IFUGAO, Philippines — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has turned over P208,000 worth of farm machinery and equipment to a farmers’ organization in Barangay Aduyongan here, aiming to improve productivity and strengthen community-based agriculture. The assistance was granted on March 26 to the Aduyongan Agrarian Reform Farmers Organization (ARFO), an agrarian reform beneficiaries’ group supported by the DAR Provincial Office of Ifugao, led by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Elpidio C. Santos. Funded under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program (CRFPSP) – Sustainable Livelihood Support for Disaster-Affected Areas (SLSDAA), the package includes two rotavators, two power sprayers, two water pumps, three brush cutters, and one pelletizer machine. Distributed equipment is expected to ease manual labor, speed up farm operations, and increase crop yields among members. “Dagituy nga naited ket arapaap tayo nga maaddaan iti gamit tapno iti kasta ket adda usaren tayo nga agtalon. Ket tatta nga addan, ikkan tayo kuma iti importansya dagituy nga equipment. Sapayla kuma ta babaen agituy nga naited nga FMEs ket ag-increase iti produksyon ti ani tayo nga farmers. Tulungan tayo daytuy nga organization tayo tapno ag thrive ken madi nga ag-fail,” said Barangay Captain Jose Balajo. thanked DAR for the support, saying the equipment had long been a goal of the organization. Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Leonor C. Bascos reminded the group that government assistance comes with responsibility, stressing the need to properly manage and maintain the equipment. She warned that failure to use the equipment effectively could lead to its reassignment to other beneficiaries. An orientation on the proper use of the machinery was conducted following the turnover to promote sustainability and accountability among members. A memorandum and trust agreement was also signed to formalize the responsibilities of both DAR and the farmers’ group in the use and safekeeping of the equipment. The turnover was witnessed by members of the community, including PARCCOM representatives.  

CORDILLERA, Philippines — The regionwide implementation of intensified anti-illegal drug operations by the Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) resulted in the seizure of more than P31.9 million worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of nine drug personalities during a weeklong operation conducted from March 23 to 29, 2026. According to reports from the Regional Operations Division of PRO CAR, a total of 34 anti-illegal drug operations were carried out across the region. These included 27 marijuana eradication operations, three buy-bust operations, and four implementations of search warrants. As a result of these operations, 123,405 fully grown marijuana plants were destroyed, along with 57,735 grams of dried marijuana leaves and fruiting tops, while 55.68 grams of shabu were confiscated, with an overall Standard Drug Price of PhP31,987,824.00. In addition, the operations led to the arrest of nine drug personalities, all listed as Street Level Individuals (SLIs). They are now facing charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The most significant accomplishments were recorded in Benguet, where the Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO) successfully destroyed marijuana plants amounting to PhP25,109,200.00, and in Kalinga, where the Kalinga PPO destroyed PhP6,500,000.00 worth of marijuana. Further, in Baguio City, the Baguio City Police Office confiscated suspected shabu worth of PhP326,120.00 and apprehended seven SLIs, and in Abra, the Abra PPO seized PhP30,328.00 worth of suspected shabu and arrested one SLI. Meanwhile, in Apayao, the Apayao PPO arrested one SLI and confiscated suspected shabu amounting to PhP2,176.00.    

BENGUET, Philippines – A tragic tragedy befell six prominent photographers, killing two, while injuring four, after their vehicle was swept away by strong currents while crossing a river this afternoon, March 27, in Sitio Tabu, Barangay Dalupirip, Itogon, Benguet. The deceased was identified as Veteran Photographer Rodolfo ‘Ompong’ Tan, 68, a businessman, who was declared dead on arrival at the Itogon District Hospital, at around 3:35 p.m., due to traumatic injuries, according to initial medical findings. The first person reported missing in the accident was Neil Clark Ongchanco, photographer of the Baguio City Public Information Officer, but his body was found at around 7:00 p.m., believed to have drowned after being swept away by water. Currently being treated at the hospital are Ren Munoz, 45; Eliza Consul,59; Conrado Rotor, 66, retired school principal and photo correspondent of the Manila Standard; and Randy Benigno, 49, all residents of Baguio City. Initial investigation by the Itogon Municipal Police Station showed that the victims were aboard a black Toyota Fortuner with license plate ZHE 432, coming from Tabu Elementary School, Dalupirip, Itogon, Benguet, where they were conducting graduation pictorials as part of a outreach sponsorship activity. The victims left the school to return to Baguio City, at around 1:00 p.m. while crossing the river, their vehicle was pushed by a strong current, causing it to turn and face the current. The front part of the vehicle was lifted by the current and then fell before being carried about 100 meters from its original position, where it partially submerged and came to rest. It was also reported that people who saw the incident responded quickly and were able to get the victims out of the vehicle and rushed them to the hospital. According to initial information, the vehicle attempted to cross the river when it was caught by strong currents following a sudden rise in water levels .      

