By Ruben A.Veloria IBA, Zambales, Philippunes – The Zambales Maritime Development Council (ZMDC), the umbrella council of all association of fishermen in the province gets three brand new motorized fishing vessels to augment the province’s fishing industry. Concurrent ZDMC Chairman, Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. led in a simple ceremony for the naming of the two fishing vessels,and a maritime boat held at Philippine Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) ground in Sitio Balintabog, Bgy. Amungan, Iba, Zambales. ZMDC, a province-approved people’s organization, was organized by the office of the Governor which seeks of helping its members to have a bountiful harvest, and develop the fishing industry of the province through modern equipment. According to Gov. Ebdane, two of the three boats are 45-footer fishing boats named F/V Zambales III and F/V Zambales IV, both have 125 horsepower Hyundai engine delivering a maximum speed of 18 knots. Each costs P5-Million. While the third boat was named: MB The Province of Zambales, which will be used in patroling the vicinity of the fishing ground usually visited by poachers. The body of the boats were made of one-inch fiber glass, which is stronger than the usual plyboards, and could withstand strong waves, like those of the standard deep sea fishing vessels abroad. The governor said, two more vessels are scheduled to be delivered by March 2026, which are bigger 92-footer and 100-footer fishing boats. The bigger boat will serve as “Mother fishing vessel” where all the harvested fish will be stored before going to the markets, while the smaller one will be used as hauler that collects the catch from each “payao” or artificial fish shades, then bring them to the Mother Boat. Gov. Ebdane said the purchase of the new fishing boats is one of the four projects of the Province of Zambales that are being implemented to give the fishermen a long lasting means of improved fishing methods. The other three methods are deep sea fishing, use of payao, and inland fishing, which already are taking place. Ebdane said that with the assistance of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Office of the Governor was able to purchase 20 units of payao and anchored them to identified fishing areas, to invite more fish to the area, as payao serves as their shades and playing areas. Meanwhile, Marlene Ong, the CEO of the Cavite-based boat manufacturer Stoneworks Specialist Int’l. Corp., described the event as “a milestone for fishing industry; a new era for the Zambales fishing industry.” Ong described the newly delivered boats as safe, fuel efficient and ideal for productive fishing, providing reliable fishing vessel. She also mentioned that the massive 100-footer fishing vessel to be delivered soon is powered by 500 HP Korean engine, with massive storage tanks and ice maker  to keep the fish fresh for weeks while in the sea. It is also equipped with sonar to locate fish even kilometers away. “These upcoming additions will further strengthen the province’s fleet and solidify Zambales as leader in modern fishing practices,” Ong said. For his part, Gov. Ebdane noted, “This is just the beginning of our modernization program.” As he urge each fishermen organization to organize thier own harvester group to improve their catch and to provide more jobs to the members.

NAGA CITY, Philippines – The Local Government Unit of Naga is calling on communities in the city’s 27 barangays to actively participate in efforts to keep their surroundings clean to prevent prolonged flooding of streets and major roads during the rainy season. Mayor Leni Robredo stressed that community participation is crucial to the city’s campaign for a cleaner Naga, noting that the initiative is expected to result in de-clogged waterways, one of the key factors in mitigating floods. The city mayor made the statement during her program “Oras ni Mayor,” which airs every Saturday over DWIZ. According to Robredo, one of the primary causes of flooding in the city is the clogging of waterways in barangays, largely due to discarded plastic waste and other types of garbage. On the part of the city government, the mayor said that nearly a year has been spent conducting studies and analyses to determine the root causes of flooding in various parts of the city. In addition, the city continues to assess areas that have been identified as flood-prone, especially during heavy rains. She further explained that aside from encouraging residents to take part in maintaining cleanliness, the city also needs to implement measures to relocate families living near waterways to ensure that these waterways are not used as dumping areas for solid waste. “This initiative is already being undertaken through the Housing and Settlements Development Office (HSDO) to help ensure that families to be relocated will have decent shelter, while preventing garbage dumping in waterways that contributes to the flooding problem,” Robredo said. I via Jason Neola  

