Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro inspected a hospital and a school in Camotes island on August 8, 2025. | Photo by Aldo Banaynal
CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Poor lighting, leaking roofs, and deteriorating facilities greeted Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro during her inspection of a hospital and a school in Camotes on August 8, prompting immediate calls for repairs and long-term upgrades.
Baricuatro inspected the Ricardo L. Maningo Memorial Hospital (RLMMH) in Barangay Northern Poblacion, San Francisco, Camotes. She was joined by her daughter, Public Health Consultant Dr. Nicole Elisse “Nikki” Catalan, Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano, and other local officials.
The visit exposed long-standing infrastructure and equipment problems that have hampered delivery of healthcare services on the island.
Corridors and patient rooms were poorly lit, roofing showed signs of severe damage, and some sections of the hospital were either underutilized or abandoned.
Baricuatro described the hospital’s atmosphere as “gloomy” and emphasized the urgency of lighting improvements.
She also pointed to a damaged section of the roof that appeared close to collapsing, calling it a “safety issue” that needed urgent attention.
The governor reiterated the need for both sea and air ambulances to improve emergency medical transport to and from the island.
“Nakita jud nako ang need for sea ambulance and air ambulance more than ever,” she said, adding that she plans to deploy two sea ambulances within her first 100 days in office—one for Camotes and another for Bantayan.
While the sea ambulances are already in the procurement pipeline, she noted that acquiring an air ambulance would require special approval from Malacañang.
Dr. Catalan confirmed that the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) has deployed a technical team to assess the hospital and prepare a rehabilitation plan.
“They will work on the plans for the roofing and other repairs,” she said.
The inspection also revealed unused isolation rooms and neglected quarters. Although hospital chief Dr. Rene Macario Borromeo is a surgeon, he is unable to perform certain procedures due to lack of equipment.
One request raised during the visit was for a CT scan machine—vital for treating neuro and cardiac cases. Catalan said they are exploring funding options for its acquisition.
Baricuatro also visited an unfinished building within the hospital compound, a project initiated by the previous administration. She ordered the PEO to provide a status report and prioritize its completion.
To address the lighting problem, she proposed installing solar-powered lights in hallways and patient areas. She also directed the immediate repainting of hospital walls, repair of leaks, and replenishment of medical supplies.
Beyond healthcare, Baricuatro’s two-day trip from August 8 to 9 also included school inspections in Poro town.
At Esperanza Elementary School, she found classrooms in poor condition, a non-operational canteen, and an inactive school clinic. She stressed the need for compliance with Department of Education (DepEd) requirements and said the provincial government may intervene to assist.
She also said the school needs a gymnasium and encouraged school officials or the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to submit a formal proposal for funding through the province’s Special Education Fund (SEF).
In a previous report, Durano noted that Cebu Province has over P1 billion in SEF, much of which remains underutilized.
“No need na mo-agi pa sa DepEd kay fund man sa province ang gamiton,” Durano clarified.
The governor is also looking into launching a sustainable breakfast feeding program to complement DepEd’s lunch initiative.
“Kinahanglan kung naa tay himuon na feeding program, it has to be sustainable also,” Baricuatro said.
Catalan also said that any feeding initiative should include regular monitoring of nutritional data to effectively address malnutrition among students.
Baricuatro also visited Luciano B. Rama Sr. Memorial National High School, where she served as guest speaker during the school’s intramural opening and joined teachers in a dance number.
| Written by Jonnavie Villa
