Street Journal, Author at Street Journal Multimedia Services

Naniniwala si Gov. Manuel Mamba na simula na ng pagtatapos ng insurgeny sa Cagayan matapos masawi ang kalihim ng Komiteng Rehiyon Cagayan Valley (KRCV), CPP-NPA sa engkwentro ng naganap sa barangay Baliuag, Peñablanca, Cagayan,noong Setyembre 11. Sa Joint Press Conference ng 5th Infantry Division Philippine Army, Police Regional Office No. 02 (PRO2) at Provincial Government of Cagayan, pinuri ni Gov. Mamba ang hanay ng kasundaluhan at kapulisan sa kanilang pagpupursigi na tapusin ang karahasan at kaguluhan sa lalawigan na dulot ng mga rebeldeng grupo. “I see the beginning of the end of insurgency. Marami pa tayong problema ngunit unti-unting mawawakas na natin ang problema sa pagtutulungan natin”, sambit ni Mamba. Malaking dagok rin aniya ang pagkamatay ni Edgar Ariel Mancao Arbitratrio, Regional Secretary ng KRCV, upang hindi matuloy ang ginagawang “permit to campaign” at pangongolekta ng revolutionary tax sa mga politiko lalo na at papalapit ang eleksyon. “Malaking dagok ito sa kilusan ng NPA, mawawala ang effectivity ng revolutionary tax for politicians and permit to campaign might not happen especially malapit na ang eleksyon,” dagdag pa ng Gobernador. Kaugnay rito, patuloy rin ang panawagan ng Ama ng Lalawigan sa mga kawani ng hukbong sandatahan na panatilihin ang nagawang pagbabago sa kanilang mga organisasyon. “I saw the transformation of the AFP and the police. And I hope and pray that this transformation will not stop until it achieves its best. The good men and women are examples to our people,” pagtatapos ni Gov. Mamba. (From CPIO)

Unang Ginang na may Ginintuang Puso, patuloy ang serbisyo sa Pangasinan

Region 1

Region 1 / Street Journal

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan – Sa kabila ng pagiging Unang Ginang ng lalawigan ng Pangasinan, tapat na asawa at ina sa kanyang limang anak, ay kaakibat pa din ni Maan Tuazon-Guico, ang pagiging aktibo sa serbisyo sa kanyang mga kababayan. Si Maan Tuazon- Guico ang butihing asawa ni Pangasinan’s 31st Governor, Ramon ‘Mon-Mon’ Velicaria Guico III. Kamakailan lamang sa halip na pagtuunan ng pansin ang pamilya ay minabuti niyang dumalo sa ‘Blessing and Turnover of Ambulance’ sa Binalonan, para ipakita ang kanyang suporta at pagmamalasakit sa larangan ng kalusugan. Ang ambulansya ay handog ng Department of Health (DOH) sa bayan ng Binalonan, sa pakikipagtulungan ng opisina ni Cong. Ramon ‘Monching’ Guico Jr. Ang nasabing ambulansya ay magiging malaking tulong sa pagpapabuti ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan ng RHU Binalonan. Kasama ni Madam Guico sa programa sina sina Mayor Ramon Ronald V. Guico IV, Vice Mayor Bryan Louie Balangue, mga Board Member na sina Chinky Perez, Louie Sison, at Joyce Fernandez, DOH Regional Director Dr. Paula Paz M. Syndiongco, at mga kinatawan mula sa DOH-Pangasinan. “Napakahalaga na mapangalagaan natin ang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan, mula sa matanda hanggang sa bata,dahil sila ay umaasa sa ating mga tulong. Ang ambulasya ay napakalaking tulong sa mga maysakit o sa mga nangangailagan para maihatid sa ating pagamutan.” Sa kanyang malawak na karanasan sa iba’t ibang larangan ng marangal na pagpupunyagi, pangunahin sa mga serbisyo sa komunidad, nanatiling tagapagtaguyod ang First Lady para sa mga aktibidad na sosyo-ekonomiko batay sa kanyang matatag na paniniwala na walang hangganan ang serbisyo publiko. Nagtapos siya ng degree ng Bachelor of Science in Business Administration na may major in Computer Applications sa Dela Salle University, College of Saint Benilde. Palagi siyang aktibo sa serbisyo publiko, naglilingkod sa iba’t ibang mga kapasidad, tulad ng: First Spouses League of Pangasinan—Chairperson/Founder; Pinablin Pangasinan Rural Improvement Club Inc.—Honorary Chairperson; WCC Flight Attendant School—Diretso; Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI)—Dating Kinatawan ng Rehiyon 1; PR/Communications/Logistics Head ni Gobernador Ramon V. Guico III; Special Consultant/Head of Special and Major Events of the Province of Pangasinan; Pinuno ng Iba’t ibang Socio-Economic Activities ng Lalawigan ng Pangasinan, at iba pa. Dahil dito, nagkaroon siya ng malaking epekto sa buhay ng mga taong nahawakan niya sa loob at labas ng Pangasinan sa pamamagitan ng mga gawaing makataong tulad ng pagtugon sa kalamidad sa mga biktima ng sunog at baha, Community and Welfare Services “Serbisyo Caravan,” at iba pang maka-mamamayan at mga pro-life program. “Noong pumutok ang Mount Pinatubo, natabunan ang bahay namin ng lahar. Lahat nawala. Kaya alam ko ang pakiramdam ng nawalan. Simula noon, I made a promise to help other people who are in need,” pahayag ni Mrs. Guico. By Zaldy Comanda

