Garcia, Baricuatro form transition teams

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CEBU CITY — Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has issued an executive order, creating a transition team tasked to oversee the orderly turnover of the provincial government following the 2025 elections.

Under Executive Order 16, Series of 2025, Garcia appointed herself as chairperson of the Local Governance Transition Team (LGTT) and outgoing Vice Gov. Hilario Davide III as vice chairperson.

All department heads will serve as members, along with Jesus Robel Sastrillo, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cebu provincial director; Pulchra Marie Acevedo, secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; and Mark Anthony Ynoc, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The planning office's Nerces Bispo and June Ilyn Terado will act as the LGTT secretariat.

Garcia formed the team in response to DILG Memorandum Circular 2025-016, which outlines the responsibilities of local governments in facilitating a smooth transfer of power and maintaining continuity in public service after the elections.

The LGTT will conduct a full inventory of provincial government properties.

This includes immovable properties such as land, buildings and infrastructure, as well as movable properties like vehicles, office equipment and supplies.

The team will also gather, secure and preserve official documents and records of government transactions.

These include the 2024 Governance Assessment Report, Commission on Audit reports, contracts, development and investment plans, executive and legislative agendas, staffing patterns, ordinances, resolutions and other administrative documents.

In addition, the team will prepare a list of accountability and ensure their proper turnover using prescribed forms. For reelected officials, the team will update these lists accordingly.

The LGTT will also organize a formal turnover ceremony on June 30, which will include a briefing on the outgoing administration's performance and key challenges.

After the turnover, the team must submit a Final Transition Report to the DILG through the Bureau of Local Government Supervision. This report will detail the activities undertaken, challenges encountered and recommendations for future transitions.

Garcia also directed all provincial offices and departments to provide full cooperation and support to the LGTT in carrying out its duties.

The executive order follows the earlier move of governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro, who initiated her transition process on Monday by submitting a formal letter to the DILG Cebu Provincial Office.

In her letter to Sastrillo, Baricuatro requested the agency's assistance in coordinating the turnover from Garcia's administration.

She also informed the provincial office that she had already sent a similar request to DILG regional director Leocadio Trovela.

Baricuatro appointed Edmund Lao to head her transition team.

Lao previously served as a three-term councilor of Danao City and a board director of the Philippine Councilors League-Cebu Provincial Federation.

Other members of Baricuatro's team include Paulo Uy for information technology and digital; Ruben Licera for media and tourism; Aldwin Empaces for administration; Rubie Virtucio for legal and legislation; Mayor Titing Esgana for budget and audit; and Ferliza Contratista for human resources and communications.

Baricuatro's team also submitted a formal communication to the Police Regional Office Central Visayas as part of their efforts to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Her camp emphasized that the transition team members were selected based on experience and qualifications to help realize a vision of a "new Cebu."