By Mary Therese D. Ancheta   LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte, Philippines (PIA) — The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte is expanding its tourism recovery initiatives by enhancing travel incentives ahead of the summer peak season, aiming to sustain visitor arrivals and support local livelihoods amid rising transportation costs. To respond to increasing travel expenses driven by global economic pressures, the provincial government earlier launched a free ride initiative in April. The program was designed to ease transportation costs and improve mobility for tourists exploring destinations across Ilocos Norte. The initiative forms part of the province’s efforts to make travel more accessible, particularly for budget-conscious visitors and commuters affected by higher transport fares. Building on the initial rollout, the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office is preparing to expand its Travel Incentive Program into a two-way travel incentive scheme. The enhanced program will introduce subsidized routes to improve connectivity among key tourism sites and encourage wider visitor movement across the province. Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos said the province continues to adopt adaptive strategies to sustain tourism growth despite external economic pressures. She emphasized the importance of proactive governance in ensuring that tourism remains resilient and accessible. Preliminary tourism data show steady visitor arrivals in northern municipalities, while some urban and commercial centers continue to experience lower tourist traffic. The expanded incentive scheme aims to address this imbalance by encouraging tourists to explore a broader range of destinations, helping distribute economic activity more evenly across the province. The provincial government said the program is part of a broader strategy to strengthen tourism resilience and sustain economic activity during the peak summer season. By improving accessibility and visitor flow, the initiative is expected to benefit tourism-dependent communities, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in hospitality, transport, and local trade. Visitors have welcomed the initiative, citing improved affordability and convenience. A tourist from Mountain Province, Angeline Kafuyao, said the program encourages repeat visits due to reduced travel costs and improved accessibility. “These kinds of programs are really a big help for tourists. We’re more encouraged to visit again because travel to Ilocos Norte has become more affordable and convenient despite the crisis,” she said. With these expanded measures, Ilocos Norte aims to position itself as a model for adaptive provincial tourism governance, ensuring that destinations remain accessible, economically active, and visitor-friendly even amid ongoing global challenges. (AMB/MTDA, PIA Ilocos Norte)      

By Benilda Recebido   SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon, Philippines (PIA) — A total of 4,439 tricycle drivers from Sorsogon City have benefited from cash assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from April 8 to 9 at the Provincial Gymnasium. The DSWD allocated around P22.19 million in financial aid under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, with each beneficiary receiving P5,000. The tricycle drivers in Sorsogon City represent the largest group of registered drivers in Sorsogon province. On the first day of distribution, 2,029 drivers were accommodated, and 2,410 were served on the second day. According to Joseph Teston, chief of the DSWD regional office’s policy and plans division, the recipients are members of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs), as verified and endorsed by local government units to the DSWD. “The assistance aims to alleviate the daily expenses of drivers and support their livelihoods amid rising fuel prices caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” Teston said. He added that the payout is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to support transport workers in the Bicol region. The AICS program is a government initiative designed to provide immediate and temporary assistance to individuals and families affected by crises. Among the recipients was John Darill Aniban, a father and tricycle driver from Barangay Macabog, who lamented that the recent increase in oil prices has significantly reduced his daily earnings. “The higher fuel costs leave me with much less income after a long day of work. Almost everything goes toward buying fuel, and what I bring home to my family is no longer enough, unlike before,” Aniban explained. He thanked the DSWD and local government for efficiently distributing financial assistance to the transport sector, saying, “This will help me buy gasoline and food for my family.” The DSWD regional office plans to conduct similar payout activities in other municipalities of Sorsogon province in the coming days, targeting more transport workers affected by soaring fuel prices. “This initiative does not end here; our efforts for the entire transportation sector will continue. In the coming days or weeks, we will begin distributing assistance to other drivers as well,” Teston said. (Monica M. Avila contributed to this report, PIA Bicol/Sorsogon)

