CAGAYAN, Philippines — Nanawagan ang Department of Agriculture-Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) sa mga magsasaka sa Rehiyon Dos na magkaroon ng agarang aksiyon laban sa Brown Plant hopper o mas kilala sa tawag na ’ulmog’. Sa pinakahuling datos ng RCPC, umabot na sa mahigit 200 ektarya ng palayan sa Cagayan Valley ang apektado ng nasabing peste. Ayon sa ahensiya, kapag hindi naagapan nagdudulot ito ng hopper burn o pagkasunog ng palay na karaniwang may kasamang sooty molds. Ayon sa pananaliksik ng mga eksperto, ang ulmog ay karaniwang lumalabas tuwing panahon ng pamumulaklak hanggang pamumuo ng butil ng palay dahil doon sila sumisipsip ng katas na nagdudulot ng pagkakaroon ng “empty grains”. Mas aktibo rin umano ang mga ito tuwing mainit ang panahon, subali’t hindi ibig sabihin na ligtas na ang palay kapag tag-ulan dahil maaari pa rin silang umatake lalo na kung humupa na ang ulan o may mga bahaging tuyo sa bukid. Bilang tugon, pinayuhan ang mga magsasaka na regular na inspeksyunin ang kanilang taniman, hawiin ang mga suwi ng palay, at magsagawa ng spraying kung may presensiya ng hindi bababa sa limang ‘ulmog’ kada tangkay. Inirekomenda rin ng RCPC ang paggamit ng mga biocontrol agents gaya ng Metarhizium, Isaria, at Beauveria bilang follow-up spray upang mapigil ang patuloy na pagdami ng peste. Samantala, hinikayat naman ang lahat ng magsasaka na makipag-ugnayan lamang sa kanilang City Agricultural Office (CAO) o Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) para sa dagdag na gabay at tulong laban sa ulmog. (Jovy Andres)  

CAGAYAN, Philippines — Muling nanawagan ang Provincial Health Office (PHO) ng Cagayan para sa mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng 5S strategy laban sa dengue matapos sumirit sa 2,367 ang naitalang kaso sa lalawigan mula Enero hanggang Agosto 27, 2025. Batay sa datos ng PHO, ang bayan ng Baggao ang may pinakamaraming kaso na umabot sa 325, sinundan ng Solana na may 236, at Aparri na may 163. Sa Tuguegarao City, bahagyang tumaas ang kaso sa 144, nguni’t nananatiling kontrolado ayon sa PHO dahil sa pagpapatupad ng mga kaukulang hakbang. Paliwanag ng PHO, ang tag-ulan at ang kakulangan sa regular na pagpapatupad ng 4 o’clock habit o clean-up drive ang pangunahing dahilan ng pagtaas ng kaso. Sa isinagawang monitoring ng PHO, ilang barangay ang natukoy na may mga breeding site ng lamok. Dahil dito, muling ipinaalala ng PHO sa mga Cagayano ang kahalagahan ng 5S strategy: Search and destroy – tuklasin at alisin ang mga lugar na posibleng pamugaran ng lamok. Self-protection – gumamit ng proteksyon laban sa kagat ng lamok. Seek early consultation – agad na magpakonsulta sa doktor kung may sintomas ng dengue. Support fogging and spraying – makiisa sa isinasagawang fogging at spraying sa mga lugar na mataas ang kaso. Sustain hydration – panatilihing hydrated ang katawan upang maiwasan ang dehydration dulot ng sakit. Nanawagan din ang PHO sa lahat ng barangay officials na mas paigtingin ang community clean-up drive upang mapigil ang lalo pang pagdami ng kaso. (JOVY ANDRES)      

By Rachel Magday   BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Five employees of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 2 were arrested in an entrapment operation after allegedly accepting P40,000 in marked money in exchange for “unhampered operations” and the release of an impounded vehicle, on September 1. The joint operation by the Bambang Police Station, the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Intelligence Unit and the Provincial Intelligence Team–Nueva Vizcaya, in coordination with DOTR–CAR and led by PMaj. Randy R. Velarde, took place at about 6 p.m. in front of the Baldovi Terminal Compound on Sulucan Street, Purok 1, Barangay Banggot, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. Police said the operation followed walk-in complaints filed at the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Police Office, in which motorists alleged the suspects demanded P200,000 for the release of an impounded van or P25,000 as an outright settlement. After an initial transaction, the complainants said the group later agreed to collect P1,000 per unit and P2,000 per green-plate van as a monthly payoff in exchange for unhampered operations. Investigators prepared P40,000 in marked money—P6,000 in genuine bills and P34,000 in “boodle” or facsimile money—and set a meet-up at the location, police said. The suspects arrived aboard an LTO-issued Nissan Navara (plate SAA 9655). After the marked cash was handed over, operatives gave the prearranged signal and arrested the five “in flagrante delicto,” or caught red handed alleging violations of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees). A search incidental to arrest, conducted