Pam’s ‘baby project’ may lose funding

Local

THE Cebu People’s Action Center (CPAC) could lose its funding under the 2026 provincial budget after the Provincial Board approved a committee report recommending the removal of its allocation.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro defended the center on Thursday, Dec. 18, emphasizing its role in emergency response and public service delivery.

Baricuatro described CPAC as her “baby,” noting that it serves both as a public complaints desk and a rapid-response unit for communities across the province.

She warned that eliminating its P14 million budget would weaken Cebu’s capacity to provide essential services, particularly during disasters and emergencies.

“Service to the people is not optional. It is our mandate. Without proper mobilization and essential resources, reaching every barangay, every family in need, becomes a challenge,” Baricuatro said in a statement posted on her social media account.

The governor cited CPAC’s contributions during recent crises, including the 6.9-magnitude earthquake and Typhoon Tino.

Volunteers coordinated rescue and relief operations, prepared and distributed hot meals at evacuation centers, and reached barangays that were difficult to access due to damaged roads or infrastructure.

Testimonies from affected residents confirmed that CPAC provided assistance where it was most needed.

According to the PB Committee on Budget and Appropriations, CPAC has not been formally organized as an office of the provincial government and does not have plantilla positions.

The committee’s report warned that funding the center could risk future disallowances.

The report also emphasized that CPAC personnel primarily augment manpower for other provincial offices, and recommended realigning roughly P178 million from various departments and initiatives.

During the recent round of budget hearings, the committee noted that CPAC personnel work mostly as volunteers or job-order employees and do not hold regular government positions.

The funding required for programs implemented by CPAC personnel, the report said, would have to be sourced from the implementing department’s budget allocation.

Baricuatro questioned why CPAC faced resistance under the current P11.9-billion “People’s Budget,” which was formulated following public consultations, when the PB previously approved a P25-billion budget that included hundreds of millions of pesos for large-scale events such as Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

She described it as “concerning” that funding a center directly involved in service delivery would be opposed while substantial allocations were made for public events.

The governor also promised transparency, saying she would publicly share which PB members vote to defund CPAC.

“You—the people—deserve to know who supports or hinders reliable service,” she said. She added that the public would ultimately judge the PB’s actions regarding CPAC’s funding.

Baricuatro also addressed CPAC volunteers directly, thanking them for their service and commitment, and assuring them that their work would continue despite budget-related challenges.

She stressed that the Provincial Government remains committed to service delivery, transparency, and ensuring that assistance reaches the communities that need it most.(MyTVCebu)