Neophyte Cebu Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro, who unseated longtime Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, said her priority in her first 100 days of office is healthcare and addressing poverty.

''My priority is the healthcare problem in Cebu, put more medicines and doctors in our hospital,'' said Baricuatro in an interview over The Big Story on Friday night. ''We intend to increase appropriation for health care.''

Baricuatro was endorsed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, with whom she worked with since 2016.

Another issue is addressing food supply to most vulnerable sectors. She said she will cooperate with the government's rollout of the P20 a kilo of rice.

Baricuatro said 1.72 million families in Cebu are facing poverty issues. ''More than half of the poverty incidence in Central Visayas is in Cebu,'' she said.

''We intend to have food banks in the north and the south because food banking is a proven solution,'' she said.

She also intends to investigate anomalies where Garcia is allegedly involved.

"It's not only me, it's the province of Cebu, it's the people of Cebu. If they've done anything wrong against the people of Cebu, they should be answerable," Baricuatro said.

Garcia was issued a preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman, headed by Samuel Martires, last April 23 due to a case filed against her issuance of a delisting permit in 2023. The Court of Appeals (CA) granted Garcia a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Ombudsman on May 15.

Baricuatro shared that her proclamation last Tuesday was delayed by Garcia's party as the outgoing governor has not yet conceded her loss.

" There were moves from her part to get in and try to negotiate with Comelec officials," Baricuatro explained.

Baricuatro insists that she is ready to fight any attempts from Garcia's party to prevent her rule as governor.

"Somebody said that it's going to be a political calvary. But with the mandate that I've given. I'm prepared - I'm prepared to fight," Baricuatro added.

Baricuatro is a former flight attendant-turned-social movement worker known for her work as founder of Visayas-based food bank Simply Share Foundation and board executive of Landbank Resource and Development Corporation.

She is also aligned with former President Rodrigo Duterte's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino?Lakas ng Bayan (PDP?Laban), formerly secretary-general of the party. Yzabela Velez-White/DMS