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.

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)