By Rachel Magday   SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Police authorities arrested 26 individuals during an operation against illegal online cockfighting, or e-sabong, at the Solano Cockpit Arena in Barangay Roxas on April 12, 2026. Police identified several of those arrested as online livestream operators and a cockpit arena supervisor. The suspects included residents of Nueva Ecija, Baguio City, and Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. The operation was launched following reports of illegal gambling activities in the area and was led by the Solano Police Station under PMAJ John Anthony S. Sanchez, in coordination with several police and intelligence units. Investigators said the group is also being linked to a similar illegal e-sabong operation at New Ayaga Cockpit Arena in Abulug, Cagayan on April 11, 2026. The reported connection is now under investigation as part of the case build-up. Seized during the operation were ₱616,250 in cash believed to be betting money, betting tickets and receipts, three computer sets, five cellphones, four internet routers, two LED monitors, and other equipment allegedly used in the illegal activity. The suspects are now in the custody of the Solano Police Station and are expected to face charges for violating Presidential Decree No. 1602 and Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012            

By Danny Estacio   LIMA, Batangas – Binigyang-pugay ng Global Technical Center of Excellence (GTCOE), isang training facility na inilunsad ng Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) at JERA Co., Inc. (JERA), ang ikalawang batch ng mga nagtapos sa Basic Operations and Maintenance Program, na binubuo ng 17 technical professionals, kabilang ang batch valedictorian na si Nathalie Abdon. Ang programa na may adhikaing tulungang  punan ang agwat sa pagitan ng teorya sa aklat at ng aktuwal na kalagayan sa industriya, sa pamamagitan ng paghahanda sa mga inhinyero mula sa “steady-state” na akademikong modelo patungo sa “non-linear” at mataas na responsibilidad na kapaligiran ng operasyon ng power plant. “Sa paaralan, malinaw at maayos ang mga kundisyong nilulutas namin, ngunit sa planta, hindi linear ang sistema,” paliwanag ni Abdon. “Natutunan ko na kailangan kong lumipat mula sa pag-aaral para lamang makaunawa tungo sa pag-aaral na may pananagutan. Ang mga desisyon sa totoong mundo ay may tunay na epekto, at ang pagbabagong ito ang nagpatibay sa aking pagiging mas sinadya at responsable.” Sa valedictory message, binigyang-diin ni Abdon ang kahalagahan ng katatagan at ng representasyon sa sektor ng enerhiya. Siya ang unang babaeng inhinyero sa kanilang pamilya. “Sa paglalakbay na ito, napagtanto ko na ang tunay na koneksyon ay maaaring mabuo sa kabila ng pagkakaiba,” dagdag pa niya. “Ang pagkakaroon ng ibang pananaw na nagpapahalaga sa pagkalinga, malasakit, katumpakan, at layunin sa bawat teknikal na hamon na aking haharapin. Mula sa paglutas ng mga equation, ang aking paglalakbay ay ngayo’y bahagi na ng progresibong pag-unlad para sa isang mas matatag na Pilipinas.” Para kay Abdon, ang pagsali sa Therma Luzon, Inc. ng AboitizPower ay katuparan ng kanyang panghabambuhay na kuryosidad. Lumaki sa Quezon, madalas niyang tinitingnan ang mataas na chimney ng kalapit na planta, na napagkakamalan niyang parola. Si Abdon at ang kanyang mga kasamahan ay sinanay batay sa Limang Haligi ng GTCOE: Kaligtasan, Husay Teknikal, Kakayahang Umangkop, Pakikipagtulungan, at Komunikasyon. Tinitiyak ng kurikulum na ang mga nagtapos ay may aktuwal na karanasan sa control room at paggamit ng mga high-capacity na kagamitan. Kahit sa panahon ng Artificial Intelligence (AI), hindi nalilimutan ni Abdon ang mga pangunahing prinsipyo ng kanyang propesyon. “Bagaman kayang i-optimize ng AI ang mga sistema, dapat itong gabayan ng matibay na mga engineering principles gaya ng thermodynamics at physics,” saad niya. “Tungkulin naming itaguyod ang kaligtasan at integridad ng operasyon sa bawat desisyon.” Ayon naman kay GTCOE Director Engr. Mayshelle Rosario, ang mga prinsipyong ito ang nagtutulak sa misyon ng training facility, at sinabing ang kahusayan ng tao ang siyang tunay na nagtutulak sa pagkakaroon ng business excellence. Si Hideaki Oana, Chief Technical Officer ng JERA Philippines, ay nagbahagi ng parehong pananaw, at pinuri ang mga nagtapos bilang mga lider na kayang gawing konkretong solusyon ang teknolohiya.