CEBU CITY – Ex-tourism chief Ace Durano criticizes the main tourism initiatives of departing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, stating they focus more on self-promotion than actual tourism promotion.
Recently named as Pamela Baricuatro's special advisor for economic and political matters, Durano didn’t hold back when he criticized the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo and Suroy-Suroy Sugbo programs.
Under Garcia's guidance, these two happenings have consistently served as cornerstones of Cebu's tourism schedule for many years.
Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, launched in 2008, is an elaborate cultural celebration featuring dance groups representing various municipalities and cities of Cebu.
In contrast, Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, launched in 2004, is a tourism event involving mobile visits to different locations throughout the region with organized excursions.
However, Durano mentioned that these occurrences drew more focus on individuals rather than on highlighting genuine tourist spots and fostering community growth.
“What I observed in Suroy-Suroy was that it focused more on self-promotion instead of promoting tourism,” Durano stated to journalists at Baricuatro’s oath-taking event on May 22.
Durano was the tourism secretary from 2004 to 2010 and earlier held a congressional seat representing Cebu's fifth district.
Following Baricuatro’s win, Durano stated that the province is now moving towards genuine development aimed at enhancing local communities and upgrading infrastructure and services.
Health care first
He stressed that the incoming government will shift focus towards sustainable, long-term tourism plans, which include addressing fundamental requirements such as healthcare and emergency services in major tourist areas.
“How do we encourage visitors to spend more time at these tourist spots? Essentially, it boils down to improving facilities and services. One aspect I’ve observed as particularly crucial is the availability of healthcare services—especially emergency care,” stated Durano.
He mentioned that popular destinations like Moalboal, Oslob, and Mactan face issues due to inadequate infrastructure and limited availability of dependable healthcare services, particularly during urgent situations.
Southern Cebu’s Moalboal stands out as a premier dive destination famous for its vibrant coral reefs and spectacular sardine runs. Closeby, Oslob entices visitors with opportunities for up-close interactions with whale sharks, and not far from there lies Mactan Island, which serves as Cebu’s playground of beachfront resorts featuring pristine white sands and upscale accommodations.
Durano emphasized that premium tourists such as scuba divers necessitate prompt access to medical emergencies. Nonetheless, he mentioned that the present system mandates transporting patients all the way to Cebu City, a process frequently hampered by traffic congestion and restricted emergency services.
Barangay Twenty-four, who centered their platform around "solid public service," previously mentioned that enhancing healthcare would progress alongside tourism strategies.
Durano emphasized that the progress of tourism should be coupled with improved healthcare facilities and enhanced community support networks.
During the 2022 Cebu gubernatorial race, Durano competed against Garcia. Garcia emerged victorious with a strong margin of 1,478,436 votes compared to Durano’s total of 341,455 votes.
Appointment
Prior to Baricuatro's swearing-in ceremony, they had already convened one day before.
“I am genuinely delighted that we are collaborating as Cebuanos with the aim of providing sincere service. Should we join forces, the possibilities for achievement are immense,” stated the incoming governor in a Facebook post.
Durano mentioned that he first volunteered to assist Baricuatro regardless of having an official position, but he agreed to take up the advisory role when he saw how sincere she was and understood her priorities.
"I genuinely appreciate Governor Pam’s priorities. Those are indeed my aims and objectives — to make sure these initiatives reach the public," said Durano.
He emphasized that his team aims to focus on essential public services that previous governments supposedly neglected for too long.
Number four, who received more than 1.1 million votes in the previous election, has pledged to adopt a fresh approach to leadership focused on community-based growth instead of conventional political demonstrations.
Her victory, which had the support of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, was largely due to active community involvement and volunteer efforts instead of traditional political structures.
As Baricuatro prepares to take office formally by June 30, his new administration has announced that they will end both Pasigarbo sa Sugbo and Suroy-Suroy Sugbo initiatives. This move signals a major change in Cebu’s approach to tourism policies.