By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines —The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya will roll out an ₱80-million rice assistance program within this quarter, providing a total of 60 kilograms of free rice to each of 30,000 vulnerable households across the province. The initiative, dubbed “Bagas ti Umili: Rice Support for Families,” will be implemented under the administration of Gov. Jose V. Gambito through funding from the Office of the President via the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Local Government Support Fund–Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU). Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Officer Flordelina C. Granada, the program’s focal person, said the beneficiaries account for about 25 percent of the province’s vulnerable population.Qualified recipients include senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and low-income workers. Each qualified household will receive a total of 60 kilograms of rice, to be distributed in staggered batches. Earlier, Gov. Gambito personally received the ₱80-million grant from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during an awarding ceremony at Malacañang. In addition to the free rice assistance, the provincial government has earmarked ₱13 million from its own funds to implement a localized version of the Marcos administration’s subsidized rice program. Dubbed “Bagas ti Umili: The People’s ₱20 Rice Project,” the initiative will deploy mobile rice outlets in barangays across Nueva Vizcaya, enabling qualified residents to purchase rice at ₱20 per kilogram. The Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office, headed by Juditte L. Asuncion, will oversee the implementation and operations of the subsidized rice program. Rice stocks will be sourced through Food Terminal Inc. and sold to eligible beneficiaries, including households with malnourished children, pregnant and lactating women, and families affected by disasters. To ensure the program’s sustainability, the provincial government will adopt a revolving fund scheme, using proceeds from rice sales to replenish stocks and expand distribution to additional barangays.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya strengthened its position in the country’s growing coffee industry after a local farmers’ cooperative and a homegrown brewing team won major awards in separate competitions. Gov. Jose V. Gambito led provincial officials in honoring the award-winning coffee producers and brewers during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, recognizing their role in improving the quality and national profile of locally produced coffee. “These victories prove that Nueva Vizcaya has the talent, climate and communities needed to build a competitive coffee industry,” Gambito said. “The provincial government remains committed to supporting our growers, processors and brewers through training, market development and other programs that will help transform coffee into a sustainable source of income for our people.” The Tiblac Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, in Ambaguio represented by Joan Dulagan, won the Robusta category of the second North Luzon Coffee Quality Competition held in May in Baguio City. Organized by the Philippine Rural Development Project-North Luzon and the Department of Trade and Industry, the competition aimed to promote and improve the quality and market competitiveness of Northern Luzon coffee. It drew 65 entries, including six from Nueva Vizcaya. Tiblac’s Robusta scored 85.06 and earned a premium-grade rating for its rich flavor, aroma and smooth quality. Other Nueva Vizcaya entries also received premium-grade ratings. Nueva Vizcaya brewers likewise distinguished themselves during the Philippine Coffee Brewer League 2026–Nueva Vizcaya Leg, spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry and held on June 28 at Saint Mary’s University. The competition drew 16 teams from Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tuguegarao, Zambales and Manila—the largest turnout in the league’s round-robin history. Nueva Vizcaya-based Loot & Brew of Felisa’s Grind and Brew emerged as champion. The team is composed of Mc Osmund Espejo, Justine San Juan and Christopher San Juan.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is accelerating its digital transformation to make government services faster, safer and more accessible to overseas Filipino workers and their families, OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” M. Caunan said. Speaking to local media during her visit here on July 7, Caunan said the agency’s modernization efforts are aimed at reducing processing time, improving welfare monitoring and ensuring that OFWs can access assistance whether they are in the Philippines or abroad. Caunan led the OFW Serbisyo Caravan in Nueva Vizcaya, the first OWWA-led caravan of its kind in the country, bringing together various national government agencies in one venue to make frontline services more accessible to migrant workers and their families. More than 2,000 OFWs and their family members availed themselves of government services during the caravan. She cited as among OWWA’s key initiatives the digital payment system for membership renewal through GCash, allowing OFWs anywhere in the world to pay directly to the government through the mobile app’s “Bills” feature. Caunan also highlighted the Kumusta Kabayan App, a digital welfare monitoring platform launched with the Department of Migrant Workers, which provides OFWs a faster channel for communication and emergency assistance. OWWA services have also been integrated into the e-Gov platform, streamlining membership processing and ID printing to cut waiting time for clients, she said. The agency is likewise offering free digital literacy and information technology training for OFWs and their dependents to improve employability and help migrant workers maintain communication with their families. Caunan said OWWA is also promoting better data management through cloud storage orientation, enabling OFWs to safely store, organize and access important documents. “Through modern technology, the processing of important documents of OFWs has become more secure and more organized,” Caunan said. During the event, Caunan commended the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya, led by Gov. Jose V. Gambito, for its programs for migrant workers, including the establishment of an OFW Welfare Center that provides support services to OFWs and their families in the province. Gambito, for his part, declared Caunan an adopted daughter of Nueva Vizcaya in recognition of her efforts to bring OWWA programs and services closer to OFWs and their families.