BENGUET, Philippines — The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office (DARPO) of Benguet distributed land titles and farm support equipment to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and organizations (ARBOs) on March 23, 2026, in Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet. A total of 44 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) were awarded to 71 ARBs, covering more than 57.4287 hectares of agricultural land. In addition, 13 e-titles under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project were distributed to nine ARBs from Banengbeng and Bayabas in Sablan, further strengthening land tenure security in the province. Alongside land distribution, five ARBOs received various farm machinery and equipment (FMEs) amounting to approximately Php 600,000.00 to support and enhance agricultural productivity. The assistance was provided under the Climate-Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) Project through its Sustainable Livelihood Support (SLS) and Major Crop-Based Block Farm Productivity Enhancement (MCBF) components. Among the equipment distributed were a coffee roaster, HDPE hoses, and a motorized coffee pulper, awarded to the Indigenous Peoples Farmers Association of Agpay (Agpay Agro-growers Farmers Association), Kapangdanan Bacaoag Agrarian Beneficiaries and Farmers Association, and Central Poblacion Atok Multipurpose Cooperative (CPAMPC). The Pappa Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (PFAC) and Topdac Multipurpose Cooperative (TMPC) also received additional farm support equipment, including HDPE hoses, a hand tractor, a power generator, a water tank, an electric motor, a grass cutter, garden hoses, and knapsack sprayers. Beneficiaries were reminded to safeguard their land titles and ensure compliance with necessary requirements such as updating tax declarations and paying real property taxes to maintain ownership records. The activity forms part of the ongoing initiatives of DARPO Benguet to strengthen agrarian reform implementation through land distribution and support services, held in line with the observance of the 2026 National Women’s Month.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines – Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap wants to double the bed capacity the Benguet General Hospital from 200 to 400 in a bill he filed with former ACT CIS Party List Rep. Edvic Yap. In House Bill 1503, the brothers-congressmen seek to increase the bed capacity of the hospital from 200 to 400 beds, while also placing the hospital “under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).” The bill also seeks for the upgrade of existing professional health care services and facilities and “be commensurate to the bed capacity increase”. This will also lead to the increase of workforce which includes doctors, nurses and support personnel. The number will be determined by the Health Secretary in consultation with the Head of Hospital in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management secretary and Civil Service Commission commissioner. With it under the direct supervision of the DOH, the DBM, said office and the Provincial Government “shall determine the cost of renationalized functions relative to the operations of the Benguet General Hospital from its current Internal Revenue Allocation and thereafter, and cause the allocation of the same to the DOH chargeable against the IRA of the Provincial Government of Benguet.” Funding of the hospital will then be included in DOH’s program and in the General Appropriations Act. The proposed bill is in response to the growing number of patients catered to by the hospital due to the province’s growing population and the influx of patients from other Cordillera provinces like Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Abra and Mountain Province and even the city of Baguio. In giving control to the DOH, the Yap brothers hope that it will “allow better focus on the provision and improvement of health services and facilities through sufficient funding.” The older of the brothers, ACT CIS Rep. Edvic, however, resigned from office early this year. Meanwhile, Yap will once again seek the establishment of the Kabayan District Hospital to avoid the three hour ride of patients from the highest point in Benguet in Kabayan to La Trinidad. During a meeting with the House Committee on Health early this week of the proposed Hose Bill 3398, Yap urged the committee to approve the measure due to its urgency. Yap said during the committee hearing: “We do not want just to build a hospital, we want to bring dignity and a fighting chance closer to every family. Because no life should be measured by distance. This hospital will stand as a testament to every kilometer walked, every life lost too soon, and a promise to never let it happen again.” Yap filed the bill during the last Congress but failed to have it passed. (By Pigeon Lobien)        

