The offices of Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano maximized their recent visit to Cavite by conducting two days of outreach activities on June 19 and 20, 2024 to provide aid to many residents in need. Once again partnering with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, the Cayetano siblings reached out to 3,000 Cavite residents. On June 19, their first stop in Dasmariñas City benefited 500 recipients, including senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). City Mayor Jennifer “Jenny” Barzaga and the City Council played a key role in the success of this distribution. Later that day, their offices also visited Imus City where 500 community health workers and women received support. This distribution was organized in coordination with Cavite 3rd District Representative Adrian Jay “AJ” Advincula, Mayor Alex “AA” Advincula, and Councilor Mark Villanueva. The outreach in Dasmariñas City continued on June 20, assisting 2,000 more residents. Beneficiaries included Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), solo parents, women’s groups, and members of the LGBTQ community. These initiatives reflect the Cayetano siblings’ ongoing commitment to supporting marginalized communities across the country. Their teams continue to conduct simultaneous visits in different provinces to bring assistance directly to Filipinos in need. By closely collaborating with government agencies and local units, they ensure efficient and effective delivery of aid to those who require it most.

Subic Bay Freeport – Some 50 persons with disabilities (PWDs) experience work immersion in various offices of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), other business establishments here and in Olongapo City.  This came after the SBMA recently forged a partnership with the local government of Olongapo City to facilitate the work immersion of PWDs inside this premier Freeport.  The SBMA’s Labor Department, as well as the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) Olongapo City, the Work Immersion Program for PWDs in Government and Private Business Establishments are aimed at providing PWDs a ten-day actual work experience in companies here and in Olongapo City. According to Labor Department Manager Atty. Melvin Varias, there are a total of 50 PWDs who were given the chance to work—34 of them are deployed to companies inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.  “Of the 34 PWDs, ten worked at the Grand United Property and Service Management, Inc.; eight were sent to the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel and Event Center; four worked at the Eddie and Julie G Food Corp. at the Jollibee Main Gate; three worked at the SBMA’s Financial Planning and Budget Department; three went to the SBMA’s Accounting Department; five worked here at the SBMA Labor Department; and one was sent to the SBMA Office Services Department,” Varias said. Meanwhile, PDAO Head Rizalino Jose bared that the proposal for the Work Immersion Program was conceptualized in March of this year. He said that during this program, PWDs will be given opportunities to value, experience and prove their worth as equals with the typical workforce. “Our target PWD beneficiaries range from mild to manageable disabilities,” he added. Jose said that their daily minimum wage salary rate of P580 will be funded by the Office of City Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr., adding that the first batch of internship was held last May 27 to June 7, while the second batch is from June 10-21, 2024. SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño lauded the work immersion program for PWDs, citing that the Subic Bay Freeport is the perfect venue for PWDs to experience that there is equality in the workplace.  “Our Labor Department is working hard to provide a harmonious working environment inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. By providing PWDs with the opportunity to work at companies here, it only proves that the SBMA does not tolerate discrimination in the workplace,” he said.  Currently, the Subic Bay Freeport zone has a workforce of 159,762 as of April 2024. This will eventually increase as new investors continue to establish their businesses here.  “These new companies investing in Subic Freeport would mean a possible expansion of the workplace immersion program for PWDs, giving more opportunities for them to prove that they can be productive citizens of the country,” Aliño said. 

By Zaldy Comanda CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO – Pangasinan police successfully arrested a high-value drug suspect and two street-level individuals, seizing a firearm and suspected shabu worth Php471,240.00 in a series of operations. A high-value target, known as “Nanay,” was apprehended in Brgy. Tomana West, Rosales, Pangasinan. The 67-year-old suspect, a resident of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, was captured by joint operatives from the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 1 (RPDEU1), Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office 1 (RID PRO1), Philippine Drug Enforcement Group – Special Operations Unit 1 (PDEG SOU1), PDEA Pangasinan, PIU Pangasinan, PDEU Pangasinan, and Rosales Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with PDEA RO1 resulted in the seizure of 60 grams of suspected shabu valued at Php408,000.00, contained in four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets, on June 19. In a separate buy-bust operation, Villasis Municipal Police Station, along with the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (Pang PPO) and in coordination with PDEA RO1, executed a buy-bust operation in Barangay rBarraca, Villasis, Pangasinan,on June 20, 2024 The operation targeted street-level drug activities, resulting in the arrest of two individuals: a 34-year-old driver and a 39-year-old painter from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. The suspects were found with 9.3 grams of suspected shabu valued at P63,240.00, contained in nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets. A caliber .38 revolver with ammunition was also confiscated All operations adhered to legal procedures, with the presence of mandatory witnesses and thorough documentation. The inventory and markings of the seized evidence were completed on-site. Brig.Gen.Lou Evangelista, regional director, praised the coordinated efforts of the police units and partner agencies involved in these operations. “Our commitment to keeping our region drug-free is unwavering. These successful arrests and seizures demonstrate our dedication to preventing the entry of drugs and ensuring a drug-free safe homeland for our families,” he stated.