Governor eyes overseas seasonal job for residents   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito has pledged additional provincial funding to expand skills development and technical-vocational (TVET) programs in Nueva Vizcaya, with training to be implemented through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Gambito made the commitment during the first-quarter meeting of the Provincial Technical Education and Skills Development Committee (PTESDC), which he chairs. He said the additional support is intended to widen access to skills training for Novo Vizcayanos, particularly as the provincial government pursues exploratory discussions with foreign counterparts on the possible deployment of seasonal workers. The governor noted that most seasonal work programs prioritize applicants with specific competencies, making tech-voc credentials and skills certification critical for residents seeking overseas employment. Recently, officials from Jinan County in South Korea visited Gambito’s office to discuss a potential arrangement for sending seasonal workers. He is also set to meet next week with officials from Gimcheon City in North Gyeongsang Province, also in South Korea, for similar talks. Gambito is likewise expected to attend next month a Chinese New Year celebration and a welcome reception for Ms. Li Xiaoyan, the newly appointed consul and head of post of the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China. During the event, the provincial government may raise the possibility of a government-to-government recruitment mechanism with China. Aside from South Korea and China, the provincial government is also looking at Japan and Switzerland as possible partner countries for government-to-government recruitment of seasonal workers. To fast-track the initiative, Gambito instructed the Provincial Employment Service Division (PESD), headed by Dolly Rose C. Minas, to prepare a supplemental Annual Investment Program (AIP) to include the allocation of additional funds for skills training and TVET courses. The PTESDC—composed of provincial stakeholders and the local TESDA office—serves as the province’s key body for aligning technical-vocational training with industry requirements, labor market demand, and employment priorities. It aims to ensure that training programs produce job-ready graduates with practical skills needed for both local opportunities and potential overseas placements, helping reduce unemployment and support economic development in Nueva Vizcaya. ( By Rachel Magday)

PANGASINAN, Philippines — Pangasinan is set to strengthen food security and boost the livelihood of thousands of fisherfolk with the establishment of the first provincial government-owned Bangus Breeding and Hatchery Facility in the Philippines. The milestone project was presented during a public consultation dialogue held on January 21, 2026, attended by bangus growers, fisherfolk, and stakeholders from across the province. The project is part of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-Up, with support from the World Bank and the Department of Agriculture. The facility directly addresses one of the biggest challenges in the local bangus industry, the shortage of bangus fry and larvae. Despite being the country’s top bangus producer, Pangasinan still relies heavily on imported fry, particularly from Indonesia. “Ito na po ang matagal na nating hinihintay ng mga bangus stakeholders,” said Pangasinan Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya. “May hatchery na po tayo ngayon, pero nakakapag-produce lang ito ng halos 20 percent ng requirement ng buong probinsya.” She emphasized that the project has been four years in the making, involving multiple stages of planning and coordination. “Mahaba po ang naging journey ng proyektong ito, pero maganda ang naging resulta. Ang araw na ito ay malinaw na senyales na matutuloy na talaga ang hatchery,” she added. Once operational, the hatchery located at the Provincial Agriculture Field Station in Barangay Arnedo, Bolinao Pangasinan is expected to produce over 100 million bangus fry and more than 48 million bangus larvae annually. “Nagpapasalamat po ang aming lokal na pamahalaan dahil dito sa bayan ng Bolinao itatayo ang bangus breeding hatchery ng probinsya. Ito po ay malaking tulong sa aming mga mangingisda at nursery operators dahil magkakaroon na tayo ng sapat na supply ng bangus fry at larvae, at mas mapapalago ang kabuhayan ng buong komunidad,” said Mr. Eulalio Ramirez, Municipal Agriculturist and representative of the Bolinao Local Government. The 238.9-million project is World Bank-assisted, with funding shared by the World Bank (80%), the national government (10%), and the provincial government (10%). Pangasinan Provincial Administrator Manuel “Manny” O Luis Jr. described the hatchery as one of the major agricultural projects of Governor Ramon V. Guico III. “Isa po ito sa mga flagship projects ni Governor Guico sa agrikultura. Layunin nitong palakasin ang produksyon, pababain ang presyo, at suportahan ang kabuhayan ng mga bangus stakeholders sa Pangasinan.” he said. He added that bangus farming is more than a livelihood. “Ang pagbabangus ay hindi lang trabaho… ito po ay isang lifestyle. Ang proyektong ito ay talagang para sa inyo, para mas mapagaan ang inyong trabaho.” Aside from production, the facility will also serve as a training and innovation hub for small-scale nursery operators, fisherfolk associations, and cooperatives. It will feature modern aquaculture infrastructure, including broodstock tanks, larval rearing tanks, algal and rotifer culture tanks, and a training hall. More than 17 municipalities including Agno, Alaminos City, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Dasol, Sual, Binmaley, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Calasiao, San Carlos City, Mangaldan, San Fabian, Dagupan City, and Infanta will benefit, reaching over 40,000 fisherfolk and aquaculture stakeholders. The Pangasinan Bangus Breeding and Hatchery Project is the only PRDP-supported provincial hatchery in the country, further positioning Pangasinan as a national leader in aquaculture development. With construction expected to begin soon, the provincial government continues to work closely with communities to ensure alignment with local needs and sustainable outcomes, and to ensure the project’s success. (Rich Majin, Photo by: Ervin Alcantara | PIMRO)