Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has formally requested President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to initiate a comprehensive and independent investigation into the devastating floods that struck Cebu province following Typhoon Tino's onslaught.
Official Request for Presidential Intervention
In a letter dated Friday, November 7, 2025, Governor Baricuatro appealed directly to the President to order a thorough probe examining potential systemic failures that may have exacerbated the disaster's impact. The investigation would scrutinize multiple factors including flood control systems, river easement violations, drainage network deficiencies, and potentially problematic quarrying or land-altering activities.
"What happened here must not be dismissed as mere fate or force of nature. It demands truth, accountability, and action," Baricuatro emphasized in her correspondence with the President, highlighting the need for concrete answers rather than attributing the catastrophe solely to natural causes.
Cebu's Compound Disaster Crisis
The governor outlined how Cebu has been "battered beyond measure" by successive calamities, referencing the September 30 earthquake followed by the recent flash floods triggered by Typhoon Tino. These consecutive disasters have submerged numerous barangays across the province and resulted in tragic loss of life.
Baricuatro stressed that the province's experience with multiple emergencies within a short timeframe underscores the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure systems capable of withstanding both seismic and climate-related threats.
Call for National Support and Future-Proofing
Beyond the investigation request, the governor appealed for immediate national assistance to strengthen Cebu's environmental protection measures and disaster-risk prevention infrastructure. She specifically requested urgent reinforcement of climate-driven hazard programs designed to better protect communities from intensifying storms and seismic events.
Baricuatro also sought an opportunity to discuss "future-proof" disaster prevention initiatives with the National Government, aiming to minimize casualties and infrastructure damage in future calamities through proactive planning and investment.
The governor assured President Marcos that the Provincial Government stands ready to cooperate fully in all investigative and recovery efforts, committing to long-term resilience building "rooted in transparency, science, and accountability."
"Cebu will rise, as it always has. But this time, we must rise with clear answers, stronger systems, and a renewed covenant of leadership centered on human life and dignity," Baricuatro declared, emphasizing that the province's goal extends beyond reconstruction to ensuring that "the safety and future of every Cebuano" will no longer be compromised by preventable failures.