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Determined to keep schools as safe havens for learning, the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya has moved to strengthen its School Safety and Security Plan through a joint special meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Local School Board (LSB), led by Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito held at the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Police Office(NVPPO). The meeting underscored the province’s firm commitment to protecting learners from threats to their safety, security, and well-being, while ensuring that every school remains a secure and conducive environment for education. Governor Gambito emphasized the urgent need for stronger, more coordinated, and proactive measures to safeguard students, stressing that schools must be places where learners can study, grow, and thrive without fear. The meeting was held amid growing national concern over school safety following recent incidents of violence in educational institutions, including the fatal shooting at a public high school in Tacloban City. These incidents have renewed calls for stricter campus security, stronger anti-bullying efforts, expanded mental health support, and a comprehensive review of school safety and emergency preparedness protocols. Among the initiatives approved during the meeting was the production of anti-bullying advocacy video clips aimed at promoting respect, discipline, empathy, and responsible behavior among students, while increasing awareness of the harmful effects of bullying. Governor Gambito vowed to protect every learner; together with partner agencies, the provincial government will keep Nueva Vizcaya’s schools safe, nurturing, and focused on learning. “We will do everything to make sure every child can learn without fear,” Gambito said.    

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — A total of 1,227 solo parents from seven towns in the province received P5,000 each, totaling P6.135 million, in cash assistance from the provincial government. The beneficiaries came from Solano, Diadi, Villaverde, Bagabag, Bayombong, Bambang and Aritao, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Flordelina C. Granada said. Granada said the assistance was distributed under Project SUPPORT, or the Solo Parents’ Upliftment Program for Progress, Opportunities, Resources and Training. The program is funded through Project GAYYEM, short for “Gobierno A naaYat iYEg kadagiti Marigrigat,” a provincial government initiative intended to assist disadvantaged sectors. With the latest distribution, the province has now provided cash assistance to 2,284 solo parents from various municipalities, with total disbursements reaching more than P11.4 million, Granada said. Gov.Jose V. Gambito reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to helping solo parents, saying they carry a burden made heavier by the responsibility of raising and providing for their children alone. “Even couples where both spouses work still struggle to make ends meet. Yet you, as solo parents, shoulder your family’s daily needs on your own,” Gambito said. Joining Gov. Gambito at the payout were Vice Gov. Eufemia Ang Dacayo and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the cash assistance, saying the support will help them meet daily expenses and urgent family needs.          

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Declaring that there can be no productive Nueva Vizcaya and no food security without farmers and fisherfolk, Governor Jose V. Gambito vowed to sustain and expand government support for the agriculture sector during the 2026 Provincial Farmers and Fisherfolk Month celebration held at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center. Speaking before farmers, fisherfolk, and agriculture stakeholders, Gambito said his administration will continue to prioritize programs that directly benefit food producers, stressing that the sector remains the backbone of the province’s economy and the country’s food supply. “My dream is to see you driving your own air‑conditioned vehicles and enjoying comfortable, dignified lives. In other countries, farmers have become millionaires — that is the future I want for our farmers here in Nueva Vizcaya,” Gambito said. He said farmers and fisherfolk deserve stronger government support because the province and the country depend on them for food. “There can be no thriving Nueva Vizcaya, no effective government, and no food on Filipino tables without you,” Gambito said. “Food security rests in your hands, so government resources must go to agriculture.” Gambito recalled that upon assuming office after the passing of Governor Carlos M. Padilla, he told provincial department heads that agriculture would be his administration’s top priority and instructed them to minimize travel and shelve low-impact programs, redirecting the savings toward direct assistance for farmers and fisherfolk. He cited flagship projects Kalsada ti Kabanbantayan and Dalan ti Umili—focused on upgrading farm-to-market and rural roads—which, he said, will cut transport costs, reduce post-harvest losses, and get produce to market faster. The governor also said his office is coordinating with various farmers’ cooperatives for a capital assistance program that would allow farmers to borrow funds for production, with the provincial government shouldering the interest payments. In addition, the provincial government has allocated funds for the purchase of solar water pumps to be distributed to farmers’ organizations as part of efforts to improve irrigation access and reduce production expenses. Gambito also reiterated his goal of transforming Nueva Vizcaya into an organic province, saying the provincial government is already coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to seek additional funding for organic farming programs. Gambito gave assurance that agriculture will remain at the center of his administration’s development agenda, stressing that every program for farmers and fisherfolk is an investment in the province’s future. “For as long as I serve as governor, our farmers and fisherfolk will never be left behind. Supporting agriculture means securing the future of Nueva Vizcaya, strengthening our communities, and ensuring that food reaches every Filipino table,” Gambito said. He also called on the agriculture sector and the people of Nueva Vizcaya to remain united, prayerful, and committed to the province’s progress, saying that genuine development begins with love for one’s home. “We have only one province to call our own. Let us protect it, nurture it, and work together for its future because wherever life may bring us, Nueva Vizcaya will always be the home we return to,” he said.

