Soco defends Garcia’s move to create trust funds for Cebu programs

Local

INCOMING Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Soco affirmed that several programs of the provincial government are backed by enabling ordinances.

This as controversy continues to swirl around outgoing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s last-minute order creating trust funds to finance at least 15 flagship initiatives.

Soco, who will assume the second-highest provincial post on June 30, said that while questions have been raised about the legality of the directive, it is clear that the creation of trust funds falls within the purview of the Office of the Governor.

"I believe this program [is derived] from the annual budget and it is even in the Annual Investment Program of the Provincial Government," Soco said.

He noted that the Provincial Board reviews the executive’s budget every year.

He added that several of the programs in question, including tourism and livelihood initiatives, have been supported by ordinances passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in previous years.

Garcia issued Memorandum 36-2025 on June 16, instructing the provincial treasurer to create separate trust funds for programs such as Suroy Suroy Sugbo, Sugbo Segurado, Sugbo Negosyo, Sugbo Kahanas, Sugbo Patubig, and others.

The move, she said, aims to ensure the continuity of these projects under the next administration.

However, Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro’s transition team has questioned the legality of the order.

Atty. Edmund Lao, her transition team head, warned that the creation of trust funds without specific enabling ordinances may restrict the incoming administration’s ability to manage and realign public funds.

“It may appear also that the trust funds are intended to tie the hands of the incoming administration relative to the use thereof,” Lao said, adding that without proper legal basis, the memorandum could be revoked.

Garcia, who lost her reelection bid to Baricuatro in the May 12 elections, defended her decision, citing Section 309(b) of the Local Government Code and Commission on Audit (COA) Circular 92-382.

She insisted the programs were legal and benchmarked by other local governments.

“These programs were carried out in accordance with the law,” Garcia said during the RCebu Expo on June 20. “With the full support of the Provincial Board, we put in necessary protections."

Baricuatro, however, condemned the issuance of the memorandum as a “sabotage” of the democratic transition.

She vowed to review the legality of the trust accounts and take legal action if necessary.

Her camp said official records needed for a proper assessment have yet to be turned over. Once available, they plan to verify whether the trust accounts were properly authorized or merely imposed unilaterally.

Baricuatro had earlier criticized Garcia’s tourism-heavy agenda, calling Suroy Suroy Sugbo and similar programs costly and not aligned with community needs.

The trust funds also cover various capital and operational projects such as reforestation, power supply in island barangays, and settlement of Capitol lot sales, some of which are linked to national legislation like Republic Act 7638, or the Department of Energy Act.

Baricuatro is set to assume the governorship on June 30.(MyTVCebu)