BENGUET, Philippines — Even with the advent of technology that helps improve production in the field of agriculture, the presence of agriculture extension workers in every barangay, municipality, province, and even cities has proven to be an important part in the process of effecting positive change, particularly in the lives of farmers in the communities and their families. Leonora Carpio, a Barangay Agriculture Extension Worker (BAEW) and a woman leader of Tinongdan in Itogon, Benguet, practices participatory methods, recognizes and respects gender, identifies indigenous needs and problem solutions, and serves as a link for their local farmers to have access to programs and projects offered by the government such as the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera including the private sector. As a woman leader, Leonora reiterates that her connection to her constituents is often an intimate relationship and one which demands much tact and resourcefulness. Being an agent for change, she intervenes to bring about change to help improve the lives of their farmers and their families. Her intimate relationship among her constituents has allowed her to encourage their farming community to adopt the use of technology. As an extensionist, Leonora tries her best to make her constituents become aware of latest innovations and persuade them on the usefulness or importance of new technologies. “Our continuous encouragement and assistance to our farmers in Barangay Tinongdan to consider the innovations and technologies introduced by the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera have assisted our farmers in improving their production of agricultural products even on a family consumption level. But what is important is that these agricultural products are produced safely,” Leonora said. Aside from being a BAEW of Tinongdan, this woman leader is also a practicing farmer engaged in integrated farming by producing rice, vegetables, and ducks in their family’s farm, which also produces heirloom rice. She is proud to share that a greater number of the registered farmers in their barangay are composed of women. “Of the 1,200 farmers registered in the barangay, majority of these farmers are women who are engaged in the production of rice, high-value crops, coffee, and corn that follow good agricultural practices. Even in our coordination meetings, most of the participants are women farmers who eagerly attend the said activity, to be aware and informed of the latest programs and projects of DA-CAR,” Leonora explained. She also does her best to be an intermediary between researchers and farmers, and diagnoses problems of their constituents by advising them on how to resolve these challenges and difficulties. “As we continue to follow good agricultural practices in our production of agricultural products, we remind our fellow farmers to prioritize the production of sufficient food for their families. Being one of the Barangay Agriculture Extension Workers of Tinongdan, we constantly notify our farmers on maintaining their production of agricultural products without using chemicals, and for them to be aware of interventions available from DA-CAR to improve their efficiency, productivity, overall livelihood, while reducing possible environmental impact,” Leonora added. Tinongdan’s main source of income is agriculture, with the agricultural system ranging from the intensive type of wet rice planting to slash-and-burn cultivation of both grain and root crops. Significantly, taro and sweet potato are among the most preferred root crops, with taro considered very important to the Iwak tribe of the barangay as both a staple food and for ritual purposes. Most residents of Tinongdan rely on agriculture for subsistence, including backyard gardening, mango production, and livestock raising. Other sources of income include gold panning, small and medium enterprises, and ecotourism. Despite producing agricultural products primarily for subsistence, Leonora reiterates to her fellow farmers the importance of not selling their produce to ensure the availability of food for their families and their barangay. At the same time, staying true to the values and work ethic instilled in them by their ancestors, and ensuring that their legacy in agriculture lives on. // JTLlanes                

By Iryll Sicnao   TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Philippines — The provincial government has announced that P50 million is allocated to Kalinga under the government’s classroom building program, which seeks to fast-track the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of classrooms. Gov.  James Edduba endorsed nine schools to the Department of Education to be prioritized for the program based on several critical factors, including their location in remote and hard-to-reach communities, existing classroom shortages, structural deterioration of facilities, and the increasing number of learners. These priority schools are located in the towns of Balbalan, Rizal, Pinukpuk, and Tinglayan, particularly the Guinaang Dao-angan Primary School, Cadao Elementary School, Laytok Primary School, Balbalan Agricultural and Industrial School (Poswoy Extension), Balay Elementary School, Bayowong Elementary School, Calbayan Elementary School, Aguimitan Primary School, and Utah Community School. “These schools were identified as priority beneficiaries. Many of the schools serve upland and geographically isolated communities, where access to safe and adequate educational facilities remains a pressing concern,” the Kalinga provincial government said in a press release. The provincial government proposes that each school be provided with a one-storey, two-classroom school building to address their classroom shortages and improve learning conditions. President Ferdinand Marcos, in February, formalized a partnership between the DepEd and the provinces to address the country’s persistent shortage of learning spaces. Under the partnership, the DepEd will set technical standards, provide classroom designs, and provide funding, while the local government units will spearhead procurement and construction. Edduba assured the provincial government’s commitment to properly utilize the funding. “Once approved, the [provincial government] will monitor and supervise its implementation to ensure quality construction of each, assuring that the people’s taxes won’t go to waste and that the classrooms will truly serve their purpose, and that is to uplift the education for all Kalinga,” he stated. (JDP/IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga)        