Kalinga Governor secures additional P50M for Social Services

CAR

CAR / Street Journal

In pursuit to expanding the range of Kalingas benefiting social services in a form of financial, educational, and medical assistance, Governor James S. Edduba has again successfully secured an additional P50 million for various social service programs this September. The funding request, submitted to the Office of the House Speaker Congressman Martin Romualdez, has been approved and is now in the process of being allocated to the appropriate implementing agencies. The breakdown of the funds includes P20 million for the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) program under the Department of Health – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH CAR), P20 million for the Tertiary Education Subsidy Program (TDP) under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and P10 million for the Ayuda Para sa Kapos Ang Kita (AKAP) program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Vergara inilalarawan ang pamumuno bilang Regional Youth Leader

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

LUNGSOD NG BAGUIO – Ang kasalukuyang pinuno ng Konseho ng Turismo ng Baguio na si Gladys Vergara, ay matagal nang naging isang makabuluhang pigura sa buhay pampulitika at sibil ng lungsod, na may paglalakbay sa pamumuno na nagsimula sa kanyang kabataan at patuloy na nakakaapekto sa Baguio ngayon. Sa mga kamakailang pag-uusap sa mga lider ng kabataan sa iba’t ibang barangay, masayang pinagnilayan ni Vergara ang kanyang mga unang taon sa pamumuno. Ikinuwento niya ang kanyang pagkakasangkot sa wala na ngayong Kabataang Barangay (KB), ang pasimula ng Sangguniang Kabataan Federation ngayon, kung saan una niyang hinasa ang mga kasanayan sa pamumuno na tutukuyin ang kanyang karera. “Sa aking mga unang taon, pinamunuan ko ang Kabataang Barangay ng Baguio at kalaunan ay nahalal bilang KB Federation Regional President para sa Rehiyon 1,” pagbabahagi ni Vergara. “Ang mga karanasang ito ay napakahalaga, na humuhubog sa aking pag-unawa sa pamumuno at paglilingkod, na aking dinala sa mga susunod kong tungkulin.” Dahil sa pangako ni Vergara sa serbisyo publiko, tumaas siya sa mga ranggo, simula bilang nahalal na KB President ng Upper QM Barangay, pagkatapos ay bilang KB City Federation President ng Baguio, at sa huli, bilang Bise Presidente ng KB National Executive Council. Ang kanyang paglalakbay sa pamumuno ay nagkaroon ng makasaysayang pagliko sa panahon ng magulong pampulitikang tanawin noong unang bahagi ng 1990s. Noong 1988 elections, si Ramon “Jun” Labo, isang kilalang faith healer, ay nanalo sa mayoralty race sa Baguio City ngunit kalaunan ay na-disqualify dahil sa citizenship issues, na nagresulta sa pagiging alkalde ng lungsod si Jaime Bugnosen. Noong halalan noong 1992, muling nanalo si Labo, ngunit nahaharap sa panibagong diskwalipikasyon. Ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga pangyayari ay humantong sa pag-akyat ni Vice Mayor Mauricio Domogan sa posisyon ng alkalde, kasama si Gladys Vergara, na nahalal bilang No. 2 City Councilor noong 1988, na humalili kay Domogan bilang unang babaeng Bise Alkalde ng Baguio City. Nagmarka ito ng isang makasaysayang milestone sa kasaysayan ng pulitika ng Baguio at isang mahalagang sandali sa paglalakbay ng pamumuno ni Vergara. “Ang pagiging unang babaeng Vice Mayor ng Baguio City ay isang turning point para sa akin. Ipinakilala nito sa akin ang mgaposisyon ng pamumuno sa loob ng buhay pampulitika ng Baguio, at