Provincial legislative building to be limited to PB operations

CEBU, Philippines — Talks are underway at the Capitol to fully maximize the Provincial Legislative Building and dedicate it primarily to the operations of the Provincial Board, as officials seek to address long-standing space constraints.

The proposal emerged after repeated concerns from board members over the limited number of meeting rooms in the four-story structure, which currently houses not only the Office of the Vice Governor and the Provincial Board but also several national government agencies.

Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the plan aims to improve the efficiency of legislative work by providing adequate and permanent spaces for committees that regularly convene.

“Limited kaayo ang meeting rooms,” Empaces said.

He explained that with several committees often meeting simultaneously, board members sometimes end up competing for available rooms, affecting the timely conduct of hearings and deliberations.

“Tungod kay limitado kaayo ang rooms, mag-ilog gyud sila og usa ka room,” he added.

Empaces noted that the effectiveness of legislative work has, at times, depended more on room availability than on the urgency of issues being tackled.

He said Governor Pamela Baricuatro has acknowledged the concern and recognizes the need for larger and more functional spaces, particularly as the Provincial Board takes on heavier legislative workloads.

Discussions were initiated following a request from Vice Governor Glenn Soco, who has been advocating for a more streamlined setup within the legislative branch to enable board members to perform their duties more efficiently.

Under the proposal being considered, the legislative building would be fully utilized for legislative functions, while offices of national government agencies currently occupying the structure would be relocated.

One option being explored is the transfer of the Commission on Audit (COA) to the former Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) building near the legislative building, specifically within the Capitol compound’s parking area. This became possible after the PDRRMO moved to its newly constructed command center in Barangay Apas.

At present, COA occupies office space on the second floor of the legislative building—an area the Provincial Board plans to convert into additional offices and committee rooms.

Capitol officials are also studying possible relocation sites for other national agencies, including the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Potential sites being considered include areas in Sudlon and Lahug, as well as other portions of the Capitol compound, including designated parking areas. No final decision has yet been made.

The need for additional space has become more pressing following the addition of two new board members representing the Lone District of Mandaue City, further increasing the demand for offices and meeting rooms.

In previous interviews, Soco admitted that the current setup is no longer sufficient to accommodate the expanding composition of the Provincial Board and its growing legislative functions.

The issue of office space, however, has not been without controversy. Last year, tensions surfaced between then-incoming Governor Baricuatro and outgoing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia over the alleged reallocation of offices within the legislative building.

In a social media post dated June 25, Baricuatro accused the Garcia administration of ordering several national agencies to vacate their offices to allegedly make way for a personal office for Garcia under the Office of the Vice Governor. Garcia denied the allegation, saying no such directive was issued and dismissing the claim as unfounded.

Despite the earlier exchange, Capitol officials stressed that current discussions are focused solely on improving legislative efficiency and addressing practical concerns over space utilization.

The Provincial Board is also considering converting the building’s second floor into additional offices for board members and a dedicated committee room capable of accommodating guests, resource persons and members of the public during hearings.

Officials emphasized that no agency will be relocated without proper coordination and that any plan will be carried out in consultation with all concerned offices. — /FPL (FREEMAN)