Box Band (led by former councilor Percy Fernandez), Uno Band, Exactly, Quesent Band (featuring Ivan Jack), Third Street, With Slippers (popular from Bisalpa), The Ambassadors, Winston Lee, and others.

Abines said security will be tight and alcohol consumption discouraged to maintain a peaceful and family-friendly atmosphere.

“This is not just a concert,” Gacrama emphasized. “It’s a people’s thanksgiving. We owe it to the thousands who supported us during the campaign.”

He also encouraged supporters to attend both the June 29 concert and the inauguration the following day.

“We hope everyone who joins us for the concert can also come with us to support Gov Pam’s inauguration. The more we show our force, the stronger our message of unity will be,” he said.

On June 30 at 12 noon, Baricuatro will officially take her oath as the new governor of Cebu, in accordance with the Local Government Code, which mandates that the terms of newly elected officials begin that day.

The inauguration will feature an interfaith thanksgiving and a People’s Thanksgiving Street Party—symbolizing the province’s shift toward a people-first leadership style.

The event will take place at the Cebu Provincial Capitol building.

Inauguration Committee Chair Paulo Uy earlier said that various civic and volunteer groups have aligned their plans for the celebration.

“All groups are united in this joint effort,” Uy said.

In a previous statement, Ruben Licera, Baricuatro’s spokesperson, said the incoming governor has instructed the team to uphold simplicity and frugality throughout the event.

“Governor Baricuatro has been clear—no extravagance,” Licera said. “The focus is on community, service, and celebrating the people’s role in this victory.”

Licera said this people-powered approach reflects Baricuatro’s brand of leadership: grounded, responsible, and focused on the greater good.

Invitations have also been sent to Vice President Duterte, Senator Imee Marcos, and other national and regional leaders.

Baricuatro won a historic mandate in the May 2025 elections, garnering over 1.1 million votes—a strong statement of public trust and a mandate for change. — Reynan Monleon, CNU Journalism Intern /ATO (FREEMAN)