By Rachel Magday   The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya led by Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito, garnered multiple honors at the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) Pearl Awards during the 26th ATOP National Convention at Hotel Supreme in Baguio City on Oct. 2, highlighting the province’s strong momentum in culture and tourism promotion. Competing in a field that drew roughly 600 local government units across various categories, the province was named first runner-up for Best Tourism Promotions Video and second runner-up for Best Tourism Promotions Brochure. It also placed second runner-up for Best Event Hosting for the R2 Synergy Summit, spearheaded by the Cagayan Valley Regional Tourism Council chaired by Ruth R. Padilla, which gathered key stakeholders to discuss sustainable tourism and community development. Gov. Gambito expressed delight over the province’s wins, saying: “Tourism is a top priority of my administration. These ATOP honors validate our push for sustainable, community-based tourism—supporting farmers, weavers, and MSMEs—so every Vizcayano benefits from culture- and nature-led growth.” The winning brochure, “Vibe in Nueva Vizcaya,” highlights where to eat and what to buy, features celebrations such as the Grand Ammungan Festival, maps tourism circuits in the north and south districts, and includes a QR code that consolidates the province’s tourism offerings. The recognized video, “KAPELing ka Mamasyal, Aroma of the Beauty etched in History and Nature,” spotlights coffee as a signature draw, linking the province’s booming coffee industry to local livelihoods, heritage, and scenic landscapes through farm-to-cup experiences and community roasters. Provincial Tourism Officer Marichelle O. Costales and CVRTC chair Ruth R. Padilla,who also head the NV Provincial Tourism Council accepted the awards on behalf of the province. This marks the third consecutive year Nueva Vizcaya has been recognized at the ATOP Pearl Awards. In the municipal category, Kasibu earned first runner-up for Best Tourism Souvenirs (Non-Food) with “Mun-abol — The Living Legacy of Kasibu’s Indigenous Weaving Traditions,” and first runner-up for Best Tourism Promotions Brochure for “Kasibu: A Journey Through Our Food, Place, and Culture with Augmented Reality.” The ATOP Pearl Awards, organized annually by ATOP in partnership with the Department of Tourism, honor outstanding tourism initiatives and best practices by LGUs and stakeholders, promoting sustainability and celebrating the Philippines’ natural and cultural attractions.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito has given provincial government hospitals and the Provincial Health Office a two-week window to submit the requirements for accreditation under PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), as part of his drive to bring healthcare services closer to Novo Vizcayanos. The directive was issued during the governor’s recent meeting with Ret BGEN. Llewelyn R. Binasoy Regional Vice-President of PhilHealth Region II, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Anthony S. Cortez, chiefs of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital (NVPH), Dupax District Hospital(DDH)Kasibu Municipal Hospital, Lt. Tidang Memorial Hospital, Bagabag Hospital, and Diadi Emergency Hospital, along with members of the Local Finance Committee. Discussions centered on PhilHealth’s revitalized primary care benefit package, YAKAP. YAKAP expands the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) package to include more primary and outpatient care services such as medicines, check-ups, and basic laboratory tests. Cancer screening tests will also be available to members for free at selected hospitals through valid prescriptions from accredited primary care providers. The program further broadens access to essential medicines under the strengthened PhilHealth Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program. According to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Anthony S. Cortez, PhilHealth members can enroll in the YAKAP program by registering through the eGovPH app, the PhilHealth Member Portal, or any PhilHealth office and selecting a YAKAP Clinic. After registration, they should visit their chosen YAKAP Clinic for a consultation to obtain a prescription for essential medicines, which will then be dispensed at an accredited GAMOT provider. “Timely accreditation will enable Novo Vizcayanos to access these expanded benefits through local health facilities—from medicines and check-ups to basic lab tests and cancer screening—without having to travel far or pay out of pocket,” Governor Gambito said.

LUNA, Isabela, Philippines — The Bato Art Festival is Luna’s annual celebration of creativity and heritage, inspired by the abundance of gravel and boulders from the Magat River. Officially declared as the town’s festivity in 2013 through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 045-2013-A, it proudly showcases how Luna transforms its natural resources into vibrant artistic and cultural expressions. This year’s festival highlights stone-inspired artworks, community exhibits, and performances that reflect Luna’s creativity and identity. Don’t miss the exciting events this September 26–28, 2025, including the Search for Ginoong Luna 2025, the Bato Art Exhibit & Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Luna’s Got Talent, and the Street Dance & Showdown Competition. (Isabela Tourism Office)    

