LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines  — A total of 150 employees from the Provincial Government of Pangasinan (PGP) successfully completed a six-session Leadership Seminar conducted by the Maxwell Leadership Foundation, equipping them to serve as facilitators and mentors to their fellow public servants. Focused on six core leadership values : Hope, Listening, Valuing Every Individual, Integrity, Forgiveness, and Multiplication, the training was designed to instill transformative leadership and strengthen values-based governance. This initiative is part of Governor Ramon V. Guico III’s vision of making Pangasinan a model province in terms of moral leadership and good governance. Earlier this year, the provincial government formalized a partnership with the Maxwell Leadership Foundation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in February to promote leadership development and values formation among government workforce. “With all the natural resources of the province, the greatest resource is our people—our human capital,” Gov. Guico emphasized. John Griffin, Maxwell Leadership Foundation Vice President for Global Programs, commended the province’s commitment to employee empowerment. “There’s not a provincial government in the Philippines like this yet in the Philippines, except for here. You are the beginning of transformation for your country,” he said. The collaboration between the PGP and the Maxwell Leadership Foundation underscores the province’s mission to nurture principled leaders, and deliver more efficient, people-centered public service. (Eira Gorospe|RFR, photo by Ervin Alcantara | PIMRO)

MASBATE, Philippines — Nine Chinese nationals were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) during an operation against illegal mining activities in Aroroy, Masbate. BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. reported that the operation was conducted on September 22 by the BI’s Regional Intelligence Operations Unit 5 (RIOU5), in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy, the Philippine National Police, the Masbate Provincial Police Office and government intelligence forces. The group was apprehended in two separate mine sites located in Barangay Cabangcalan and Barangay Pangle. Authorities found the foreigners actively engaged in mining activities without the appropriate visas or permits. Some were also discovered to be overstaying or working in violation of their immigration status. Following their arrest, the miners were brought to Manila for booking and are now detained at the BI facility in Taguig, where they will undergo deportation proceedings. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stressed that the agency will not tolerate foreign nationals taking part in illegal activities that harm both the country’s laws and its natural resources. “Illegal mining not only undermines our immigration and labor policies but also threatens the environment and the livelihood of local communities,” Viado said. “We will continue to strengthen enforcement efforts, with the support of other government agencies, to ensure that violators are held accountable and our resources are safeguarded.” ( BI Reports)  

LUNA, Isabela, Philippines — The Bato Art Festival is Luna’s annual celebration of creativity and heritage, inspired by the abundance of gravel and boulders from the Magat River. Officially declared as the town’s festivity in 2013 through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 045-2013-A, it proudly showcases how Luna transforms its natural resources into vibrant artistic and cultural expressions. This year’s festival highlights stone-inspired artworks, community exhibits, and performances that reflect Luna’s creativity and identity. Don’t miss the exciting events this September 26–28, 2025, including the Search for Ginoong Luna 2025, the Bato Art Exhibit & Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Luna’s Got Talent, and the Street Dance & Showdown Competition. (Isabela Tourism Office)    

By Ruben A. Veloria   SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) revealed three big-ticket infrastructure projects before the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AMCHAM)-North Luzon during the latter’s visit here,recently. During the Subic Freeport leg of its visit to economic districts in the country, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator (SDA) for Business and Investment Renato Lee III welcomed AMCHAM President Denise H. R. Molintas at the SBMA corporate boardroom. Department of Transportation (DOTR) Planning Service Director Felicisimo C. Pangilinan Jr. also shared a few insights on the various projects that would boost businesses in Luzon. According to Lee, SBMA is planning to create a new cruise ship berth at the Redondo Peninsula where cruise ships can unload their passengers at the said facility. He added that the ₱1.2-billion facility will have a quay length of 380 meters for berth 1, and 350 meters for berth 2. Lee cited that the reclamation for the cruise passenger terminal and cruise leisure and commercial area would cost ₱8.3 billion. The agency is also intending to redevelop Boton Wharf into a 12.8-hectare terminal with a berthing length of 920 meters. The project will have five warehouses with a floor area of 5,000 square meters each. To complement these projects are the construction of administration offices, staging areas, access roads, rehabilitation of existing road networks, and the installation of shore power. Meanwhile, Lee disclosed that while still in its preparatory stage, a multi-purpose terminal will also be constructed at the Redondo Peninsula which will provide access and support to the area, with a total area of 30 hectares, a quay length of 600 meters, and a depth of 12 meters. It will involve the construction of warehouses, an administration building, truck parking, and weighing scale, offices, and facilities for workers.        

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito has ordered stricter and even-handed enforcement of Republic Act 8794’s anti-overloading provisions along the Maharlika (Pan-Philippine) Highway, directing intensified inspections at the Calitlitan Weigh Bridge Station in Aritao. The composite team stationed there is composed of personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Gambito earlier requested that the provincial government be allowed to co-manage the team. The Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue cum Consultation on Traffic Management in Nueva Vizcaya and Region 02, held at the Ammungan Hall, Provincial Capitol, is an offshoot of the Traffic Management Provincial Summit initiated by the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya (PGNV) during the first quarter of this year. The activity was attended by various national agencies, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), DPWH, PNP, LTO, and the Department of Economy,Planning and Development(DEPDev-former NEDA). Speaking at the forum, Gambito said overloaded trucks have figured in accidents and road blockages that cause hours-long congestion, particularly in Diadi and Sta. Fe. He added that excessive loads speed up pavement deterioration, leading to frequent DPWH reblocking, and that persistent traffic jams are hurting the province’s image, tourism, and food security. He noted that Nueva Vizcaya is increasingly being labeled the “traffic capital” because of recurring heavy traffic—driven in large part by overloaded trucks merely passing through from other provinces. Cagayan Governor Edgar B. Aglipay, joining via Zoom, proposed a unified ordinance among Region 02 provinces requiring slow-moving vehicles to keep to the outer lane while faster-moving vehicles use the inner lane to maintain traffic flow. He noted that when slow-moving trucks occupy the inner lane especially while climbing uphill terrain—their speed drops significantly, forcing following vehicles to slow down and worsening congestion. Police officials cited vehicular accidents including some involving overloaded trucks, seasonal surges in vehicle volume, counterflowing, and slow-moving trucks as primary drivers of heavy traffic on the Maharlika Highway, especially in Diadi and Sta. Fe. In response, the PNP said that, in coordination with the provincial government and contractors, it is implementing traffic schemes that include deploying additional flagmen at ongoing road construction sites, assigning more PNP personnel to manage traffic, installing median barriers and precautionary traffic signages, and deploying the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) on motorcycles to serve as sweepers to help clear obstructions and restore traffic flow. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled to continue discussions, with department heads and the governors of Cagayan and Isabela expected to attend; the truckers’ association and other key stakeholders will also be invited to participate.