in the presence of mandatory witnesses, yielded firearms, cash, mobile phones, IDs and other items, police said. Among the pieces of evidence logged: Two magazines, citation tickets, a driver’s license with photocopy of official receipt, a pouch with two cellphones, cash and IDs One caliber .45 pistol loaded with a magazine and seven live rounds, a wallet with IDs, and cash Cash in various denominations, two cellphones, and a wallet with IDs One touchscreen cellphone One caliber .45 pistol with magazine and five live rounds; one Glock 29 (9mm) pistol with three magazines and 21 live rounds; a sling bag with IDs, receipts, a wallet and cash; six genuine P1,000 bills ;34 pieces of boodle money; one plastic sachet containing suspected shabu weighing about 0.69 gram with an estimated value of P4,692; two pipe tubes; two disposable lighters; one inside holster; and one LTO badge. Other items listed as recovered included a sling bag with a wallet and P16,000 cash; a belt bag with P31,500 cash; a green bag with P20,300 cash; and four touchscreen cellphones. The suspects were brought to the Bambang Police Station for disposition and documentation. Police said appropriate complaints for alleged violations of RA 3019 and RA 6713 will be prepared, with other possible charges to be determined based on the seized firearms and the suspected illegal drugs pending verification and examination. Authorities said the operation is part of the Philippine National Police’s intensified anti-criminality drive under Enhanced Managing Police Operations and the PNP chief’s 7-point agenda. All five suspects remain presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Gatchalian inaugurates 8 KALAHI-CIDSS projects By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian committed expanded assistance to the province of Nueva Vizcaya, announcing additional funds for crisis support, livelihood programs and prepositioned relief during a meeting with provincial and municipal officials held at the lobby of the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center, on August 28.   “ The farther you are, the smaller the province is, the more that you need the national government,” Gatchalian said, adding he understands the needs of remote provinces and upland towns, having served as a local chief executive for nine years. Gatchalian said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will release additional funding for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. The funds, he said, will be downloaded directly to the provincial government for allocation to Nueva Vizcaya’s municipalities under Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito’s oversight. He added that DSWD will also extend support to the province’s congressional district through Rep. Atty.Timothy Joseph E. Cayton. The secretary said the agency will earmark more resources for the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in the province. He urged the provincial government to provide a warehouse that DSWD would stock with relief goods for rapid deployment during disasters. Gatchalian thanked the provincial government for providing a provincial office for DSWD Nueva Vizcaya, and he lauded the turnout of local leaders at the meeting. “Very rare that the three main characters in public service are all together,” he said, referring to the presence of the congressman, governor and vice governor. Majority of the board members and mayors were also in attendance. Gov. Gambito and Cong. Cayton both expressed gratitude to the DSWD for its continuing assistance to the province. The support, according to them is a huge help to Nueva Vizcaya residents especially those in remote upland and disaster-prone areas and the additional AICS and SLP funds, along with prepositioned relief goods, will help families meet urgent needs, sustain livelihoods and recover more quickly after calamities. Earlier in the day, Gatchalian led the inauguration of eight projects under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in Barangay Tiblac, Ambaguio. KALAHI-CIDSS is a national poverty-alleviation program that uses a community-driven development approach, empowering communities to identify, manage and implement projects that address their most pressing needs. The secretary also met with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and with municipal links implementing the program at the local level. In Bambang town, he oversaw an SLP payout to 156 beneficiaries amounting to P3 million. AICS provides financial support to individuals and families facing crises such as illness, death in the family or emergencies, while SLP funds microenterprise and employment interventions for poor households.