CAMP DANGWA, Benget, Philippines — The Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) successfully confiscated over P15 million worth of illegal drugs and apprehended four drug personalities following separate marijuana eradication and buy-bust operations conducted from September 29 to October 5, 2025. These operations led to the seizure of 75,250 fully grown marijuana plants and 4.79 grams of suspected shabu, with a combined total Standard Drug Price of P15,082,572.00. In addition, four drug personalities, listed as Street Level Individuals (SLIs), were arrested during the operations. The suspects are now facing charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The Kalinga Police Provincial Office (PPO) led the operations, confiscating illegal drugs worth P15,067,000.00 and arresting two SLIs, while the Benguet PPO seized suspected shabu valued at P15,572.00 and apprehended two other SLIs. PRO CAR Regional Director, PBGen. Ericson Dilag, attributes the success of these operations to the dedication of its personnel and the vital collaboration with local government units, community stakeholders, and partner agencies. PRO CAR remains committed to sustaining this momentum, ensuring the safety and well-being of the people in the Cordillera. (RPIO PRO CAR)

Hingyon, Ifugao, Philippines – In a move to enhance agricultural productivity, 41 farmer-beneficiaries were awarded farm machinery and equipment valued at P1.9 million under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) in a turnover ceremony held on September 29 at the Municipal Gymnasium. The event was led by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) – Hingyon, headed by PESO Officer Mr. Herman Bumilac. Each farmer received equipment tailored to their specific needs, based on the proposals they had submitted. This initiative is part of a broader livelihood project aimed at revitalizing the local agricultural sector. It was made possible through the leadership and persistent efforts of Municipal Mayor, Hon. Florencio Nalula. The project is part of a P6.57 million proposal submitted by Mayor Nalula to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in 2024, designed to uplift the local community by providing targeted support to agriculture and livelihood programs. In April 2025, during the Gotad Ad Hingyon, the check amounting to P6,575,000.00 was formally handed over by DOLE Ifugao Chief, Dr. Isabelita Codamon. Of the total amount, P5,565,100.00 was allocated to the TUPAD program, which has already benefitted 380 beneficiaries. The remaining P1,009,900.00 was earmarked for the Vegetable Farming Livelihood Project, the initiative aimed at supporting farmers with sustainable agricultural tools and equipment to help them grow and expand their farming operations. This activity saw the participation of local officials and DOLE Ifugao personnel, underscoring the collaboration between the national and local government in driving community development.

Eleven trainers who completed the multiplier training on Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) at the Cordillera State Institute of Technical Education (CSITE) are now set to begin their immersive work, ready to be assessed for their skills as they will be deployed across the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to train Child Development Workers/Teachers. CSITE Executive Director Daisy C. Bungallon confirmed the successful completion of the multiplier training, marking a pivotal moment in the region’s commitment to foundational learning. “These trainers will serve as catalysts in uplifting the standards of early childhood care and development across our provinces. By equipping the Child Development Workers/Teachers with the right skills and knowledge, we are shaping not just classrooms, but the future of our children,” ED Bungallon stated. This initiative comes as CSITE prepares to launch the region’s first ECCD Services National Certificate (NC) III training, a collaborative effort with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Baguio City. Supported by TESDA scholarships, a project spearheaded by Senator Win Gatchalian, the program will initially provide 50 slots for day care workers. The training aligns with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ‘s 2025 State of the Nation Address, which emphasized the professionalization of early childhood services and included a P1 billion allocation for the construction of over 300 Barangay Child Development Centers nationwide. CSITE Main Campus Administrator Melita D. Pinic highlighted the program’s broader impact. “This is about empowering our day care workers to be true partners in shaping the growth and development of our young learners,” she said. The ECCD NC III training in Baguio City is just the start. CSITE has committed to replicating the program at its campuses in Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province to ensure every child in the Cordillera community benefits from the expertise of trained and certified professionals. With this new wave of trainers, CSITE is taking a bold step toward nurturing the country’s youngest learners through a stronger, more professional workforce.

