Baricuatro explains ‘suprise renovation’ at Capitol

Local

A SUPPOSED surprise renovation at the Cebu Provincial Capitol was revealed early after a memo restricting access to the Governor’s lobby circulated online, prompting the Gov. Pamela Baricuatro to explain the project and temporary limitations.

Baricuatro addressed the issue anew on Wednesday, April 1, saying the memorandum was not meant for public release and was part of preparations for a new public space outside her office.

“It was an incomplete memo because I asked Aldwin (Assistant Provincial Administrator) to make a memo… We’re not supposed to say this, it was supposed to be a surprise but since gi issue naman ni sa social media,” Baricuatro said.

She said the lobby is being renovated into a people’s lounge intended for visitors, adding that the space outside her office is being converted into an area open to the public and designed to be “instagrammable."

“We’re renovating it and nihangyo mi sa mga employees nga dili lang sa moagi didto, just to avoid… Safety lang,” she said.

She said the area is being secured while renovation works are ongoing, with hopes that it will open to the public after Holy Week.

A memorandum last March 30 had earlier limited access to the Governor’s lobby to individuals with confirmed appointments, advising employees to use alternative routes.

The directive took effect immediately.

In an interview on Tuesday, Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces explained that the restriction is temporary and part of renovation and heightened security measures in the lobby.

He said the project will create a designated receiving area for visitors, to be called the “Gallery of the People,” where guests can wait while processing transactions at Capitol offices.

Empaces also cited a theft incident about a month ago involving three mobile phones valued at around P50,000, noting that the suspect had been apprehended but the items were not recovered.

He said additional monitoring and security protocols had been implemented.

He clarified that the Capitol remains open to the public and that the memorandum is an internal directive for employees, not a restriction on general access.

In a separate statement issued Tuesday, the Cebu Provincial Government reiterated that the memo circulating online is intended only for employees and serves as a temporary measure to manage foot traffic during renovation.

The provincial government said the passage hall will be transformed into a People’s Lobby Gallery, designed as a more welcoming space where visitors can sit, wait, and appreciate the Capitol’s architecture while improvements continue.(MyTVCebu)