Street Journal, Author at Street Journal Multimedia Services

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines –The city government has reiterated its stance frowning upon dog meat trade and all forms of animal cruelty. In a strongly worded statement, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city “condemns these practices which have no place in a humane and law-abiding society.” Magalong renewed its strong support for Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended which “aims to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines by regulating animal facilities, penalizing animal cruelty and neglect, and promoting responsible pet ownership. He said “the consumption, transport, slaughter and trade of dogs for meat are clear violations” of said law “and undermine the values of compassion, respect and responsible stewardship that we must uphold as a community.” The mayor stressed that the city government remains committed to the strict enforcement of the law within the city emphasizing that animal welfare protection is not only a legal responsibility but also a reflection of compassion and respect for life. He also expressed solidarity with the Animal Kingdom Foundation⁠ for its continued efforts to eliminate the dog meat trade in the country and promote humane treatment of animals. The organization was recognized for its work in raising awareness, conducting rescue operations, and pursuing legal action against violators. He also called for stronger cooperation among law enforcement agencies, barangays, animal welfare groups and the public to help eliminate incidents of animal cruelty. He said sustained education, vigilant enforcement and collective action are necessary in building safer and more compassionate communities for both people and animals. – Aileen P. Refuerzo

Alon at Ani kicks off anew in Quezon

Region 4

Region 4 / Street Journal

By Danny Estacio PAGBILAO, Quezon, Philippines – The Aboitiz Power subsidiary Therma Luzon, Inc. (TLI) and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc (AFI), presidents of Pagbilao local fisherfolk associations and the Pagbilao LGU officially kicked off the second year of “Alon at Ani” recently, in this town. The event aims to be a venue for dialogue where the challenges faced by the community and the hopes and aspirations of the fisherfolk are heard as part of TLI’s efforts to collaborate with local communities. The activity included storytelling, local entertainment, and casual consultations, laying the groundwork for longer-term action. It goals to award and recognize the hard work of local fisherfolk communities, expanding the event’s reach this year to support over 450 local fisherfolk. This renewed agreement solidifies a shared commitment to boosting sustainable livelihoods, strengthening community ties, and protecting the marine environment of Pagbilao Bay.

P462.3M worth of illegal drugs seized in Cordillera

CAR

CAR / Street Journal

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet, Philippines – More than P462 million worth of illegal drugs were seized, along with the arrest of 38 drug personalities, in an intensified month-long operation in the Cordillera region from May 1 to 31. According to the Regional Operations Division of PROCOR, out of a total of 99 operations launched, which included 65 marijuana eradications, 14 buy-bust operations, eight search warrant executions, seven service warrants of arrest, and five police responses. These efforts led to the confiscation of 1,849,470 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants; 615,461 marijuana seedlings; 197,881.1 grams of dried marijuana leaves and tops; 27,365 grams of dried marijuana stems; and 335.64 grams of shabu, with a total Standard Drug Price (SDP) of P462,344,324.00. Additionally, in the said operations, 38 drug personalities were arrested, of which 13 were identified as High Value Individuals (HVIs) and 25 were identified as Street Level Individuals (SLIs). The most significant operation was conducted by the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (PPO), which confiscated illegal drugs worth P405,197,480.00 and arrested five HVIs and three SLIs. This was followed by the Mountain Province PPO, which confiscated illegal drugs worth P31,407,600.00 and arrested one HVI and one SLI. Meanwhile, the Benguet PPO confiscated illegal drugs with an estimated street value of PhP25,286,780.00 and arrested three HVIs and four SLIs. In addition, the Baguio City Police Office confiscated illegal drugs worth P282,892.00 and arrested four HVIs and nine SLIs; the Apayao PPO confiscated illegal drugs worth P123,944.00 and arrested three SLIs, while the Abra PPO confiscated suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PhP45,628.00 and arrested five SLIs.

JHMC-DTI partner to strengthens MSME development

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)–Baguio Benguet Provincial Office have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen local enterprise development, promote sustainable investments, and generate employment opportunities within Camp John Hay. JHMC President and CEO Manjit T. Singh Reandi and DTI Provincial Director Felicitas O. Bandonill signed the agreement highlights joint initiatives to advance MSME development through capacity-building, product promotion, and expanded market access. JHMC will provide venues in Camp John Hay for DTI-assisted MSMEs to showcase and sell their products, while both agencies will co-implement pine needle and pine cone craft trainings to revive eco-friendly industries under the “Breathe Baguio” Advocacy. “This partnership opens new opportunities for MSMEs to thrive and innovate, recognizing that MSMEs do not merely support the economy — they are the economy itself,” said Director Bandonill. “By supporting sustainable enterprises, we strengthen our commitment to responsible economic growth while further advancing community development,” added President Singh Reandi. The MOU will be in effect for a period of one (1) year, ensuring sustained collaboration and measurable outcomes within its duration. The signing was witnessed by Chief Trade and Industry Development Specialist Richard Avelino T. Limpin; JHMC Chairperson of the Board, Atty. Kristoffer Lee Dance; and JHMC Vice President and COO, Jane Theresa Tabalingcos.