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito has ordered stricter and even-handed enforcement of Republic Act 8794’s anti-overloading provisions along the Maharlika (Pan-Philippine) Highway, directing intensified inspections at the Calitlitan Weigh Bridge Station in Aritao. The composite team stationed there is composed of personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Gambito earlier requested that the provincial government be allowed to co-manage the team. The Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue cum Consultation on Traffic Management in Nueva Vizcaya and Region 02, held at the Ammungan Hall, Provincial Capitol, is an offshoot of the Traffic Management Provincial Summit initiated by the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya (PGNV) during the first quarter of this year. The activity was attended by various national agencies, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), DPWH, PNP, LTO, and the Department of Economy,Planning and Development(DEPDev-former NEDA). Speaking at the forum, Gambito said overloaded trucks have figured in accidents and road blockages that cause hours-long congestion, particularly in Diadi and Sta. Fe. He added that excessive loads speed up pavement deterioration, leading to frequent DPWH reblocking, and that persistent traffic jams are hurting the province’s image, tourism, and food security. He noted that Nueva Vizcaya is increasingly being labeled the “traffic capital” because of recurring heavy traffic—driven in large part by overloaded trucks merely passing through from other provinces. Cagayan Governor Edgar B. Aglipay, joining via Zoom, proposed a unified ordinance among Region 02 provinces requiring slow-moving vehicles to keep to the outer lane while faster-moving vehicles use the inner lane to maintain traffic flow. He noted that when slow-moving trucks occupy the inner lane especially while climbing uphill terrain—their speed drops significantly, forcing following vehicles to slow down and worsening congestion. Police officials cited vehicular accidents including some involving overloaded trucks, seasonal surges in vehicle volume, counterflowing, and slow-moving trucks as primary drivers of heavy traffic on the Maharlika Highway, especially in Diadi and Sta. Fe. In response, the PNP said that, in coordination with the provincial government and contractors, it is implementing traffic schemes that include deploying additional flagmen at ongoing road construction sites, assigning more PNP personnel to manage traffic, installing median barriers and precautionary traffic signages, and deploying the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) on motorcycles to serve as sweepers to help clear obstructions and restore traffic flow. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled to continue discussions, with department heads and the governors of Cagayan and Isabela expected to attend; the truckers’ association and other key stakeholders will also be invited to participate.

By Rachel Magday   DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon pledged to dispatch a technical team to study several Nueva Vizcaya road proposals raised by Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton during deliberations on the DPWH’s proposed budget before the House Committee on Appropriations. The proposals include reclassifying the Dupax del Norte–Dupax del Sur–Alfonso Castañeda Road as a tertiary national road and constructing an underpass or overpass at major congestion points in Bambang and Bayombong. On pedestrian safety and traffic flow, Cayton pushed for an underpass or overpass near King’s College in Bambang and the Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center (R2TMC) in Bayombong; Dizon said his office will send a team to study the proposal. Cayton also requested a feasibility study to reclassify the Dupax del Norte–Dupax del Sur–Alfonso Castañeda Road as a tertiary national road, noting that residents and local officials of Alfonso Castañeda must currently transit another province to reach the provincial capital. Dizon committed to dispatching a technical team to assess the reclassification request. The congressman also questioned DPWH’s policy of replacing still-usable sections of the Maharlika Highway and urged the department to prioritize urgent needs such as farm-to-market roads. He also flagged heavy traffic in Sta. Fe and Diadi caused by overloaded trucks, proposing road widening, alternative routes or a bypass to ease congestion. The DPWH official told the committee that the Diadi road‑widening package is already up for award. Cayton said the measures are intended to ensure safer, faster and more efficient travel not only for Vizcayanos but also for residents of neighboring provinces, stressing Nueva Vizcaya’s role as a gateway to the Cagayan Valley.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Governor Atty Jose V. Gambito said the province is poised for a strong tourism push, anchored on the planned reactivation of Bagabag Airport and expanded support for local tour guides. “We have a bright future in the tourism industry of Nueva Vizcaya. There will be more big opportunities, and tour guiding will no longer be just a part-time job but a full-time profession,” Gambito told participants at the 3rd Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Tour Guides Seminar and Assembly held at Ammungan Hall as part of the province’s Tourism Month celebration. Gambito said reopening the airport is a priority of his administration, noting that while Nueva Vizcaya has many outstanding destinations, accessibility has been a barrier because of the province’s distance from Metro Manila. He said the airport’s reactivation would significantly improve access and spur growth. The governor thanked Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton and retired Gen. Thompson Lantion for their support in the Bagabag Airport initiative. As part of broader support for the sector, Gambito also committed to enroll Nueva Vizcaya tour guides in the Social Security System(SSS) to help secure their retirement benefits. Department of Tourism Regional Director Troy Alexander G. Miano on the other hand lauded the provincial government for prioritizing tourism projects and thanked the province’s tour guides, whom he described as the reason tourists “go home with a good experience.” The event was spearheaded by the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office, led by Provincial Tourism Officer Marichelle O. Costales.

