By: Laarni Ilagan The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) has acquired a new ₱15-million insulated truck, a significant addition to its fleet aimed at improving power restoration and ensuring the safety of linemen working on high-voltage lines. Veteran lineman Rufo Madilat, who has 33 years of service and is among the few authorized to operate BENECO’s heavy maintenance trucks, emphasized the importance of the new unit. “No awan ti trucks nga mausar, ma-paralyze ti construction tayo, bumayag ti restoration,” Madilat said during the truck’s testing and turnover last August 7, 2025 at BENECO’s headquarters in South Drive, Baguio City. The new vehicle, a digger derrick, features a fully electric auger, basket, and crane, allowing linemen to safely perform hotline or live-line work. The truck was delivered and turned over by GeoExpert Construction, Inc. President Karlo Santos, which won the project bidding and retrofitted the unit to meet BENECO’s specifications. “It met our requirements, such as being fully insulated for hotline operations and capable of carrying maximum load capacity for poles and transformers,” said Roy Olatic, senior construction and maintenance office engineer. Out of BENECO’s 12 heavy maintenance trucks, this is the fifth insulated truck the cooperative acquired. Olatic noted that having more usable trucks help accelerate project implementation and power restoration. Although the truck is primarily for hotline tasks, it may also be used for other maintenance work when available. In a related development, BENECO received a 50 MVA power transformer last July 29 for its Lamut, Beckel Substation, significantly improving the reliability, resilience and capacity of service to over 31,000 consumers. According to technical department manager Fraiser Angayen, the transformer is scheduled for commissioning in August 2025.

LA TRINIDAD,Benguet,Ohilippines — A new chapter in leadership commences as PCol.Lambert Suerte officially assumes command as the Provincial Director of the Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO), succeeding PCol.Joseph Bayongasan in a turnover ceremony held at the Masigasig Grandstand, Camp Major Bado Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet on August 4. The ceremony’s highlight was the symbolic transfer of command, marked by the handover of the Command Symbol and the Property and Equipment Inventory Book from Bayongasan to Suerte signifying the continuity of leadership and accountability in the province’s peacekeeping efforts. The event concluded with a message from PBGen.Ericson Dilag,regional director, who expressed his deep appreciation for the contributions of Bayongasan and welcomed Suerte as the new leader of the Benguet police force. He also emphasized that leadership and swift five-minute police response time during emergencies will bring meaningful progress and further enhance police-community relations in Benguet, in line with the guidance of the Chief, PNP, PGen Nicolas Torre III. “To the men and women of the Benguet Police Provincial Office, I urge you to give your full support to Col.Suerte, just as you did to his predecessor. You are fortunate to be under the guidance of a leader who is well-respected, community-rooted, and deeply committed to public service. As we begin this new chapter, let us continue to keep Benguet peaceful, orderly, and resilient—no matter the challenges ahead,”Dilag added. Present during the ceremony is Melchor D. Diclas, Governor of Benguet; Baguio City Benjamin B Magalong; Atty. Henry M. Dungala, Acting Regional Director of NAPOLCOM; Atty Zane Mark Bongayon; Thomas K Wales Jr., Board Member- District I of Benguet; Brgy Officials of Ambuklao and other members of the Local Government Unit of Benguet. Photo Caption Col.Lambert Suerte, received the command flag as new provincial director of Benguet PP    

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet,Philippines — The Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) successfully responded to a total of 225 incidents and apprehended 41 individuals between June 3 and July 30, 2025. This accomplishment is credited to their impressive five-minute average response time, which highlights the police force’s unwavering commitment to public safety. The majority of the police responses—198 in total—were to critical incidents such as vehicular accidents and cases of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries or damage to property. The remaining 27 operations led to the warrantless apprehension of 41 individuals. Among the different city and provincial  offices, the Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO) conducted the most operations with 95, leading to 17 arrests. The Baguio City Police Office followed with 60 operations and 14 arrests. The Abra PPO conducted 41 operations with two arrests, while the Kalinga PPO had 12 operations and one arrest. The Apayao PPO recorded 10 operations with five arrests, the Ifugao PPO had five operations with two arrests, and the Mountain Province PPO conducted two operations. These accomplishments highlights the effectiveness of PRO CAR’s five-minute response and its unwavering commitment to public safety. It also aligns with the call of Chief PNP, PGen Nicolas D Torre III, for a swift and responsive public service. PRO CAR cops remain prepared to respond swiftly to emergencies and critical incidents, consistently aiming to arrive at the scene within five minutes of a 911 call—upholding their mission to serve and protect the community.        