BCDA inks Japanese partnerships to strengthen New Clark City’s energy, transport backbone

Region 3

Region 3 / Street Journal

NEW CLARK CITY, Philippines — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has signed strategic partnership agreements with Japanese firms to support key infrastructure, energy, and transport projects in New Clark City, reinforcing its role in the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative. During President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Tokyo, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Japanese energy-tech company Sustech; transport and infrastructure firms Index Strategy, Inc. and Yachiyo Engineering Co.; and Japanese trading and investment giant Marubeni Corporation. The partnerships are expected to support the development of smart energy systems, integrated transport infrastructure, and utility-ready ecosystems designed to attract high-value and technology-driven industries into New Clark City. The initiatives form part of broader efforts to strengthen the Luzon Economic Corridor, a strategic economic initiative involving the Philippines, the United States, and Japan that seeks to improve connectivity and accelerate investments across Subic, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. Under the agreement with Sustech, BCDA will explore the application of advanced technologies that can improve renewable energy forecasting and electricity demand management in New Clark City. The initiative aims to support the transition of New Clark City toward a low-carbon and demand-responsive energy system capable of supporting future large-scale locators and energy-intensive industries. (seated from L-R) Index Strategy, Inc. CEO Kimikazu Uemura, Yachiyo Engineering Co. General Manager for Business Development and Administration Gaku Adachim, and BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang signed a memorandum of understanding for the feasibility study of the Clark Integrated Transport System. (standing from L-R) Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene De Joya Garcia-Albano, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, and Department of Finance Undersecretary Atty. Rolando Ligon Jr. witnessed the signing. BCDA photo. Meanwhile, BCDA signed an MOU with Index Strategy and Yachiyo Engineering Co. to establish a collaborative framework for conducting a study on the Clark Integrated Transport System. The proposed transport system is envisioned to strengthen regional mobility, improve supply chain efficiency, and position New Clark City as a strategic multimodal transport hub within the Luzon Economic Corridor. (seated from L-R) Marubeni Corporation Senior Operating Officer Chiba Seijiro, and BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities in developing power, water, and utility infrastructure in New Clark City. (standing from L-R) Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene De Joya Garcia-Albano, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, and Department of Finance Undersecretary Atty. Rolando Ligon Jr. witnessed the signing. BCDA photo. BCDA also entered into a partnership with Marubeni Corporation to jointly explore opportunities for the development of power, water, and utility infrastructure in New Clark City. These partnerships will help establish the infrastructure-ready ecosystems in New Clark City necessary to support industries requiring reliable and scalable utilities, including advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, hyperscale data centers, and technology-driven enterprises. “Our collaboration with leading Japanese institutions and corporations reflects a shared vision of creating smart, future-ready communities powered by innovation, connectivity, and sustainable development,” Engr. Bingcang said. “These partnerships will help strengthen New Clark City’s competitiveness as an investment destination and support broader economic opportunities across Central Luzon and the country,” he added. Aside from the signing ceremonies, the BCDA delegation also met with the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) to present high-impact transport, utility, and real estate pipeline projects and explore potential Japanese investment and financing participation through public-private partnerships and joint ventures. The agreements were signed on 29 May 2026 in Tokyo on the sidelines of the state visit. BCDA said the partnerships support the infrastructure and economic development agenda of the Marcos administration, particularly efforts to strengthen regional connectivity, accelerate strategic investments, and position the Philippines as a competitive destination for high-value industries. BCDA added that the MOUs signed reflect growing international confidence in New Clark City and the Philippines’ long-term infrastructure and economic development agenda, particularly as the government positions Central Luzon as a key investment and logistics corridor in the region.

Mayor Marasigan ensures conducive classrooms for 41,000 incoming learners in Batangas

Region 4

Region 4 / Street Journal

By Danny Estacio CITY OF STO. TOMAS CITY, Batangas, Philippines – About 41,000 incoming students will ensure a conducive learning space after the city government and the Department of Education (DepEd) launched a citywide Brigada Eskwela, said City Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan on Monday. Marasigan ensured conducive classrooms for 41,025 registered students for the school year 2026-2027 More than 1,500 city hall employees were deployed for the early execution of “Brigada Eskwela” of the city’s Schools Division Office (SDO) on May 28. As part of the city’s alternative work arrangement where city hall personnel were tasked to do community work to stay productive, dispatched local government staff were stationed in the city’s 33 public schools; 27 elementary schools, four junior high schools, an integrated school, and a senior high school, with 746 classrooms to help clean education premises and teaching corners. Marasigan said that the importance of a solid alliance between the city officials, educators, and stakeholders in shaping the future of Tomasino students. He is confident that the local government’s initiative will surely ignite the already established teamwork into a much stronger partnership, better participation, and solidarity among duty-bearers, stakeholders, and the community. He also pledges to a yearly conduct of the LGU-initiated city-wide “Brigada Eskwela” program. Marasigan said securing proper education for young learners is one of his priorities, ensuring no one is denied equitable access to learning opportunities and formulating policies to guarantee quality education for young Tomasinos. School Divisions Office Head Dr. Neil G. Angeles, expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the local government for its unwavering support in providing school essentials to address education challenges. Aside from school clean-up operations, city hall employees simultaneously conduct mentorship and guided reading sessions to advance literacy development and encourage students to make reading part of their daily routine – a habit-forming initiative. The City of Sto. Tomas Division of City Schools ranked number 1 in the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA) conducted at the beginning of SY 2025-2026, posting the lowest percentage of 23.43% of struggling readers, a significant milestone that cannot be achieved without the help of the local government, Angeles added.