BENGUET, Philippines — The House of Representatives moved closer to granting the president emergency authority to lower fuel costs after approving a consolidated measure on second reading Wednesday, a move hailed by Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap as a vital step toward protecting consumers from global price shocks. House Bill 8418, titled “An Act authorizing the President to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global economic emergencies,” serves as a substitute for 16 separate bills and two joint resolutions, including House Joint Resolution no. 5 introduced by Yap. Among the key measures integrated into the final version was Yap’s House Bill 8351, which he filed to address the economic fallout from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in global energy supply chains. The consolidated bill empowers President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to temporarily lift or lower fuel excise taxes when the price of Dubai crude oil reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel for one month or when a declared state of national emergency results in extraordinary increases in domestic pump prices. Yap expressed gratitude to the Committee on Ways and Means for incorporating his proposal into the unified measure that is now slated for final approval before the legislative break. “We are grateful to our colleagues for recognizing the urgency of this intervention and consolidating our earlier proposal into this landmark measure,” Yap said. “This is not just about numbers; it is about the farmers in Benguet who struggle with transport costs and the everyday Filipino who feels the weight of inflation at the pump. We look forward to passing this bill on third reading before we take a break to ensure the government has the tools ready to act the moment our people need relief,” added Yap. The measure includes specific safeguards to maintain fiscal responsibility while providing public relief. The authority to suspend or reduce taxes is limited to a period of six months per order and cannot exceed a total of one year. Furthermore, the president is required to report to both chambers of Congress within 15 days of any such order to explain the factual basis and the expected economic impact. House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos and Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III joined Yap in pushing for the bill’s swift passage. They noted that the legislation allows the executive branch to respond with speed and precision to international events, such as supply disruptions, without waiting for a new law to be enacted during the height of a crisis. Under the provisions of House Bill 8418, the authority to exercise these powers remains effective until December 31, 2028.

CORDILLERA, Philippines — The Department of Agrarian Reform–Cordillera Administrative Region (DAR-CAR) has officially launched PelikulAgraryo 2026, inviting tertiary-level students across the Cordillera to showcase real agrarian reform stories through film. With the theme “Tinig ng Lupang Malaya: Kwento at Aral-Agraryo, Butil na Pamana sa Kabataan,” the competition challenges students to produce compelling 10–20 minute narrative films that highlight the experiences and impact of agrarian reform in farming communities. Participants may choose to feature the life and journey of an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB), including beneficiaries under Project Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT), or present the milestones and contributions of an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO) in their communities. Each team may submit one entry per category for a chance to win regional prizes of up to ₱60,000 for Best Film, along with special awards totaling up to ₱90,000. Winning entries at the regional level will represent the Cordillera in the National PelikulAgraryo 2026 Film Festival, where the Best Film winner may receive up to ₱120,000 in cash prizes. Beyond the competition, the initiative aims to amplify the voices of farming communities by transforming their real-life stories into meaningful cinema that promotes awareness of agrarian reform. Confirmed participants will also take part in an exclusive film workshop designed to strengthen their creative and technical skills. The sessions will cover Introduction to the SPLIT Project, Basics of Directing, Basics of Screenwriting, Basics of Cinematography, and Basics of Editing, providing student filmmakers with the guidance needed to produce impactful films. Interested participants may register through the online form at: https://forms.gle/UqPNztRMKsg2wHHM7 The guidelines and mechanics of the competition can be accessed through:https://drive.google.com/…/1CqFSnmfXY…