By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya and the Board of Investments (BOI) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to strengthen partnership in promoting and facilitating investments and enhancing investor services across the province. The agreement, titled “Memorandum of Agreement on the Promotion and Facilitation of Investments and Investor Servicing,” was signed by Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito for the provincial government and Atty. Bobby G. Fondevilla, Executive Director of the Investment Assistance Center, BOI‑DTI, for the BOI. The signing was witnessed by Juditte Asuncion, Provincial Cooperative Affairs Officer, and Therese Sancho, Investment Specialist, Investment Assistance Center, BOI. Governor Gambito welcomed the MOA as a strategic milestone. “This partnership positions Nueva Vizcaya as an ideal investment destination. We offer a secure peace‑and‑order environment, a track record as a multi‑awarded province, and sustained economic growth. Our people — the Vizcayanos — are warm and hospitable, and that community spirit makes doing business here both productive and rewarding. With the BOI’s support, we will accelerate job creation, improve infrastructure, and ensure investments deliver tangible benefits to our communities.” Under the MOA, the provincial government and the BOI agreed to coordinate activities to attract new investors and support existing registered enterprises. Joint initiatives will include investment promotion seminars and missions, business‑matching events, and streamlined assistance for registration, permits, and licensing. To better market local opportunities, the provincial government will share new and updated local ordinances, an LGU investment and location profile, and a database of available lands and infrastructure. The BOI will provide promotional support, technical assistance to enhance local ease‑of‑doing‑business systems, and direct follow‑up on regulatory and registration matters. The agreement takes effect immediately and remains in force unless amended, revoked, or terminated. Next steps include developing a joint calendar of promotional activities, compiling the province’s investment profile, and operationalizing referral and follow‑up mechanisms for prospective and existing investors.  

Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines – Best Western Plus Metro Clark, the leading hospitality provider in Central Luzon, proudly announces that it is the first hotel in Asia to achieve official certification by Ookla® as Speedtest Certified™ for its exceptional wireless network performance. This prestigious, national recognition validates the hotel’s commitment to delivering a superior digital guest experience, seamlessly powered by the high-speed fiber and technology solutions of Converge. Ookla®, a global leader in connectivity intelligence and a division of Ziff Davis, independently verified that the wireless network of Best Western Plus Metro Clark met the rigorous performance standards of their Speedtest Certified program. This certification validates that every guest has access to fast and reliable connectivity throughout the property, ensuring an uninterrupted digital journey during their stay. Speedtest Certified is a definitive property network verification program that leverages Ookla’s trusted testing methodology and unrivaled brand recognition to assure guests of a property’s exceptional internet quality—a crucial component of the modern travel experience. The hotel’s performance was measured against official Speedtest Certified criteria, resulting in a score of 72.5 out of 100 and successfully surpassing the required minimum threshold of 70 for certification. The certification confirms that Best Western Plus Metro Clark delivers a robust and reliable connectivity experience across all critical performance areas. This is achieved through strong primary signal coverage, high median upload and download speeds suitable for high-demand tasks like video conferencing and streaming, and minimal latency essential for real-time applications. Furthermore, the network is built on a resilient infrastructure, featuring industry best practices for security and configuration, and is supported by a high-capacity fiber backhaul from Converge, measured at 3000 Mbps, which ensures ample bandwidth and consistent service quality even during peak guest usage. Chafic Traboulsi, Senior Vice President, Sales EMEA & APAC at Ookla, a division of Ziff Davis, said: “Fast, reliable Wi-Fi is now a fundamental guest expectation. We congratulate Best Western Plus Metro Clark on achieving Speedtest Certified status for its network. By earning our trusted badge of excellence, the hotel demonstrates its leadership in providing a positive digital experience.” The hotel’s certified Wi-Fi Excellence is a direct result of the connectivity collaboration forged with Converge Global Business, the corporate and large enterprise unit of Converge. Converge equipped the hotel with advanced fiber connectivity and its cutting-edge hospitality solution, Content Plus. This integration ensures a seamless digital experience for guests, providing not only ultra-high-speed internet for crucial business tasks and streaming but also a rich selection of premium entertainment channels. Converge recently celebrated its third consecutive triumph s for Ookla’s Speedtest Awards during the first half of 2025, sweeping four major categories including Fastest Fixed Network and Best Fixed Network. The company posted an impressive Speed Score™ of 63.46, reflecting industry-leading performance that translates directly into a world-class, seamless online experience for hotel guests. “Being the first hotel in Asia to become Speedtest Certified by Ookla is a tremendous honor and a testament to our ongoing investment in world-class amenities,” stated Jansen Ivan Uy, President & Chief Operating Officer of Savers Group Holdings, operator of Best Western Plus Metro Clark. “Our partnership with Converge has been crucial, allowing us to provide an ultra-fast, consistent, and secure Wi-Fi environment that enhances both our business and leisure guests’ stays, enabling seamless work, entertainment, and communication. This initiative significantly boosts the local tourism sector by elevating our desirability to modern travelers who expect a fully connected experience.” Eugene Yeo, Chief Executive Advisor of Converge, adds, “Converge is committed to empowering the hospitality sector with pure fiber connectivity that is capable of supporting the high demands of a modern hotel. Ookla’s certification for Best Western Plus Metro Clark validates the strength and quality of the fiber infrastructure and the excellent digital experience it provides to their guests. This collaboration exemplifies how reliable, high-speed fiber, backed by our position as the Philippines’ top-performing internet provider, is essential for premium property services.” Best Western Plus Metro Clark’s achievement represents a foundational advancement in guest experience, moving beyond mere amenity enhancement. By integrating certified, world-class connectivity, powered by Converge, with its luxury offerings, the hotel redefines the operational benchmarks for modern Filipino hospitality. Being Speedtest Certified provides definitive assurance of digital excellence, solidifying the hotel’s market distinction and reinforcing its leadership position in Central Luzon’s competitive tourism sector.        

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines — The Provincial Government of Pangasinan has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to uplifting every community, regardless of location, through the recent Indigenous Peoples Month Celebration held in Sitio Mapita, Aguilar. The event carried the theme *“Wearing Culture, Enriching Future: Empowering Indigenous Communities as Bedrock of Sustainable Development,”* highlighting the vital role of preserving native culture while advancing developmental efforts. A highlight of the program was the vibrant traditional tribal dance performance by the Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPO) Mapita, which showcased the community’s cultural identity and heritage. During the celebration, the Provincial Government, together with the Local Government Unit of Aguilar and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, distributed gift packs and provided financial assistance to IPs in the area. In a heartfelt message, Julita Sippi, a tribal member and teacher at Mapita Integrated School, expressed gratitude:_“In behalf ng buong tribo, marami pong salamat sa masidhing suporta. Kung iimbitahin daw namin sila yearly—yearly din daw silang support. Pero hindi lang naman ‘iyon ang natatanggap naming suporta galing sa kanila, simula noon pa man, support na talaga sila sa community namin. Kaya maraming salamat kay Governor Guico,” she said. The smiles of the Indigenous Peoples serve as a reminder that their traditions, stories, and practices are not only significant parts of history but also a key that opens the door to the future. (Trisha Gayle Chavaria, photo by John Paul De Vera | PIMRO)