Camp Marcelo A Adduru, Tuguegarao City— Matagumpay na naisagawa ng mga kapulisan ang implementasyon ng search warrant laban sa isang retiradong opisyal ng Land Transportation Office dahil sa paglabag sa Republic Act 10591 o Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act noong gabi ng Setyembre 17, 2025 sa Brgy. Villarey, Piat, Cagayan. Batay sa report ng Provincial Intelligence Unit ng CPPO, dakong alas sais ng gabi nang pinangunahan ng mga operatiba katuwang ang 1st Cagayan Provincial Mobile Force Company at Piat Police Station ang pagpapatupad ng Search Warrant laban kay alyas “ArAr”, 54 taong gulang, may asawa, retiradong Chief ng LTO Tuao at residente ng Brgy. Villarey, Piat, Cagayan Narekober mula sa suspek ang isang yunit ng INTRATEC 9mm Luger na may serial number 195738; isang magasin na nakakabit sa nasabing baril na kargado ng sampung bala ng 9mm; isang magasin ng nasabing baril; at 45 pirasong bala ng 9mm. Ang suspek kasama ang mga nakumpiskang ebidensya ay nasa kustodiya ng Piat Police Station para sa wastong dokumentasyon at disposisyon. Sa kanyang pahayag, binigyang-diin ni PBGen. Roy Parena, regional director ng Police Regional Office 2, na patuloy ang kanilang maigting na kampanya laban sa mga loose firearms na maaaring magdulot ng banta sa seguridad ng mamamayan. “Hindi titigil ang PRO2 sa pagtugis at pagbuwag sa mga indibidwal na lumalabag sa batas ukol sa mga baril at bala. Ang matagumpay na operasyon na ito ay patunay ng ating dedikasyon na panatilihing ligtas at mapayapa ang Cagayan Valley.” ani Parena.    

Camp Marcelo A Adduru, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Matagumpay na naaresto ng mga tauhan ng Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) ang isang Regional Most Wanted Person (RMWP) sa isinagawang operasyon sa bayan ng Cordon, Isabela. Inaresto ng pinagsanib na pwersa ng Cordon Police Station kasama ang ibang hanay ng PNP ang suspek na si alyas Denden, 20 taong gulang, binata, isang Grade 11 student at residente ng Brgy. Sagat, Cordon, Isabela dakong alas diyes ng gabi noong Setyembre 16, 2025. Si alyas Denden, na kabilang bilang No. 10 sa Regional Most Wanted Person, ay may nakabinbing Warrant of Arrest para sa kasong Rape na inisyu noong Mayo 27, 2025 ng Second Judicial Region, Branch 32, Cabarrougis, Quirino. Pinuri ni PBGen.Roy Panera, Regional Director ng PRO2, ang matagumpay na pagtutulungan ng iba’t ibang yunit na naging dahilan ng pagkakaaresto. Ayon sa kanya, “Patunay ito ng walang humpay na kampanya ng PRO2 laban sa mga kriminal upang matiyak na ang hustisya ay naipagkakaloob at ang ating mga komunidad ay nananatiling ligtas bilang katuparan ng adhikain ng Bagong Pilipinas.”      

Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III has been elected today as the new House Speaker for the 20th Congress, replacing Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. He was nominated by Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Wendel P. Tulfo and was the lone nominee for the post. A veteran politician, Speaker Dy has consistently demonstrated strong leadership and dedication to uplifting the lives of Isabelinos. He began his public service career in 1980 as the Action Officer of the Kabataan Barangay for Region II, later serving as Director of the Kapisanan ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas in 1989, Vice Mayor of Cauayan from 1990 to 1992, and Mayor from 1992 to 2001. He then represented Isabela’s 3rd District in Congress from 2001 to 2010, served as Governor from 2010 to 2019, and as Vice Governor from 2019 to 2025. His efforts in championing legislation that strengthens agriculture and expands access to education during his tenure as vice governor of Isabela reflect his deep understanding of the people’s needs. His election to the fourth-highest position in the Philippine government marks a milestone in the province’s role in shaping the nation’s future. It shows the trust he has gained from his constituents and colleagues by living out the values of service, perseverance, and integrity. As the new Speaker, Dy now carries with him the aspirations not only of Isabelinos but also of the Filipino people. (Isabela PIO)