BENGUET, Philippines — The Benguet Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) continues clearing operations across the province after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Nando, working to restore access to isolated communities. © PDDRMO Communities in Benguet and Mountain Province are in recovery following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Nando (international name Ragasa), which triggered landslides, flooding, and road blockages in storm-hit areas. In response, Aboitiz Renewables, Inc., in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation Inc., mobilized immediate assistance by distributing 6,100 liters of fuel to local government units, supporting ongoing clearing operations, emergency transport, the delivery of relief goods, and the restoration of essential services in the affected communities. The support reached Benguet municipalities Bakun, Sablan, Tuba, Itogon, and La Trinidad, as well as Sabangan and Bauko in Mountain Province. “Our priority is to keep everyone safe, especially those in identified high-risk areas,” said Sablan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Darryl Padsico. “Our priority is to keep everyone safe, especially those in identified high-risk areas,” said Sablan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Darryl Padsico. “The fuel distribution is a lifeline that empowers us to sustain operations and reach communities that need us the most.” “This fuel distribution will go a long way in helping our local disaster risk reduction and management offices sustain their operations,” added Aboitiz Renewables First Vice President and General Manager for Hydro Operations Noreen Vicencio. “Clearing debris, moving relief goods, and ensuring access to affected communities require constant resources. We are standing beside our LGUs so they can respond effectively.” With Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi), Aboitiz Renewables looks to continue its assistance in aid of its host communities in Benguet and Mountain Province.

ITOGON, Benguet, Philippines — Computer Science students from the University of Baguio have developed JeepLink, a digital system designed to modernize Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) transportation management in the municipality. The students presented their thesis project during the public hearing of the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Transportation on September 18, 2025. The team, composed of Denise Kay Bayawa, Aira Carillo, Jan Vincent Llave, and Shane Robiego, showcased JeepLink as both a mobile and web-based application. The system allows commuters to share their live location, track jeepneys in real time, request additional trips, report complaints, and even facilitate online payments. JeepLink also integrates the role of PUJ Association Managers, who can manage driver schedules, monitor jeepney operations in real time, and escalate unresolved commuter concerns to the municipality. This ensures a coordinated and transparent system that benefits drivers, commuters, and the local government alike. Under the proposed structure, the Local Government Unit (LGU) will serve as the system administrator, overseeing implementation and accountability. The students also conducted surveys among commuters and drivers in Itogon, receiving positive feedback on the project’s potential benefits. Councilor Ernani Pis-oy commended the students for their innovation and assured that the Sangguniang Bayan will carefully consider the project. Meanwhile, Local Public Transport focal person James Kidange noted that further studies and licensing from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will be necessary before full implementation. Mayor Bernard S. Waclin commended the students for selecting Itogon as the pilot site for their thesis project, emphasizing that the town’s dependence on jeepneys as a main mode of transport makes it a fitting beneficiary of innovative solutions like JeepLink. If adopted, JeepLink could bring greater efficiency, transparency, and convenience to the daily commuting experience in Itogon. (Itogon PIO)        

I was disheartened to hear my name mentioned in today’s Senate hearing on alleged irregularities in flood control projects. To be implicated in such matters is painful, not only for myself, but also for the people I have pledged to serve with integrity. I categorically deny any involvement in the acts being alleged. I have never accepted, nor authorized, the delivery of money in connection with flood control projects. These claims are untrue. As a public servant, I am accountable to the people. That is why I welcome the chance to face the witness who implicated me, but in the proper forum and under proceedings where my constitutional rights are respected. I owe it to my constituents, my family, and the Filipino people to clear my name in the right way. My work has always been guided by service, not self-interest. I remain steadfast in that mission, and I am confident that, in the end, truth and justice will prevail and the real culprits and heartless criminals who perpetrated this outrage against the nation unmasked and exposed.          

TUBA, Benguet – Namatay habang ginagamot sa ospital ang isang 74-anyos na kabilang sa mga biktima ng landslide sa kasagsagan ng Super Typhoon Nando sa may Sitio Begis, Poblacion, Marcos Highway, Tuba, Benguet. Apat na sasakyan, isang Ford Ranger, Toyota Innova, Toyota Grandia, at isang tanker truck, na pawang patungong siyudad ng Baguio ang nabagsakan ng mga bato at lupa mula sa bundok, dakong alas 2:00 ng hapon ng Setyembre 22. Ayon sa ulat ng Tuba Municipal Police Station, ang namatay na mula sa Tarlac ay naipit sa kanyang sasakyan at dahan-dahan itong inilabas ng mga rescuers at agad na isinugod sa ospital. Ang iba pang pasahero ng mga sasakyan na karamihan ay mula sa Pasig City ang nagtamo ng mga sugat at pasa sa katawan, kabilang dito ang apat na babae at isang lalaki na dinala sa Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center at kasalukuyang sumasailalim sa pagsusuri. Nakaligtas naman ang driver ng kulay itim na van, habang ang kanyang asawa na nagtamo ng sugat sa katawan ay kasalukuyang ginagamot ngayon sa Saint Louis University Hospital, habang ang 40-anyos na drayber ng fuel tanker ay ginagamot sa mga pinsala nito sa balikat. Samantala, ang mga Baguio bound major roads, na gaya ng Marcos Highway, Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual-La Union Road; Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road at Baguio-Bauang Road (Naguilian Road) ay passable na sa mga motorista. Ang Kennon Road ay nanatiling sarado dahil sa mataas na posibilidad ng pagbagsak ng lupa/bato at mga slide, dulot ng patuloy na pag-uulan.  

