President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Cebu Governor Pamela Silagan Baricuatro as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC)–Region VII (Central Visayas) for a three-year term.
An Oct. 24, 2025 transmittal letter from the Office of the President, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin and addressed to NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, said the RDC chair’s term will coincide with Baricuatro’s tenure as a local elective official. The document was stamped received by NEDA’s Central Receiving Unit on Oct. 27, 2025.
Baricuatro confirmed she has accepted the role. In a media ambush on Oct. 28, she described the appointment as “a welcome surprise”, noting she had earlier yielded her nomination to support Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival “for the sake of unity.”
She added that the move reflects a vote of confidence from the administration and pledged to “do [her] best” in the post.
The RDC is the primary regional planning and policy-coordinating body that aligns local development priorities with national strategies.
As chair, Baricuatro will preside over council meetings, help set investment priorities, and coordinate with national agencies and local governments across Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
The Malacañang letter requested that the appointee be notified and furnished with the appointment within seven days of receipt. No immediate changes to the council’s current agenda were disclosed.
Baricuatro’s selection comes two months after her public withdrawal from consideration for the chairmanship.
Her appointment is expected to accelerate coordination on ongoing infrastructure, tourism, and social development programs in Central Visayas, while providing a single point of leadership for regional planning alongside NEDA and line agencies.
Cebu Business News