By Danny Estacio TIAONG, Quezon – Mayor Vincent Arjay Mea said here on Tuesday that one of the highlights of BayaniJuan Festival 2024 is to honor the Overseas Filipino Workers ( OFW) and Balik Bayan and the sector of small and medium enterprises which gave a big contribution in the progress and economic development in this town. The festival started on June 18 until June 24 and lined up a weeklong event in honor of the town’s patron St. John the Baptist. Mea said in the interview that he asked for the support of the Balikbayan and the OFW to put up investments in their communities to help the residents in the upliftment of the economic condition. Mea received an affirmative response from the Balikbayan who came back just to witness the festival. Mea added that he targeted the small medium business enterprises in recognizing their huge contribution to the local government, and they were chosen from 31 barangays with three awardees each. The said business sector is vital in sharing the local taxes the LGU collected to P106 million in recent years from the previous P60 million collections in 2021. Because of the tax collected and contribution from the said sector businesses and investment this town has from ” kuting”(kitten) in the future into a tiger economy in the province of Quezon. Mea added to make the festival more vibrant and exciting several movies, TV, and singers’ personalities were invited to perform at Mayor’s RJM night.

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Inilatag ng grupo ng Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) ang planong flood control project sa Cagayan River Basin kay Gov. Manuel Mamba at mga department head ng Kapitolyo ng Cagayan sa tanggapan ng Gobernador sa Capitol Main building, Tuguegarao City, noong Hunyo 18, 2024. Ang presentasyon ay pinangunahan ng deputy team leader Daisuke Fujita, kasama sina Nguyen Xuan Tinh,hydrologist at Reynel Mojica, project researcher  at mga opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Ang proyektong iprinisinta ay tinawag na “Project for Enhancement of Flood Control Strategy in Prioritized River Basins (Cagayan River Basin)” kung saan nakapaloob dito ang gagawing hakbang sa pagpapatupad ng poyekto katulad ng timeline, sino ang mga makakatuwang na mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan, project components at mga aspeto na kailangang ikonsidera katulad ng usapin sa Magat dam, water management at flood characteristics. Ayon kay Fujita, ang unang gagawin ng grupo ay magsagawa ng feasibility study (FS) hanggang sa buwan ng Oktubre sa 2025. Sa ngayon, nasa basic survey pa lamang ang grupo sa gagawing proyekto. Sinabi naman ni Gov. Mamba na dapat ay mayroong mabuong “super body” na kinabibilangan ng mga concerned agency, hindi lamang ang JICA o DPWH sa halip ay maging ang mga iba pang ahensiya katulad ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), mga lokal na Pamahalaan ng Kalinga at Apayao, pamunuan ng Magat Dam, at iba pa. Aniya, hindi isang “band-aid solution” lamang ang gagawin sa halip ay dapat mayroong long term solution. Ipinunto rin ng Gobernador na dapat ay magkaroon din ng permanenteng tauhan ang grupo sa Cagayan, upang malaman kung sino ang dapat na kausapin kapag nagkaroon ng problema. Handa ring magbigay ang Gobernador ng espasyo para magsilbing opisina ng grupo. “You should also assign a permanent person here so that we know the people we can talk to. I’ve been telling before that there should be a “super body” to take of this. And there should be a holistic approach. This is not just a band-aid solution, we must have a medium and long-term solution,” pahayag ni Gov.Mamba. Samantala, nakasama rin sa pagpupulong ang mga department head at kawani ng Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Engineering Office, at Provincial Information Office.(By Badz Heralde)