Durano hits Garcia's two tourism programs

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

CEBU CITY — Former tourism secretary Ace Durano hits the flagship tourism programs of outgoing Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, calling them "more on self-promotion rather than tourism promotion."

Durano, who was recently appointed as Pamela Baricuatro's special adviser for economic and political affairs, did not mince words in criticizing the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo and Suroy-Suroy Sugbo initiatives.

These two events, launched under Garcia's leadership, have long been centerpieces of Cebu's tourism calendar.

GWEN’S CRITIC Former tourism secretary Ace Durano speaks to reporters after the oath-taking of governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro on May 22, 2025, candidly unleashing his criticisms of outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s flagship tourism programs, Pasigarbo sa Sugbo and Suroy-Suroy Sugbo. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES

Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, introduced in 2008, is a grand cultural event showcasing dance contingents from Cebu's towns and cities.

On the other hand, Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, which began in 2004, is a tourism caravan featuring guided tours to various destinations across the province.

But Durano said these events placed more attention on personalities than on promoting actual tourist destinations and community development.

"What I saw in Suroy-Suroy was that it was more about self-promotion rather than tourism promotion," Durano told reporters during Baricuatro's oath-taking ceremony on May 22.

Durano served as tourism secretary from 2004 to 2010 and previously represented Cebu's fifth district in Congress.

With Baricuatro's victory, Durano said the province is now headed toward "honest-to-goodness" development destination focused on uplifting local communities and improving infrastructure and services.

Health care first

He emphasized that the new administration will redirect efforts toward practical, long-term tourism strategies, including the of start basic needs like health care and emergency response systems in key tourism zones.

"How can we make them stay longer in those tourism destinations? It really comes down to the facilities and services, and one thing I've really noticed is the need for health services — especially emergency services," said Durano.

He explained that even well-known tourist hot spots such as Moalboal, Oslob and Mactan suffer from weak infrastructure and lack of access to reliable medical services, especially in emergencies.

Moalboal in southern Cebu is a top diving spot known for its coral reefs and sardine run. Nearby Oslob draws tourists for close whale shark encounters, while Mactan Island is Cebu's resort hub with white sand beaches and luxury resorts.

Durano stressed that high-end visitors like scuba divers require immediate access to emergency health care. However, he said current systems force patients to be brought all the way to Cebu City, which is often delayed by traffic and limited emergency access.

Baricuatro, whose campaign was anchored on "tinuod nga serbisyo," or genuine public service, had earlier said that health care development would go hand in hand with tourism planning.

"Tourism development must go hand in hand with better health services and stronger support systems for our communities," Durano said.

In the 2022 Cebu gubernatorial election, Durano ran against Garcia. Garcia won decisively with 1,478,436 votes, while Durano received 341,455 votes.

Appointment

Before Baricuatro's oath-taking, they had already met a day earlier.

"I am truly happy that we are working together as Cebuanos with the goal of genuine service. If we unite, we can achieve so much," the governor-elect said in a Facebook post.

Durano said he initially offered to help Baricuatro even without a formal post but accepted the adviser role after seeing her sincerity and priorities.

"What I really like are Gov[ernor] Pam's priorities. That is truly my goal and purpose — to help ensure they reach the people," added Durano.

He also stressed that their team's goal is to prioritize long-overdue public services that past administrations had allegedly overlooked.

Baricuatro, who garnered over 1.1 million votes in the last elections, has committed to a new leadership style that centers on grassroots development rather than traditional political displays.

Her win, backed by former president Rodrigo Duterte, relied heavily on community engagement and volunteerism rather than established political machinery.

With Baricuatro set to assume office officially by June 30, the incoming administration has confirmed that it will discontinue both Pasigarbo sa Sugbo and Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, marking a significant shift in Cebu's tourism policy.