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)

Narvacan, Ilocos Sur – Mayor Pablito Sanidad,Sr., led the groundbreaking for the construction of a new Narvacan multi-purpose building in Ilocos Sur  worth P96-M,on June 17. The building will  serves as  convention hall, indoor sports center, auditorium, gymnasium and venue of sectoral, educational and other official events and activities. The event was attended VM Ccv Caloy Valera, Sbm Edna Cabalo Sanidad, Bernadette C Lim, Reina Alexa Antolin, Jovenn Bernal Ampo Jr., Margarito Tejada, Pilong Cabreros, Popong dela Cuadra, Brgy Kap Alex Gomez and other brgy officials and engineers and staff of the DPWH & SATRAP Cons Co.

Governor Jose V. Gambito has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. for extending financial assistance of ₱50 million to the Novo Vizcayano farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon. The aid was personally handed over to Gov. Gambito by President Marcos Jr. during his visit to Region 2, specifically in Ilagan City. “This generous support from President Marcos Jr. is a significant lifeline for our farmers who have been struggling due to the adverse effects of El Niño,” Gov. Gambito said. “We are deeply thankful for this timely intervention, which will go a long way in helping our agricultural sector recover and sustain their livelihoods.” The ₱50 million assistance, which will be distributed to 5,000 farmers at ₱10,000 each, aims to provide immediate relief and support to Novo Vizcayano farmers. This aid will ensure that they can continue their farming activities despite the challenges posed by the prolonged dry spell. In addition to the aid provided to Novo Vizcayano farmers, President Marcos Jr. also extended financial assistance to other provinces in the region.  He handed over ₱10million to Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco, ₱50 million each to Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba and Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III, and ₱30.92 million to Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua. This collective support aims to bolster the agricultural sector in these provinces and help farmers overcome the challenges brought about by the adverse weather conditions. The visit saw President Marcos Jr., accompanied by House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez,Cong. Zandro A. Marcos and other national officials, distributing financial aid to farmers, fisherfolks, and families across the Cagayan Valley. The total aid distributed amounted to nearly P200 million, aimed at alleviating the hardships brought about by the prolonged dry spell. During the event, President Marcos Jr. highlighted the government’s various initiatives designed to support the agricultural sector and enhance food security. He proudly mentioned programs such as “Kadiwa ng Pangulo,” which connects farmers directly with consumers, ensuring better prices for agricultural produce. Additionally, he spoke about the “Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair,” a program that brings government services and financial assistance closer to the citizens, and the “Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund,” which provides comprehensive support to rice farmers. “These initiatives are part of our commitment to uplift the lives of our farmers and fisherfolks and ensure that they have the necessary resources to thrive despite challenges like El Niño,” President Marcos Jr. stated. By Rachel Magday

TARLAC CITY- Alinsunod sa adhikain ni Gov. Susan A. Yap na siguraduhin ang maayos at matiwasay na kalusugan ng bawat mamamayan saan mang dako ng probinsya,isang komprehensibong medical mission ang natamasa ng mga Tarlakenyo sa Baramgay Bacabac, Camiling,Tarlac,noong Hunyo 13. Iba’t ibang libreng serbisyong medikal ang natamasa ng mga Tarlakenyo tulad na lamang ng blood chem, medical check-up, dental check-up, blood donation, at X-ray. Bukod pa rito ay nakatanggap din ang mga Tarlakenyo ng mga libreng gamot, at bitamina. Labis naman ang pasasalamat na ipinapaabot ng mga Tarlakenyo sa kolektibong aksyon ng mga doktor, nars, at mga opisyales dahil sa matagumpay na pagsulong ng komprehensibong medical mission sa kanilang barangay.