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito met with officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) on August 28, to align ongoing and upcoming programs that support the reintegration of former rebels and strengthen peacebuilding efforts in the province. Discussions focused on an upcoming partnership between the provincial government and OPAPRU covering infrastructure projects—particularly road improvement in former insurgency-affected areas—and scholarship programs for the children of former rebels. Gov. Gambito also committed provincial support for a national trade fair in Metro Manila that will feature products from former rebel associations across the country, with Nueva Vizcaya’s associations set to participate. The OPAPRU delegation was led by BGen. Ramon C. Yogyog (Ret.), Regional Adviser on Peace and Security for Region II, with Mr. Jerome A. Padilla, Area Manager of the Area Management Unit–Northern Luzon; Mr. Adenis B. Bringas, ARCA Coordinator; Mr. Alex Berigundo, Head of the Local Amnesty Board; Mr. Redgie A. Gallardo, Area Coordinator for Northern Luzon; and Ms. Lamie K. Sagulo, Administrative Officer. Also present were DILG Provincial Director Catherine Alam Miranda, PSWD representative Jane Pumaras, SWAD–Nueva Vizcaya Team Leader Fernando Bainto, Provincial Warden Carmelo Andrada, and PPDO Head Engr. Edgardo Sabado. Both sides reviewed existing reintegration and community-support initiatives and identified areas for tighter coordination to accelerate delivery of services to returnees and their families. Many former rebels have already received livelihood assistance from the national government, continued monitoring is needed to ensure these resources are properly used to rebuild and improve beneficiaries’ livelihoods as they return to mainstream society. The planned infrastructure investments aim to improve access to markets, social services, and livelihood opportunities in communities transitioning from conflict, while the scholarship component seeks to expand educational opportunities for qualified beneficiaries. OPAPRU, the Philippine government agency responsible for managing and implementing the comprehensive peace process, said the collaboration with the provincial government is intended to foster reconciliation and unity while sustaining gains in local peace and security.        

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton has filed House Bill No. 3715 to give financial aid to underprivileged graduates who will take professional licensure and Bar exams, saying success should depend on merit, not money. Called the Financial Assistance for Future Professionals Act, the bill would provide a one-time P10,000 review grant and an exam fee subsidy to qualified first-time takers of the Professional Regulation Commission’s board exams and the Bar examination. The aid targets Filipino graduates who are academically qualified but lack funds. Cong. Cayton said the proposal aims to level the playing field for aspiring professionals and help the country produce more teachers, nurses, engineers, lawyers and other licensed practitioners. He added that broadening the nation’s pool of professionals would strengthen the workforce and contribute to overall development. HB 3715 will be referred to the appropriate House committees for hearings. Details on eligibility, implementation and funding will be set during the committee process. (Rachel Magday)  

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Over P68 million worth of agriculture projects were turned over to various Irrigators Association(IA) in Nueva Vizcaya in a ceremony led by Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Division Manager Felipa S. Sumer and Dept of Agriculture-PhilMech. on August 21. According to NIA Engr. Edhen Shiela Allaga,Supervising Engineer A, the package included P56.5 million in Communal Irrigation System (CIS) projects turned over through NIA to 12 Irrigators’ Associations across six municipalities. Bambang received three CIS projects totaling P23.5 million: Simmanguer CIS (P11.5 million), San Fernando Baguimbing Malayo CIS (P7 million) and Aliaga CIS (P5 million). Four CIS projects in Aritao amounted to P16 million: Upper Sta. Clara (P5.5 million), Mabalit CIS (P4 million), Kirang CIS (P3.5 million) and Upper Tucanon (P3 million). Two CIS projects in Dupax del Sur were turned over: Palabotan CIS (P3 million) and Abaca CIS (P3 million). In Dupax del Norte, the Madiana CIS (P3 million) was turned over. Ambaguio received the Tiblac CIS (P5 million), while Sta. Fe received the Sinapaoan CIS (P3 million). Gov. Gambito said his administration prioritizes supporting farmers and the agriculture sector, stressing that the investments aim to raise productivity, income and resilience in rural communities. He added that as farmers’ livelihoods improve and earnings from farming grow, they should no longer have to rely on government financial aid, and can support their families with sustainable, dignified income from the land. Also attending the event were Vice Gov. Eufemia Ang Dacayo and former board member Florante S. Gerdan, who represented Cong. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton. Meanwhile, seven IA’s also received Precision Rice Seeders(PRS) from the Philippine Center for Post Harvest Development and Mechanization(PhilMech) valued at P1.732 million per unit , according to Razel Quinto, Irrigators Development Officer A of NIA Nueva Vizcaya. The Magarang Bagahabag Irrigators Association received two units, while one unit each went to the Lower Bangaan Solano IA, Dumayop Tabban IA, Bantian Señora Falls IA, Arwat Palabotan IA and Probinsiano IA. The turnover covered irrigators’ groups across Bambang, Aritao, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Ambaguio and Sta. Fe, bringing the total value of the day’s interventions to more than P68 million.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito reiterated his full support for the province’s agriculture sector, citing its central role in Nueva Vizcaya’s economic growth, as provincial and national agencies turned over P17.5 million worth of agricultural inputs to onion farmers. Speaking at the Technical Briefing and Distribution of Agricultural Inputs for the Onion Industry, Gambito said farmers will remain a top priority of the provincial government in his new term. He emphasized that sustained support for producers is key to lifting rural livelihoods and strengthening the local economy. The Department of Agriculture(DA) and the Provincial Agriculture Office distributed the assistance to more than one thousand onion growers from the municipalities of Alfonso Castañeda, Aritao, Bambang, Kayapa, Dupax del Sur and Bagabag. The inputs were coursed through 12 Farmer’s Cooperative Associations(FCA’s)that count the recipients as members. According to DA, the package aims to boost onion production, lower farmers’ operating costs and raise incomes, while aligning provincial efforts with national programs to improve farm productivity and market readiness. The technical briefing component provided guidance on recommended practices and updates relevant to onion growers. Gambito underscored that the provincial government will continue channeling resources to initiatives that directly benefit farmers, in partnership with cooperatives and concerned agencies. He pointed to agriculture’s outsized contribution to local employment and supply chains as a rationale for sustained investment in the sector. The distribution forms part of continuing efforts to support Nueva Vizcaya’s onion grower’s with inputs and technical assistance, with the goal of improving yields, stabilizing supply and strengthening community-based cooperatives across the province.                

ENRILE,Cagayan, Philippines — Nanawagan si Enrile Mayor Miguel Decena Jr., na kasapi ng ‘Mayors for Good Governance’ ng masusing imbestigasyon kaugnay ng umano’y malawakang korapsyon sa mga flood control at iba pang proyekto ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Sa panayam ng CPIO-TeleRadyo, tinukoy ni Mayor Decena ang ilang proyekto sa kanyang bayan na umano’y kapos sa kalidad at hindi nakapagsilbi sa mamamayan, kabilang na ang gumuhong tulay sa Barangay Alibago. Kanyang binigyang-diin na ilan sa mga proyekto ng DPWH ay naipatupad nang walang konsultasyon sa lokal na pamahalaan dahilan upang magdulot ng pangamba sa mga residente. Punto ng alkalde, mahalagang may kaalaman at partisipasyon ang LGU sa mga proyektong ipinatutupad ng ahensiya sa kanilang nasasakupan upang matiyak ang kalidad at pakinabang nito. Kaugnay rito, sinabi rin ng alkalde na handa itong humarap sa Senado kung sakaling kailanganin sa mas malalim na pagtalakay ng isyu. Kasabay nito, inihayag din ni Mayor Decena na nagkakaisa ang Mayors for Good Governance sa panawagang sugpuin ang katiwalian. Aniya, hindi sila kalaban ng gobyerno kun’di katuwang para masiguro ang tama at makatarungang paggamit ng pondo ng bayan. Naninindigan din siya kasama ang ibang kasapi ng ‘Mayors for Good Governance’ na kailangang suportahan si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. sa pagsusulong ng imbestigasyon sa mga proyektong pinagdududahan ang kalidad dahil kung hindi, buong bansa ang maaaring malugi. “Hindi kami kalaban ng gobyerno, kakampi kami ng gobyerno para maibsan itong katiwalian na nangyayari, kung walang tutulong kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. na mag-investigate about this matter the whole country at lost, kaya naninindigan ang Mayors for Good Governance about this matter,” pahayag ng alkalde. (Jovy Andres)