ITOGON, Benguet — Over two hundred families in this mining town were evacuated after a series of landslides caused by incessant rains in Itogon,Benguet. Engr.Cyril Batcagan, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) – Itogon, asked miners to temporarily stop any mining activities while the bad weather continues. He also reminded residents, especially those living in landslide-prone areas, to be double-checked and evacuate immediately if necessary to avoid any tragedy. Reports from Barangay Captain Flordeliza Depayso in Sitio Goldfield, Barangay Poblacion, said fifteen families were affected after a large part of the mountain collapsed. Depayso, the assessment and monitoring are still ongoing, so the number of those affected is possible to increase. One house was buried by the collapsed soil, but fortunately, no one was reported injured because the residents had already evacuated before the incident. According to her, it may take a month to open the buried road due to the amount of soil that has blocked it. Batcagan said they are looking into the possibility of alternative routes, however, he admitted that they cannot recommend a route yet because other roads in the town are also affected by landslides and rockslides. He added that they are also investigating whether the landslide is related to mining, although at present there are no mining operations in the affected part of the barangay. In Camp 3, Acupan, Virac, Itogon, 213 families or 866 individuals were evacuated after fifteen houses were destroyed due to the ongoing landslide. The concerned agencies assured that assistance will continue to be provided to the affected families such as food, temporary shelter, and other basic necessities.      

BENGUET, Philippines — Aboitiz Renewables Inc., the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), together with Aboitiz Foundation Inc., gave emergency fuel assistance to several host communities in Benguet and Mountain Province following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name Wipha). The storm brought heavy rainfall of up to 200 mm in parts of Northern Luzon according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), causing landslides, rockfalls, and extended power outages. Many barangay and provincial roads became impassable, isolating several upland areas, including those hosting nine run-of-river hydropower facilities of Aboitiz Renewables. To support road clearing operations and essential services, Aboitiz Renewables and Aboitiz Foundation provided 4,400 liters of diesel fuel, which was used for heavy equipment during clearing operations, generators, and emergency vehicles delivering food, water, and medical supplies. “We work closely with our local partners to respond quickly during emergencies,” said Noreen Vicencio, Aboitiz Renewables’ First Vice President and General Manager for Hydro Operations. “This fuel assistance helps restore access and bring basic services back to the communities.” The support was coordinated with local government units and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs) as part of the company’s ongoing community support and disaster response efforts. “The fuel subsidy provided by Aboitiz Renewables is more than just logistical support–it is a lifeline for our community. It allowed us to swiftly clear blocked access roads and fast-track our recovery efforts,” said La Trinidad Municipal Mayor Roderick Awngan. “Timely interventions like this are crucial in helping us restore normalcy. We are grateful for Aboitiz Renewables’ continued support to disaster recovery and resilience.”        

  ABRA, Philippines  — The Municipality of La Paz in Abra province officially inaugurated its Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system on July 22, 2025, under the FY 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance Incentive Fund (SGLGIF), reinforcing its commitment to peace, order, and public safety. A total of 39 CCTV units were installed in strategic areas of Barangay Poblacion to assist in crime prevention, improve situational awareness, and promote safer communities. La Paz Mayor Niña Bernos led the launch, joined by DILG-CAR Regional Director Atty. Anthony C. Nuyda, CESO III; DILG-Abra Acting Provincial Director Kristoffer Dave Alvarez; and Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) Sonny Trinidad, along with local officials and stakeholders. The CCTV project is one of the LGU’s high-impact initiatives funded through the SGLGIF after La Paz was conferred the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) in 2023 — marking its seventh SGLG win since 2016. “The presence of these cameras is more than a compliance to national standards,” RD Nuyda said. “This reflects La Paz’s culture of good governance, its concern for citizen safety, and its readiness to respond to emerging challenges.” The Department continues to enable LGUs to deliver responsive and inclusive programs through the SGLG Incentive Fund, anchored on the principles of transparency, accountability, and service excellence. “I am proud to continue the legacy of PROGRESO in La Paz, and I look forward to using this momentum to further improve systems and services in our hometown to empower our local government to fulfill their duties with efficiency and confidence. It is my hope that through the installation of this CCTV, we can work collectively to make La Paz safer and more peaceful to pave the way for development and ultimately, uplifting lives. I am proud to say that this is the first of its kind in the province of Abra,” said Mayor Niña Bernos.                                

