The executive department of the Cebu Provincial Government is set to request a resolution from the Provincial Board to authorize Governor Pamela Baricuatro to sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the "Tabang Pambiyahe" program, which is planned to be launched before May 15.
Delays and Adjustments
In an interview on Wednesday, April 27, 2026, Elizar Sabinay Jr. of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) stated that the resolution will be discussed in a committee hearing to finalize it and enable the signing of the MOA. According to Sabinay, the timeline has been slightly delayed after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) suggested adding more parties to the agreement, including the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), due to the need to comply with its regulations.
Currently, the MOA is under review and will be pushed to the Provincial Board once corrections are completed. "Hopefully next week so that the following week we can incorporate everyone's cut-off, then we can start hopefully before May 15," Sabinay said.
Coordination with Local Officials
The provincial government also plans to meet with mayors in Metro Cebu to secure their support, particularly in identifying designated bus stops under the program. Sabinay revealed that bus stops will be based on actual passenger demand, using data from a survey conducted on March 30 and 31 by the provincial planning team. "In terms of number of people, that would be the determinant of the bus stop," he said.
