In a significant move for public education, the Cebu Provincial Government has authorized a massive P2.14 billion in allocations for schools across the province during the initial six months of Governor Pamela Baricuatro's administration. The funding, approved by the end of December 2025, is directed toward infrastructure, learning programs, and recovery efforts for institutions damaged by natural disasters.
Reactivating Idle Funds for Future Generations
The push for this substantial investment began when Governor Baricuatro discovered that approximately P1 billion in special education funds had remained unused upon her assumption of office. In response, she immediately ordered the reactivation and expansion of the Provincial School Board (PSB).
The Capitol Public Information Office highlighted this decisive action in a statement on Monday, December 29, 2025, noting the governor's commitment to transforming idle savings into active investments for Cebu's children. The revived PSB now includes representatives from city school divisions and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to enhance coordination and ensure strategic, transparent spending.
Breakdown of the P2.14 Billion Education Allocation
The approved budget covers a wide range of critical needs for Cebu's public education system. The major components include:
- P776.5 million for general DepEd infrastructure and program support.
- P500 million dedicated to new classroom construction.
- P516.6 million for school furniture and armchairs.
- P198 million to restore historic Gabaldon school buildings.
- P85 million for temporary learning shelters in schools damaged by the September 30 earthquake.
- P30 million for learning materials and education innovation.
- Additional funds for school repairs, division-level activities, mandated national events, and a P6 million robotics program.
Infrastructure and program allocations alone total P1.2798 billion. When combined with the supplemental budget for earthquake recovery and other activities, the cumulative education-related funding reaches the P2.14 billion mark.
Broader Reforms and Additional Support
Governor Baricuatro's education initiatives extend beyond provincial funds. Representing Central Visayas as chairperson of the Regional Development Council 7, she successfully secured an additional P1 billion in assistance from the DepEd for school repairs during a Regional–National Investment Programming Dialogue.
Further demonstrating forward-planning, the governor approved the early procurement of school supplies for 2026 to prevent distribution delays. She also retained the Sugbo Kahanas technical-vocational training program, enhancing it with job placement and employment linkage services.
These comprehensive measures form a core part of Baricuatro's reform agenda, which emphasizes good governance, transparency, and long-term human capital development as her administration concludes its first half-year in office.