ito ay isang tungkulin na aking nilapitan nang may pagpapakumbaba at dedikasyon,” pahayag ni Vergara. Itinatampok ng tatlong dekada ng serbisyo ng gobyerno ni Vergara ang kanyang matatag na pangako sa serbisyo publiko, na may mga tungkuling kinabibilangan ng: Mayo 1985 – Abril 1987: Pangalawang Pangulo, Kabataang Barangay National Executive Council; Nahalal na Pangulo ng KB, Upper QM Barangay; Nahalal na KB City Federation President, Baguio City; Nahalal na KB Regional Federation President, Rehiyon 1; Nahalal ang KB Vice President, KB National Executive Council. Enero 1986 – Nob 1987: Itinalagang Konsehal ng Lungsod na Kinakatawan ang Kabataan, Baguio City. Peb 1988 – Mar 1992: Nahalal bilang 2 City Councilor, Baguio City. Mar 1992 – Hun 1992: Inako ang posisyon ng City Vice Mayor sa bisa ng succession. “Ang pamumuno ay laging bahagi ng aking buhay, at ako ay nagpapasalamat sa mga pagkakataong napagsilbihan ko ang Baguio,” pagtatapos ni Vergara. “Ang isang pinuno noon, isang pinuno ngayon, at isang pinuno sa kabila – ang aking paglalakbay ay nagpapatuloy habang ako ay nagsusumikap na masayang mag-ambag sa lungsod na mahal ko.”

Growing public demand for Vergara congressional seat

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

A groundswell of public support is building for Gladys Vergara to run in the 2025 local elections. This rising momentum has become evident as more barangay leaders and residents express their backing should she decide to pursue the congressional seat for Baguio City’s lone district. Gladys, the eldest daughter of Engr. Bernardo Vergara—a revered public servant who served as Congressman for 12 years and as Mayor of Baguio—is well-acquainted with the city’s political landscape. Over the past few weeks, she has been engaging with barangays and communities to gauge public sentiment on a variety of issues. “I am deeply humbled by the outpouring of support,” Gladys said, noting that the widespread encouragement has been both heartening and inspiring. “People are excited at the possibility of a Vergara continuing the legacy of public service.” Political observers are already predicting a contest between “Super Moms” for the congressional seat. Sol Go, wife of outgoing three-term Congressman Mark Go, is said to be aiming to succeed her husband, while Mark is reportedly eyeing the mayoral seat. Meanwhile, Gladys is receiving strong support from her father’s loyal political base, eager to see her continue his work in Congress. Gladys has a wealth of leadership experience, having served as Vice Mayor of Baguio City and as Chair of the Baguio Tourism Council since 2019, where she skillfully navigated the city’s tourism efforts through the challenges of the pandemic. Her political journey began early, with roles as head of both the city and regional Sangguniang Kabataan, as well as the Kabataang Barangay. An alumna of Saint Louis University, Gladys holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws. Beyond public service, she is a successful businesswoman, managing ventures in energy distribution, hospitality, and retail. She is also an advocate for the environment, founding the socio-civic organization Glad to be Green, which promotes sustainability initiatives. With her solid track record of competence, character, and compassion, Gladys presents a strong and credible political vision. Her platform centers on making Baguio a globally competitive and highly livable city, a legislative thrust aligned with the city’s future aspirations.

