By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Public Affairs and Information Assistance Division (PAIAD) of the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya captured 2nd Place in the Huwarang Tanggapang Pang-Impormasyon (Provincial Category) at Gawad PAHAYAG 2025, hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 02. The awarding ceremony was held in Tuguegarao City, on Dec.13. PIA Region 02 honored partner agencies and outstanding individuals at Gawad PAHAYAG 2025 in recognition of their honest service, sustained support, and significant contributions to disseminating critical information—particularly on government programs for disaster response and other public needs. The awards underscore the role of information services in strengthening public awareness and building more resilient communities across the Cagayan Valley region, serving as a model of effective public service and cooperation. The recognition for PAIAD highlights the division’s consistent, orderly, and transparent delivery of accurate and timely public information. Headed by Community Affairs Officer King Webster Balawing and working under Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito, PAIAD’s efforts contributed to improved public understanding of government initiatives and community preparedness. “Congratulations to PAIAD for this well‑deserved recognition,” said Governor Gambito. “Transparent, accurate, and timely public information is vital to good governance and community resilience. This award reaffirms our commitment to keep our people informed, engaged, and prepared.” Gawad PAHAYAG is the Philippine Information Agency’s annual program recognizing outstanding public information work across regional and provincial offices. It underscores the vital roles of transparency, civic engagement, and coordinated information dissemination—especially in times of crisis. PAIAD remains committed to upholding these standards as it continues to serve not only the province of Nueva Vizcaya but the entire Cagayan Valley.            

NAGA CITY, Philippines — The City Government of Naga is preparing the MyNaga App for its next stage of development as it moves toward wider adoption and potential replication by other local governments. Through its continued partnership with Akkord Smart Cities, a startup incubated by Easybus PH—the team behind MyNaga’s initial launch, the city is laying the groundwork for higher user volume, broader service offerings, and wider community participation. With more than 32,000 downloads and over 22,000 active users, MyNaga is now the largest digital platform for citizen feedback and service delivery in the Bicol Region. Since its launch, residents have flooded the platform with over 3,300 cases, addressing critical, everyday concerns that immediately shape the city’s priorities—from uncollected garbage and street lighting defects to public safety incidents and illegal parking. The data reveals that the most proactive communities, including Concepcion Pequeña, Tinago, Cararayan, Pacol, and San Felipe, have submitted the highest volume of cases in recent months. During the Innovators Assembly held on Friday, November 28, Mayor Leni Robredo noted how MyNaga’s growth is beginning to draw attention from across the country, with multiple visitors from different LGUs seeking to benchmark its system. “We are proud that MyNaga is evolving from a city innovation into a national template for participatory, digital governance,” the mayor said as she noted that the ongoing collaboration with Akkord Smart Cities supports the platform’s continued refinement as it scales. Akkord’s 2026 roadmap details how MyNaga will transition from a pilot initiative into a citywide digital service. The city is now focused on upgrading the app’s internal systems in coordination with Artemis Intelligence and the City Government’s technology teams. The work includes optimizing performance, strengthening data security, and ensuring that the platform remains stable as usage expands. Akkord Smart Cities CEO Andrew Mendoza recalled how MyNaga quickly became a practical tool for civic engagement, noting the first report was resolved within 36 hours of the app’s launch and the steady rise of submissions afterwards. “Naga City has set a new standard for governance—governance that is not just good, but smart and people-driven,” he said. Looking ahead, the city aims to increase MyNaga adoption to at least half of Naga’s population by the end of 2026. Upcoming features will support this target by expanding tools for civic engagement, bringing digital and hybrid services to barangays, improving access for non-connected residents through offline-capable options, and introducing community-focused features such as forums, event listings, and local business directories. Mayor Robredo described MyNaga as part of a broader governance shift. “What we are creating is a digital environment that integrates transparency, efficiency, and participation across every aspect of governance,” she said. As MyNaga reports continue to rise, the City is taking steps to improve response times and reduce delays. The MyNaga Task Force has been expanded and more barangays have been onboarded to share verification and on-site response. The City is also studying the creation of a dedicated stockpile warehouse for materials needed in quick repairs, so fixes are not slowed by procurement or supply gaps. City Hall offices and barangays are now working together to clear backlogs and manage high-volume concerns. The City asks for the patience of residents as these improvements take effect, and encourage continued reporting as feedback guides where MyNaga App needs to do better.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines  – The Provincial Government, led by Governor Ramon V. Guico III, celebrated this year’s Christmas Lighting Ceremony at the Capitol Complex, emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas amidst the challenges faced by the province. In his speech, Governor Guico acknowledged the difficulties brought by recent calamities, notably Typhoon Uwan, but highlighted the resilience and unity of Pangasinenses from the leaders down to the residents. He emphasized that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ bringing hope and love to everyone. He thanked local government unit officials for their effort in spreading joy to their constituents through their own Christmas celebrations. He also expressed gratitude to his wife, the province’s First Lady, Maan Tuazon-Guico, for her role in organizing the event for the past four years. Reflecting the province’s renewed spirit of hope, unity and generosity, ‘Paskong Ang Galing, Pangasinan Nagniningning,’ brought the holiday spirit to the Capitol Grounds through spectacular display of lights and decorations. The 48-feet tall Christmas tree stood with colorful designs and the Nativity scene or ‘Belen’ showcases giant statues illustrating the birth of Jesus Christ. During the event, the “TAWIRAN: Pamanang Kaalaman Para Sa Magandang Kinabukasan” program was launched. This aimed at empowering out-of-school youth through Community-Based Values Formation and Functional Literacy Program. The top three local government units (LGUs) in the Parol Making Contest were also announced as follows: LGU Bani (Champion); LGU Rosales (1st Runner-up); LGU Bolinao (2nd Runner-up). The first family was enjoined by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino and wife, Atty. Melanie Lambino, members of the provincial board with their family, department heads and chiefs of hospitals led by Provincial Administrator Manuel O. Luis Jr., LGU officials and representatives, stakeholders among other guests. Adding a thrilling touch to the celebration was the magnificent fireworks display that lit up the sky creating a festive atmosphere embodying the spirit of Christmas in Pangasinan. (Ruby F. Rayat, Photos by JP De Vera & Charish Rivera | PIMRO)