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)

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