P13-M water facility starts construction in General Luna, Quezon

Region 4

Region 4 / Street Journal

BY Danny Estacio GENERAL LUNA, Quezon- Mayor Matt Erwin Florido led the memorable rites along with the members of municipal council and village officials,during the groundbreaking of a P 13 million water supply system at Barangay Poblacion,Genearal Luna, Quezon, on September 12. “Hindi po tayo tumitigil upang ang pangarap ng marami nating kababayan na magkaroon ng maayos na daloy ng tubig sa Poblacion Area at San Jose ay magkaroon ng katuparan”. Florido said. The improvement water system aims to supply water service for 24 hours. The fund allocated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Florido’s initiative, in response to the clamour of the residents. ” Lubhang kay palad ng Bayang May Puso dahil tuloy tuloy ang mga biyayang proyekto sa ating minamahal na bayan,”, Florido added.

Cordillera celebrates 38th ‘Sipat’ Anniversary

CAR

CAR / Street Journal

On September 13, 1986, former President Corazon C. Aquino and top government officials met with representatives of the CBA-CPLA, led by the late rebel priest Conrado Balweg, for a ceremony known as the ‘sipat.’ This event, symbolized by the exchange of peace tokens, marked the end of armed conflict between the government and the rebel group and recognized the group’s pursuit of autonomy. This agreement paved the way for further negotiations, ultimately leading to the issuance of Executive Order No. 220 on July 15, 1987, which established the Cordillera Administrative Region. Today,September 13,2024, OPAPRU Sec. Carlito Galvez arrives at the Mount Data Hotel in Bauko, Mountain Province. He is welcomed with traditional Cordillera gong and dances by the students of the Mountain Province State University Student Cultural Arts Group. Sec. Galvez is the keynote speaker of the 38th Mount Data Peace Accord, or the historic “Sipat,” that led to the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region. (Mayor Benjie Magalong, (2nd from left) along with members of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) and the Northern Luzon tactical airwing, present during the historic signing of the SIPAT Peace Agreement.)