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Joint police forces uprooted and burned a marijuana plantation on the slopes of Mount Balitok, Barangay Saclit, Sadanga, Mt. Province, on July 22. According to the Regional Operations Division of PRO-Cordillera, a plantation measuring 3,000 square meters planted with 54,000 fully grown marijuana plants with a total Standard Drug Price of P10,800,000.00 was discovered in the said mountains. Operatives immediately uprooted and burned the discovered marijuana, while a thorough investigation is currently underway and community outreach is ongoing to identify and hold accountable individuals involved in the cultivation of the said illegal plant. This successful operation was carried out through the cooperation of operatives from the Sadanga Municipal Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit and Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Mountain Province Police Provincial Office, Mountain Province Provincial Mobile Force Company, Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15, Regional Intelligence Unit-14, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Mountain Province.

As suspension of classes continue brought about by the monsoon rains, Benguet Representative Eric Go Yap is pressing for online learning contingency in the hopes of helping curve learning crisis across the country. “It is high time to develop an online learning contingency for suspended classes. Hindi na pwede na ‘May Pasok’ or ‘Walang Pasok’ lang ang announcements. We should consider adding a category na shift to online learning when in-person classes are suspended. Hindi naman lagi, kasi minsan naman apektado din ang internet connection ng bagyo or other calamities,” said Yap. Yap added the possible shift to online learning could be one way of reducing educational crisis in the country, as some students in both private and public schools struggle to recover from lost lessons due to limited remedial programs and the absence of consistent alternatives during suspensions. While acknowledging that implementation will be difficult, Yap stressed the urgency of starting the transition which could help preserve the academic calendar, reduce backlogs, and maintain learning momentum, even amid frequent disruptions. “It can help maintain the academic calendar and reduce backlogs. Teachers din ang nahihirapan dahil dito. Ilang days a year ba ang average na nawawala because of disruptions? 30days? More? Masyadong marami yun. And there were instances na maaga ang suspension pero biglang maaliwalas ang weather throughout the day. So that should be taken into consideration as well,” the solon added. According to a report from the Department of Education, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) already recorded 35 class disruptions in 2024, accounting for the highest number of school days lost in the country, mainly due to natural disasters and calamities. “We are facing learning crisis. Frequent class suspensions will not help address this. We are a disaster-prone country, not to mention, marami din mga national and local holidays. There’s way too many disruptions,” added Yap. Several studies recently showed that the problem on class disruption have resulted to widening learning gaps, reduced engagement for both learners and teachers, increase in drop-out risk, and even teacher burnout as some educators are forced to compress lesson into fewer days. Yap said the shift to an online contingency mode is seen as a pragmatic solution, though not without challenges. “But this will not be easy, we need to prioritize and invest on better digital infrastructure, teachers should be prepared as well, and a shift of mindset should happen on our students so they are equally motivated and engaged even during online classes. Challenging and this will take time but should we not take action now,” Yap quipped.

Son of Kalinga as new Cordillera Top Cop CAMP DANGWA,Benguet — Police Brig.Gen. Ericson Dilag has officially assumed his post as the new Regional Director of the Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) following the Turnover of Command Ceremony held at the PRO CAR Multi-Purpose Center, Camp Major Bado Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet on July 21. Dilag, a proud son of Kalinga, succeeded Brig.Gen. David Peredo,Jr.,who served with distinction as PRO CAR Regional Director for over two years. Acting Deputy Chief PNP for Operations,PLt.Gen.Alan Okubo,presided the ceremony and served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker. Okubo lauded both the outgoing and incoming regional directors for their steadfast leadership and dedicated service to the public. A highlight of the event was the passing of the PRO CAR command symbol and the turnover of the property equipment inventory book from the outgoing Regional Director to the incoming Regional Director, marking the formal transfer of leadership and responsibility. Peredo extended his heartfelt gratitude to all personnel and stakeholders for their unwavering support throughout his leadership. Dilag expressed his deep honor in taking on the leadership of PRO CAR. He pledged to sustain and build upon the gains of the command, calling for unity, professionalism, and unwavering dedication from all personnel as they continue to serve the Cordilleran community. He also affirmed his strong alignment with the vision and directives of PNP Chief, PGEN Nicolas D Torre III. The event was witnessed by key officers and representatives from various units of the PNP, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-CAR, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Local Government Units, PNP Press Corps, PRO CAR Officers Ladies Club, Regional Advisory Group for Police Transformation and Development, and family members, relatives, and close friends of both the incoming and outgoing Regional Directors.