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)

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya, led by Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito, and the Provincial Agriculture Office headed by Provincial Agriculture Officer(PAO) Absalom Rizal D. Baysa, has received an Excellence Award for outstanding implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed and Extension programs. The recognition cites the province’s strong partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and PhilRice and its success in meeting seed delivery and distribution targets that improved the competitiveness and incomes of rice farmers. The Excellence Award (Medium-Scale Category — Luzon) covers the 2024 wet season and the 2025 dry season. It was conferred on 29 August 2025 at the DA–PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, and was formally presented to the provincial leadership during the Monday flag-raising ceremony today at the Provincial Capitol. The award citation recognizes the province’s leadership and the Provincial Agriculture Office’s role in enabling LGUs to effectively roll out certified seed distribution and extension services. The award bears the signatures of RCEF Program Management Office Director Flordeliza H. Bordey and Executive Director John C. De Leon. “Agriculture is the top priority of my administration. I congratulate the Provincial Agriculture Office for this distinguished recognition — a clear indication that our programs are on the right path. We reaffirm the Provincial Government’s full and sustained support for the sector — from quality seeds and comprehensive farmer training to modern machinery and resilient infrastructure — so we can sustainably raise yields, increase farmers’ incomes, and strengthen rural livelihoods.” Following the recognition, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office No. 02 issued a Certificate of Allocation dated 13 September 2025, formally allocating PHP 70,262,665.65 to the Province of Nueva Vizcaya for the 2024–2025 cycle. The funds are earmarked for agricultural machinery and equipment, farm facilities, and infrastructure projects to boost productivity and support rice sector development across the Cagayan Valley. The certificate was signed by Regional Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino, Ph.D. PAO Baysa emphasized that both the award and the allocation reflect coordinated planning and effective implementation with the DA and PhilRice. He noted that the RCEF Seed and Extension initiatives—providing certified seeds, farmer training, and extension services—have contributed to higher yields and improved farm incomes in the province. The PHP 70.26 million allocation will finance an itemized package of interventions, including procurement of machinery and upgrades to farm facilities, subject to DA guidelines and procurement processes. The province will proceed with planning and implementation to ensure timely, transparent use of funds for the benefit of rice farmers throughout Nueva Vizcaya.    

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, PHILIPPINES — The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Nueva Vizcaya chapter unanimously approved a resolution endorsing the chapter’s membership in the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) movement during its second regular meeting, presided by Bambang Mayor Benjamin LL Cuaresma III, LMP–Nueva Vizcaya Chapter president. The resolution has been submitted to the office of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong and bears a received stamp. The resolution affirms the collective intent of all 15 municipal mayors of Nueva Vizcaya to join M4GG, a coalition formed in 2023 that promotes anti-corruption, transparency and people-centered local governance. Convenors of the movement include Mayors Benjie Magalong of Baguio, Vico Sotto of Pasig, Joy Belmonte of Quezon City and Sitti Hataman of Isabela City, Basilan. Other notable members include former Vice President Leni Robredo,now mayor of Naga City. All municipal chief executives attended the meeting: Alfonso Castañeda, Aritao, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Bambang, Bayombong, Diadi, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Kayapa, Kasibu, Quezon, Sta. Fe, Solano and Villaverde. The resolution frames M4GG as a platform to strengthen integrity, transparency, efficiency and citizen participation in local government and specifies that membership is for duly elected incumbent mayors committed to prioritizing public welfare over politics. To operationalize the endorsement, the chapter adopted implementation measures aligned with M4GG participation, including designating a chapter focal person, forming a technical working group, establishing baseline performance measures within the prescribed timeframe, submitting periodic progress reports, and convening peer-learning sessions. LMP Nueva Vizcaya said the move aligns the province’s local governance agenda with national reform priorities—transparency, streamlined public services, fiscal accountability and disaster resilience and signals a renewed effort to institutionalize good governance practices across Nueva Vizcaya’s municipalities.                  

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya Congressman Atty. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton has asked the Department of Transportation(DOTr) to fund the rehabilitation and reactivation of Bagabag Airport, advancing the provincial government’s push to make the facility operational again. Rep. Cayton raised Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito’s plan with Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez during congressional budget deliberations on the department’s proposed spending. Cayton said reopening the airport would ease access for residents of Nueva Vizcaya and nearby provinces and help drive tourism in the province. “As a landlocked province, the primary way to reach Nueva Vizcaya and to go elsewhere is by land, which can be a lengthy trip. Opening Bagabag Airport will provide faster, more convenient access for our residents, domestic and foreign tourists, and visitors from adjacent provinces,” Cayton said. “I thank Congressman Cayton for raising this important issue at the national level, and I am heartened to see more stakeholders working together toward the reopening of Bagabag Airport,” Gov. Gambito said. “Reactivating the airport will catalyze economic activity across the region and significantly boost tourism not only here in Nueva Vizcaya but also in neighboring provinces such as Quirino and Ifugao, making it easier for both local and international visitors to reach major attractions like the Banaue Rice Terraces.” Sec. Lopez said he would direct the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to conduct an ocular inspection of Bagabag Airport to assess its current condition and requirements for reactivation. He added that a feasibility study would be carried out and that funds would be earmarked in the 2026 budget for the airport’s rehabilitation. The initiative has drawn support from provincial leaders in recent months. Former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair and former Department of Transportation and Communications(DOTC) undersecretary Gen. Thompson C. Lantion earlier coordinated with Gambito’s office on efforts to reopen the facility. He previously inspected Bagabag Airport with Bagabag Mayor Benigno Calauad. Reopening Bagabag Airport is among the priorities Gambito outlined in his inaugural address, framing the project as a catalyst for inter-regional tourism and broader economic activity in Nueva Vizcaya.