By Victor Martin   SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), along with mining companies operating in the region will hold the 5th Regional Mining Conference and 2026 Stakeholders’ Forum at Casa Jardin here today,24 June. Engineer Mario Ancheta, MGB Region 2 director, said the forum is designed as a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among government agencies, local government units, and communities on responsible mineral development. “The gathering will focus on strengthening partnerships, promoting best practices, and showcasing initiatives that contribute to environmental stewardship and sustainable community development,” Ancheta said. He added that MGB Region 2 aims to create space for direct engagement on how mining activities can align with environmental protection and community resilience by bringing stakeholders together. The conference, Ancheta said, comes at a time when mining operations in the Cagayan Valley region are under close public and regulatory scrutiny. “At the forum, key discussion points are expected to include mine rehabilitation and reforestation, water quality monitoring, waste management, and community development programs tied to mining permits,” Ancheta added. Cagayan Valley is home to several major mining operations, including the Didipio Mine in Kasibu town and FCF Minerals Corp. in Quezon town, both in Nueva Vizcaya; the Dinapigue Mining Corporation in the coastal town of Dinapigue in Isabela, and the JDVC Resources Corp., an offshore mining company in Cagayan province. The region also hosts several mining exploration companies such as the Woggle Corp. and North Luzon Minerals Resources Corp. MGB said the mining companies in Region 2 were strictly monitored especially the implementation of their corporate social responsibility projects such as scholarship grants, infrastructure improvements, and skills training for host communities. The 2026 Stakeholders’ Forum with the theme “Resilient Mining Communities through Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Development Initiatives,” is the fifth edition of the regional conference. “Meaningful dialogue among all sectors is necessary to balance resource development with environmental protection and social welfare,” Ancheta said.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nearly 1,400 college students and solo parents in Nueva Vizcaya received close to P7 million in cash assistance from the provincial government as part of efforts to support vulnerable families struggling with education costs and rising daily expenses. Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito led the distribution of assistance at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center, where each of the 1,397 beneficiaries received P5,000 under the province’s “Gobierno A naaYat iYEg kadagiti Marigrigat” or GAYYEM Program. Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Flordelina Granada said the payout amounted to P6.985 million and was implemented by their office. Of the total beneficiaries, 757 were college students whose families had exited the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps, while 640 were solo parents from the municipalities of Kasibu,Diadi and Quezon. In his message, Gambito said the provincial government stepped in to help students from former 4Ps families continue their education, noting that many could face difficulty staying in school after their families graduated from the national government’s conditional cash transfer program. “It is important that you finish your studies, not only to improve your own future but also to help lift your families out of poverty. Through education, you prepare yourselves for greater opportunities—and perhaps one day, one of you will become a leader of our province,” Gambito said. The governor also paid tribute to solo parents, acknowledging the heavy burdens they bear amid rising prices. “Even couples where both spouses work still struggle to make ends meet, yet you, as solo parents, shoulder your family’s daily needs on your own,” Gambito said, stressing that solo parents often face greater hardship than two‑income households. Gambito said the province would continue similar assistance programs to ensure that Novo Vizcayanos, especially those in marginalized sectors, feel the support of the provincial government during difficult times. The latest payout followed an earlier distribution of P5,000 each to 417 solo parents from Ambaguio, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Kayapa and Kasibu. Beneficiaries thanked the provincial government, saying the financial aid would help cover school expenses, food and other daily needs                      

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines – A registered nurse who was selling shabu was caught by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 2, after a successful buy-bust operation in Abulug, Cagayan, on June 17. PDEA-R2 Regional Director Gil Castro said the arrested person was identified as ‘Joel’, 32, a registered nurse of the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) and a resident of Barangay Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan. According to Castro, after the suspect was confirmed to be selling illegal drugs. The operation was conducted, together with the police inside the said hospital at around 2:50 p.m. Operatives recovered from the suspect several sachets of shabu containing five grams and worth P34,000. The suspect will face charges for violation of R.A 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.