  Rang-ay Bank, the rural bank of choice in Northern Luzon, has long established its commitment in the financial landscape. Founded on January 16, 1956, by visionary Ilocano leaders Doña Numeriana Tavora-Querol and Don Teofilo A. Nisce, the bank has grown from its humble beginnings to become the biggest bank in its class in the Ilocos and Cordillera Regions, boasting a wide network of 31 banking offices. This remarkable journey is a testament to Rang-ay Bank’s unwavering commitment to the values of trust, resilience, and community spirit. MORE THAN JUST A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. Rang-ay Bank sees itself as a partner in progress for the people and businesses of Northern Luzon. Their mission is clear: to empower the region with globally competitive banking services and to hasten progress in the communities they serve through accessible and affordable financial solutions. (L-R) Ives Jesus Nisce II President and CEO, Rang-ay Bank and Rang-ay Bank Chairman Ives Nisce with one of the bank’s valued client. As Rang-ay Bank celebrates its 70th year this 2026, building upon its strong foundation and legacy, its vision and mission continues to involve the people from Northern Luzon. From simple loans to business investments, Rang-ay Bank has established itself to be the leading and most trusted financial partner in Northern Luzon, driving inclusive growth and prosperity through innovative and sustainable banking solutions. Rang-ay Bank Chairman Ives Nisce continues to be hands-on when it comes to looking at the bank’s valued clients. “For decades, Rang-ay Bank has been driven by a clear vision: to empower North Luzon with globally competitive banking services. Our mission is to actively hasten progress in the communities of the Ilocos Region and the Cordillera through accessible and affordable banking services. We firmly believe that by providing the right financial tools and opportunities, we can contribute significantly to the overall economic prosperity of our region” shared Nisce. A significant aspect of Rang-ay Bank’s dedication lies in its robust support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including Agri-businesses. Recognizing the vital role these enterprises play in the local economy, the bank offers flexible loan programs designed to provide much-needed working or start-up capital. These MSMEs Business Loans cater to a wide range of needs, from launching new ventures and expanding existing ones to refinancing current loans and providing revolving credit lines. COMMITMENT BEYOND PROVIDING LOANS. Rang-ay Bank firmly believes in the entrepreneurial spirit and resourcefulness of the people of Northern Luzon. The company, now headed by Ives Jesus Nisce II continues to innovate and support the growth aspirations of local businesses in the North. “The dynamic movement of MSMEs here in Northern Luzon gave our company an idea on what we can develop in terms of banking products that can help our clients achieve their business objectives” said Ives Jesus Nisce II President and CEO, Rang-ay Bank. “Our commitment goes beyond simply providing loans. We will continue to innovate and offer competitive banking services tailored to help individuals and enterprises in our region expand their investments and contribute to the prosperity of our communities” said Nisce II. Understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in the provinces, Rang-ay Bank has streamlined its processes to provide efficient and accessible services. Unlike other institutions where loan applications might need to be sent to Metro Manila, Rang-ay Bank’s local presence allows for quicker processing, with housing, business, and agricultural loans potentially approved in as short as five working days. Furthermore, recognizing that not all borrowers have traditional collateral, the bank offers several collateral-free loan programs, ensuring that more individuals and businesses can access the financial support they need to grow. As Rang-ay Bank prepares for its 70th anniversary next year, its long-standing commitment to the business and economy of Northern Luzon remains unwavering. By providing accessible financial solutions, actively supporting MSMEs and the agricultural sector, and fostering strong community partnerships, Rang-ay Bank continues to invest in the future and contribute significantly to the progress and prosperity of the North. Their journey exemplifies the power of a locally rooted institution in driving regional economic growth and empowering the communities it serves.