Baricuatro scraps two Cebu tourism programs

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CEBU CITY — Suroy-Suroy Sugbo has made its final stop, while curtains have fallen on Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

Governor-elect Pamela "Pam" Baricuatro on Tuesday marked a significant turn in Cebu's tourism strategy by officially discontinuing the two flagship programs of outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

NO MORE SUROY-SUROY A tourist of Suroy-Suroy Sugbo enjoys a saang shellfish, an abundant product in Pilar town during the One Enchanting Camotes trip. Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, which means wandering in Cebu, is a group tour package that brings participants to various towns in the province which will no longer be held anymore after incoming governor Pamela Baricuatro scrapped it and the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES

"Wala na'y Pasigarbo (There will be no more Pasigarbo)," uttered Baricuatro during Openline news media forum on May 20, citing ballooning costs, logistical issues, and public safety concerns as reasons for the shutdown.

The incoming governor questioned the fairness of pitting resource-strapped towns against wealthier cities in the province's grand cultural showcase, which she revealed costs over P200 million to stage.

"Pasigarbo is very expensive — it's over P200 million. ... And why do you let third-class municipalities compete with component cities? How can they compete in terms of budget? Logistically, it's improbable. It's a pity," she said.

She added that several participants were injured traveling to and from Cebu City for the event.

"There have been so many accidents. That's really why I won't continue with it. I have been vocal about it from the start," she stressed.

Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, launched in 2008, is a province-wide festival featuring dance contingents from Cebu's cities and towns.

Meanwhile, Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, which began in 2004, is a tourism caravan that offers guided tours to various destinations across the province.

But Baricuatro described Suroy-Suroy as a burden to rural residents who are made to wait long hours in uncomfortable conditions during stopovers.

Baricuatro questioned the burden placed on rural communities during the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo events, asking why people in the province had to go through such difficulties just to accommodate visitors.

Instead of continuing the programs, Baricuatro said she will redirect provincial funds to essential services like mobile clinics and mobile kitchens that will reach underserved areas.

"If there should be a Suroy-Suroy in the province, it's not me. It will be mobile clinics, mobile kitchens that will be able to feed the public and give healthcare services," she said.

Baricuatro also made it clear that Cebu does not need another major festival, stressing the importance of supporting Sinulog, which is already celebrated globally every January in Cebu City.

"There has to be one Sinulog. We have to collaborate with the city of Cebu. After all, we are one Cebu island. Why would I create another festival? It's just duplicating it," she said.

While open to creating new platforms to showcase Cebuano culture, Baricuatro underscored the need for inclusivity, practicality, and direct benefits for communities.

Baricuatro said she's open to dancing in the Sinulog Festival next year, if Cebu City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival invites her.

Asked whether she'd don a festival queen costume, she replied with a grin, saying she could pull it off "much better."

The remark sparked instant comparisons to outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who famously performed the Sinulog dance annually as a symbol of faith and tradition.

Baricuatro's win in the May 12 elections not only ended Garcia's decades-long reign at the Capitol but also closed the chapter on two of the province's most talked-about tourism programs.