Pam readies PAM to turn Cebu into agricultural hub

Local

WITH four million mouths to feed but minimal food production, Cebu remains heavily reliant on imports and outside sources for its daily sustenance.

But incoming Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro is setting out to fix that.

Baricuatro is laying the foundation for “Pagkaon Alang sa Masa (PAM)”, an ambitious, community-based food security program that seeks to reduce Cebu’s dependence on external supply chains, empower local farmers, and establish the province as a self-sustaining agricultural hub.

Former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol, who is helping shape the PAM program, described it as a practical and replicable blueprint that could address long-standing food supply gaps not just in Cebu but across the Philippines.

“This will be known as Gov. Pam Baricuatro’s ‘Pagkaon Alang sa Masa’ Community-based Food Security Strategy,” Piñol said in a June 20 Facebook post.

“It is the realization of my dream to establish a model which could be replicated by other LGUs and the country as a whole,” he added.

Piñol said Cebu’s agricultural situation reflects a national dilemma: a large consumer base, but insufficient local production.

“Cebu is a huge food market with 4 million consumers, just as the Philippines has 114 million,” he wrote. “But just like the Philippines, Cebu has failed to develop its full agricultural potential and relied mainly on outside sources for its food needs.”

According to Piñol, Cebu’s meat market is worth an estimated P10 billion annually but is largely dominated by imports. Despite being surrounded by seawater, the province also sources much of its fish from Mindanao.

To address these imbalances, Piñol outlined a three-pronged strategy:

Establish a food needs baseline.

The first step, he said, is to identify the basic food requirements of Cebuano families—covering rice, corn, meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, and household condiments such as salt, sugar, and cooking oil.

Increase local production.

The province should boost Cebuano farmers’ capacity to produce these commodities through targeted government support, technology, and infrastructure. For goods that cannot be produced locally, Cebu may partner with other local governments or use controlled imports.

Reform the distribution chain.

Piñol recommended bypassing traditional middlemen by creating alternative marketing systems that enable farm-to-table delivery.

He emphasized the need to work with the private sector to overcome bureaucratic delays in government procurement.

The strategy also includes a strong environmental component. Piñol proposed planting fruit trees and giant bamboo in Cebu’s highland areas, both to help restore watershed systems and to create potential new green industries that complement the agri-sector.

Baricuatro, who is entering politics for the first time, welcomed Piñol’s support and acknowledged the depth of the challenge ahead.

“I am truly grateful to Sec. Manny Piñol for his unwavering support in helping Cebu Province become a prominent agricultural hub in the Philippines,” Baricuatro said. “Thank you, Sec., for your dedication and commitment!”

The governor-elect has admitted her experience in agriculture is limited to backyard gardening. But Piñol believes this humility and her willingness to listen could become an asset.

“Gov. Pam humbly admits that her knowledge of agriculture is limited to backyard gardening,” Piñol said. “Her humility and openness to helpful inputs could ensure the success of this program.”

While implementation details are still unfolding, “Pagkaon Alang sa Masa” is expected to be among Baricuatro’s flagship programs after she takes office on June 30.(TGP)