Cebu Pacific brings Brigada Eskwela drive to last mile schools

NCR

NCR / Street Journal

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, has mobilized its entire group network for the nationwide kickoff of Brigada Eskwela 2026, reinforcing its commitment to education and community empowerment. Volunteers from across CEB group, including airline operations (5J), ground handling provider 1Aviation, and aircraft maintenance company Aviation Partnership (Philippines) Corporation (Aplus), joined forces to help prepare public schools for the upcoming academic year. As part of this year’s campaign, the carrier adopted three Last Mile Schools from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) priority list: Balakilong Integrated School in Batangas, Cadulawan Elementary School in Cebu, and Cogon Elementary School in Davao del Norte. Located in geographically isolated and underserved communities, the schools were selected to help ensure critical aid and support reach students who need it most. Beyond volunteer efforts, the airline provided classroom cleaning and painting materials; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational packages; and monetary donation raised through contributions from CEB employees. “The true measure of an airline is not only how many people it carries, but how many lives it helps move forward. Through Brigada Eskwela, our people came together to support schools in some of the country’s most underserved communities because every child deserves a safe place to learn, dream, and build a better future. At Cebu Pacific, we are proud to connect Filipinos not only through travel, but through acts of service that create lasting impact far beyond our flights,” said Felix Lopez, CEB Chief Human Resources Officer. The initiative forms part of Juan Community, a broader Gokongwei Group program led by the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), which supports education programs nationwide. CEB plans to continue supporting the three adopted schools while exploring opportunities to expand the program to more Last Mile Schools across the country. Operating in 35 domestic and 26 international destinations spanning across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, CEB continues to connect Filipinos through air travel while helping uplift communities by investing in the next generation.

Magalong urgues gov’t workers to work harder, serve with integrity

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Benjamin Magalong encouraged government workers to embrace the start of each week as a fresh opportunity to work harder, serve with integrity and contribute positively to the community. In a social media post, he stressed the importance of perseverance and dedication despite the challenges people may face in their daily lives. The Mayor advised civil servants not to allow difficulties to become obstacles but instead to use them as motivation to improve their work and service for the benefit of the community and the nation. Magalong also urged them to begin the week with a positive mindset, discipline and determination to create meaningful change. “Our collective effort and unity are essential in achieving continued progress and building a better future for everyone,” he emphasized. The Mayor’s statement reflects his continuing call for responsible leadership, community cooperation and public service grounded in compassion and accountability.-Gaby B. Keith

LANDBANK waives fees for online gov’t payments

Business

Business / Street Journal

MANILA, Philippibes -In response to ongoing global economic pressures, LANDBANK is waiving its fees on select online government payments, enabling Filipinos to transact with government agencies more conveniently and at a lower cost. From 01 June 2026 to 31 December 2026, LANDBANK will implement zero fees on eligible person-to-government (P2G) transactions made via QRPh, as part of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to make everyday banking more affordable. LANDBANK’s move also supports the National Government’s whole-of-government response to rising costs and the global economic challenges, while expanding access to affordable financial services under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Program. The fee waiver covers transactions completed through three QRPh-enabled payment channels: (1) LANDBANK Link.BizPortal via QRPh option; (2) QRPh standees at participating government institutions; and (3) government agencies’ websites where LANDBANK Link.BizPortal via QRPh is selected as the payment mode. Eligible payments include fees to participating government institutions — such as select national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), local government units (LGUs), water districts, and state universities and colleges (SUCs) — supporting faster and more convenient payments for police clearance, real property taxes, business permits, apostille certificates, and other dues. Payment channels other than QRPh, as well as charges imposed by merchants or other service providers, if any, are not covered by the LANDBANK fee waiver and shall remain in effect. “LANDBANK’s zero convenience fees for online government payments provides convenient access to essential public transactions at no additional cost. Transacting with government agencies online is now more affordable. This initiative is part of our continuous efforts to bring government services closer to the people,” said Finance Secretary and LANDBANK Chair Frederick D. Go. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz said that the initiative aims to make government transactions more convenient and affordable amid economic challenges, while promoting greater digital banking adoption. “LANDBANK is waiving fees for online government payments to make services more accessible, while bringing more Filipinos into the digital financial ecosystem. This supports our broader goal of advancing financial inclusion and delivering services that are more responsive to the needs of the public,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. The rollout of free government payment services complements LANDBANK’s efforts to lower transaction costs, including the recent reduction of InstaPay transfer fees from ₱15 to ₱8, effective 21 May 2026. As the country’s leading government bank, LANDBANK continues to drive a more inclusive and cash-lite economy by making digital transactions simpler, more accessible, and more affordable for all.

Author name: Street Journal

Baguio reaffirms stance against animal cruelty