In a significant move to safeguard its cultural legacy, the Province of Cebu has officially established a dedicated commission to manage, preserve, and regulate all heritage sites under its jurisdiction. This development, formalized through Executive Order (EO) 79, Series of 2025, aims to centralize efforts for the conservation of the province's historical treasures.
A New Authority for Heritage Protection
Signed by Governor Pamela Baricuatro on December 12, 2025, the order activates the Cebu Province Heritage Site Commission as mandated by the existing Provincial Heritage Site Ordinance. The commission is designed to ensure unified management, technical oversight, and policy coordination for heritage conservation across Cebu.
The body will serve as the primary authority in managing all Cebu Province Heritage Sites owned by the provincial government. Its mandate also extends to private properties formally placed under its care. A critical function of the commission is to regulate all restoration, renovation, and construction activities within declared heritage zones by issuing mandatory clearances before any work can begin.
Composition and Key Responsibilities
Governor Baricuatro will chair the commission, with Provincial Administrator Atty. Joseph Felix Mari Durano serving as its executive director. The membership is broad-based, including representatives from various provincial offices and the chairpersons of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committees on tourism, infrastructure, arts and culture, environment, and education.
To provide expert guidance, the commission also includes representatives from national and respected local institutions: the Philippine National Museum, the University of San Carlos, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).
The commission's wide-ranging duties include:
- Reviewing and approving architectural and engineering plans for heritage sites.
- Managing restoration projects.
- Determining permissible activities and equipment within heritage zones.
- Maintaining an updated inventory of all declared heritage sites in the province.
Furthermore, it is empowered to receive and evaluate petitions for new heritage site declarations, create and implement pertinent rules, and partner with national agencies, local governments, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen cultural protection.
Part of a Broader Push for Governance Reform
The heritage commission is one piece of a larger reform agenda. Before the year ended, Governor Baricuatro signed a total of 80 executive orders from July to December 2025, anchoring the first six months of her administration on principles of transparency, accountability, and institutional reform.
According to a statement from the Cebu Province Public Information page on Tuesday, December 30, these EOs set a governance direction by opening government processes to the public and strengthening systems in vital sectors.
Among the first orders signed was a mandate for the full implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) policy within the provincial government and an order requiring the livestreaming of bidding and procurement activities by the Bids and Awards Committees (BAC). Provincial officials noted that these transparency initiatives have gained recognition from the Presidential Communications Office, which cited Cebu's FOI guidelines as an example for other local governments.
Subsequent orders focused on reviving institutions, systemic reforms, and crisis preparedness. This included reactivating important councils, operationalizing long-dormant offices, and establishing mechanisms for continuous public service. The EOs also addressed priorities such as health services, disaster response, youth development, economic recovery, and public safety.
The final order signed was EO 80, which formalized the Adopt-a-Farm Program as the province's strategy for agricultural economic recovery under the Kumbati Cebu Task Force.