SSS vows to provide social security protection to barangay officials nationwide

NCR

NCR / Street Journal

Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet pushed for the SSS membership of barangay captains and kagawads serving in around 42,000 barangays nationwide. Macasaet spoke with barangay officials attending the Liga ng Mga Barangay’s National Congress on August 13 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City to encourage them to become SSS members and receive a lifetime monthly pension when they retire from public service. “Many of our barangay officials and workers serve their constituents for 10 or 20 years. However, when they retire from public service, they do not get any separation pay or monthly pension. Now, through the SSS membership, we are offering you an opportunity to get a monthly pension when you retire from being a barangay official,” Macasaet said. Macasaet told them to secure an SS number and start paying their monthly contributions so they would automatically get social security coverage from SSS. He urged them to pay at least 120 monthly SSS contributions to receive a lifetime monthly pension once they have retired. “Even if you pay your monthly SSS contributions intermittently, that is fine. If you continue to pay until you reach at least 120 monthly contributions you will have a pension for life,” he explained. Macasaet said that they should consider contributing to the SSS as an investment in their future. “Aside from retirement benefits, you will be entitled to sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, funeral, and death benefits.” Macasaet added that they can also take advantage of various SSS loan programs, such as salary and calamity, and get additional coverage from the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program for work-related sickness or injury resulting in disability or death. SSS hails Magna Carta for barangay officials House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is pushing for the passage of a Magna Carta for barangay officials at the House of Representatives that will empower local government units (LGUs) to allocate funds for the SSS contributions of barangay officials. Romualdez vowed to champion the legislative measures so that barangay officials could become SSS members at no cost to them. Macasaet lauded House Speaker Romualdez and Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino A. Dy V for filing the proposed bill that will allow LGUs to cover the monthly SSS contributions of barangay officials so they can receive lifetime pension, saying, “This move shows how much President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. cares for the country’s barangay leaders,” Macasaet said. Moreover, Macasaet thanked Liga ng mga Barangay National President Maria Katrina Jessica G. Dy for allowing SSS to explain the value of social security coverage to barangay officials. SSS brings e-services closer to barangay officials SSS Executive Vice President for Branch Operations Sector Voltaire P. Agas said that SSS set up 50 laptops manned by SSS personnel, which assisted barangay officials in getting their SS numbers. Agas said that SSS brought its Starlink and PLDT internet kits to ensure the nonstop service provision to those attending the event. “We put up an SSS booth in the National Congress to assist barangay officials in their SSS transactions such as applying for SS and employer numbers or verifying their contribution or loan records,” Agas said. Agas said barangay officials also conducted online services such as creating or resetting their My.SSS account, updating member and contact details, generating a Payment Reference Number (PRN), enrolling in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM), and filing of benefit claims and loan applications.

Gov. Ramon V. Guico III signs MOA with the SMGP BESS Power Inc.

Region 1

Region 1 / Street Journal

By Chona C. Bugayong, Orlan Llemos, JP De Vera/PIMRO LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Gov. Ramon V. Guico III signed a Memorandum of Agreement with San Miguel Global Power (SMGP BESS Power Inc.) for the establishment and administration of trust accounts in accordance with DOE DC2018-08-0021 on the accrued financial benefits from the commercial operations of Battery Energy Storage System Facility at San Manuel Municipality. Enrico dela Torre, Stakeholder Management and Community Relations Manager, represented SMGP BESS Power Inc. in a ceremony held on September 11 at the Urduja Ceremonial Hall here. Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino, Carlo Fernand M. Fabia, and Exequel D. Madrid, both MCC operators for the SMGP, witnessed the signing. As stated in the agreement, on August 7, 2018, DOE issued Department Circular No. DC2018-08-0021 amending the purpose of Rule 29(A) of the EPIRA-IRR to accelerate socio-economic development, have a more effective and efficient utilization of the funds, and enforce the immediate provision of benefits to host communities. Before the signing of the MOA, SMGP, through Dela Torre, presented their project known as Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The AVP presentation showed that SMGP is energizing a sustainable future through BESS. BESS facilities contribute to San Miguel Global Power’s commitment to expanding the country’s energy mix and paving the way for sustainable energy. It further stated that BESS is a safe, clean, and scalable technology that can help support and address energy demand in the country. Quoting what the President said during the inauguration of the 50 MW San Miguel Global Power Battery Energy Storage System Facilities in Limay Bataan, ‘This technology (BESS) is carving a distinct path towards a more energy-secure and sustainable future for the country. Indeed, it promises great rewards for the country; not only will we be able to generate sufficient reliable and clean energy, leading to more affordability of energy and, of course, generating jobs for the people.’ Gov. Guico earlier said Pangasinan is going to play a key role in contributing to the country’s power requirement. Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Baby Ruth Torre was also present during the signing.

Author name: Street Journal

Gov.Mamba kumpiyansa na matatapos na ang insurgency sa Cagayan