Camp BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO, La Union -Two high-value targets, one  associated with a notorious drug group was captured during separate buy-bust operations in Ilocos Norte, on June 15  The operations resulted in the confiscation of a total of  11.17 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P75,556.00. The leader of the Gamdaca Drug Group under COPLAN GAMDA, was apprehended in the buy-bust operation in Solsona, Ilocos Norte. This successful operation was a collaborative effort led by Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Ilocos Norte Provincial Intelligence Unit together with Solsona MPS, RID 1, and PDEA INPO, with coordination from PDEA RO1. The suspect was found in possession of 8 grams of suspected shabu, neatly packaged in four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets with an estimated value of P54,000.00. In a buy-bust operation in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, another high-value target was captured by personnel from Sta. Cruz MPS, ISPDEU, ISPIU, and Sta. Cruz MARLET unit, in coordination with PDEA RO1.  The operation yielded the confiscation of 3.17 grams of suspected shabu estimated at P21,556. Brig.Gen.Lou Evangelista,regional director, expressed his appreciation for the dedication and effectiveness of his team, stating, “These and other numerous arrests across the region are a testament to our promise of making Region 1 our safe homeland.” The successful capture of these high-value targets marks a significant blow to drug trafficking in the region and underscores the commitment of law enforcement to safeguarding the community against the impact of illegal drugs.

Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya – In a significant stride towards enhancing local infrastructure, Governor Atty. Jose “Jing” V. Gambito inaugurated the Sitio Balangabang, Kayapa Proper West Farm-to-Market Road (FTMR),Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya,on June 14.. The project, valued at P5 million, is a key initiative of the provincial government, funded by the 2024 20% Development Fund and executed by the Provincial Agricultural Office. The newly constructed road stretches 921 meters in length and 3 meters in width. Governor Gambito was joined by former Governor Ruth R. Padilla, Board Members Patricio F. Dumlao Jr. and Castillo Tidang Jr., Executive Assistant Emerlene Jane Galanta-Martinez, local officials of Kayapa led by Vice Mayor Peter Bay-an, and employees of the Provincial Agricultural Office, headed by Provincial Agriculture Officer Rizal Absalom Baysa. This project is part of Governor Gambito’s flagship “Kalsada ti Kabanbantayan” program, which aims to improve road accessibility in mountainous areas. The Sitio Balangabang FTMR will not only connect various barangays within Kayapa but also establish a crucial link between the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet via Brgy Domolpos, Itogon. In his speech,Governor Gambito emphasized the importance of the “Kalsada ti Kabanbantayan” program as a demonstration of the provincial government’s dedication to supporting indigenous communities residing in the mountains. “This initiative is designed to enhance mountain roads, making them more accessible and easing the transportation of agricultural products for our mountain-dwelling citizens,” he explained. Governor Gambito also took the opportunity to highlight other significant projects under his administration. These include the “Free WiFi ti Umili” program, aimed at providing internet connectivity to even the most remote barangays in Nueva Vizcaya, which will greatly benefit students’ education. He also mentioned the ongoing improvements to provincial hospitals, ensuring that Novo Vizcayanos no longer need to travel to Baguio or Manila for specialized medical care. Additionally, he discussed the “Doctor ti Umili” scholarship program and the solar lighting project for remote households not serviced by NUVELCO. Provincial Agriculture Officer Absalom Baysa announced that several other projects are lined up for the municipality of Kayapa under the “Kalsada ti Kabanbantayan” program. These include the improvement of the Tidang-Cabanglasan-Binalian FMR with a P6 million fund, the improvement of the Kayapa Proper East to Cabalatan Alang FMR with a P5.8 million fund, and the improvement of the Binalian to Banao FMR with a P6.1 million fund. Governor Gambito called for the unity, cooperation, and prayers of all Novo Vizcayanos to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives. “The key to our province’s progress lies in our unity. Rest assured, I will work double time to realize programs that will uplift the livelihood of our people. I also ask for your prayers to help me fulfill my aspirations for Nueva Vizcaya,” he affirmed. Former Governor Ruth Padilla expressed her gratitude to Governor Gambito for continuing the programs initiated by the late Governor Carlos M. Padilla. She pledged that if given another opportunity to serve the people of Nueva Vizcaya, she would collaborate with Governor Gambito to ensure the continuous development of the province. “Thank you, Governor Gambito, for upholding the legacy of the late Governor Carlos M. Padilla. If given another chance to serve, I promise to work alongside you for the sustained progress of our province,” Padilla remarked. By NVPG/RM