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CEBU CITY — Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro has appointed former Tourism secretary Ace Durano as special adviser for economic and political affairs as she formally begins the transition process for her new administration.
Baricuatro met with Durano on Wednesday at a hotel in Cebu City where the two agreed to collaborate closely in leading the province toward what the new governor calls "tinuod nga serbisyo (genuine service)."
"Lipay gyud ko nga magtinabangay ta isip mga Sugbuanon nga ang tuyo mao ang tinuod nga serbisyo. Kon magkahiusa ta, daghan gyud kaayong mahimo (I am truly happy that we will be working together as Cebuanos with the goal of genuine service. If we unite, we can truly accomplish a lot)," Baricuatro posted on social media.
Durano, who served as Tourism secretary from 2004 to 2010 under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, thanked Baricuatro for bringing him into her team.
"I'm excited to work with you, Gov Pam! It's an honor to be part of your journey in providing the Cebuanos services they truly deserve," he said.
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Before his Cabinet appointment, Durano was elected as congressman for Cebu's fifth district from 1998 to 2004. After his stint as tourism chief, he returned to the House of Representatives and served again from 2013 to 2016.
On Monday, Baricuatro's transition team submitted a formal letter to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cebu Provincial Office, requesting assistance for an orderly turnover from outgoing governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
The letter, addressed to DILG Cebu provincial director Robel Sastrillo Jr., stated that Baricuatro had earlier coordinated with DILG regional director Leocadio Trovela. It also named lawyer Edmund Lao as the head of her transition team.
The move complies with DILG Memorandum Circular 2025-016, which mandates provincial offices to facilitate smooth transitions in local government.
In a statement, Baricuatro thanked the more than 1.1 million Cebuanos who voted for her, calling the election result a "powerful expression of the people's will and a push for genuine progress in the province."
Her team emphasized that she campaigned without traditional political machinery, relying solely on grassroots support and the endorsement of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Members of her transition team were selected based on merit and experience, not political affiliation, to support her vision of building a "New Cebu."
Aside from Lao, the team includes Paulo Uy (vice head for information technology and digital), Ruben Licera (spokesman, media, info and tourism), Aldwin Empaces (administration), Atty. Rubie Virtucio (legal and legislation), Mayor Titing Esgana (budget and audit), and Ferliza Contratista (human resources and communications).
Lao also sent a formal communication to the Police Regional Office Central Visayas as part of their preparations for the assumption of office on July 1, 2025.
