By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Fire incidents in the province rose sharply from February to April 2026, causing an estimated ₱12.58 million in damage, according to Fire Supt. Aristotle V. Atal, provincial fire marshal of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Nueva Vizcaya. Presenting the BFP’s “Fire Suppression Data: February–April CY 2026” at the second-quarter joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), and Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) at Ammungan Hall, Provincial Capitol, Atal said the BFP responded to 31 fire calls over the three-month period: 17 structural, 12 non-structural and two vehicular incidents. Year-on-year comparisons showed steep increases across categories. Structural fire responses more than doubled, from eight in February–April 2025 to 17 in the same period this year (about 112.5%). Non-structural incidents jumped from one to 11 while total fire responses climbed from nine to 31 (about 244%). Reported property damage ballooned from ₱677,000 in 2025 to ₱12,581,000 in 2026—an increase of roughly 1,758%. One civilian fatality was recorded this year; no firefighter deaths were reported in either period. Dupax del Norte accounted for the largest share of losses at approximately ₱8.659 million. Other municipalities with significant damage included Bayombong (about ₱734,000), Ambaguio (about ₱351,500) and Solano (about ₱346,000). One incident in Santa Fe remains under investigation, Atal said. The BFP report was part of the second‑quarter joint PPOC–PADAC–PTF‑ELCAC meeting, chaired by Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito and presided over by Board Member Flodemonte S. Gerdan, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee on peace and order, emphasized coordinated measures to boost fire prevention and public safety across the province.      

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton is pushing for a measure that would raise the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) of government employees to P9,000 a month from the current P2,000. House Bill No. 9331 seeks to provide additional financial relief to public sector workers amid the continued increase in the prices of fuel, food and other basic commodities. The proposed increase could benefit an estimated two million civilian government workers nationwide, including personnel in national government agencies and local government units. Based on recent government manpower estimates, national government agencies account for roughly 1.3 million employees, while LGUs employ about 500,000 to 600,000 workers. Cayton said the proposed adjustment is intended to help government employees cope with the rising cost of living and the weakening purchasing power of fixed incomes. PERA is a monthly allowance granted to government personnel to supplement their income and help cushion the impact of economic pressures.        

By Rachel Magday   BAGABAG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — A P6-million rehabilitation project funded under the Department of Health’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program(HFEP) is set to begin at the Bagabag District Hospital to restore critical services and repair facilities damaged by Typhoon Uwan last year. Bagabag District Hospital is headed by Chief of Hospital Dr. Jocelyn S. Bumidang and is one of six district hospitals operated by the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya. Ma. Cristina S. Opena, administrative officer of Bagabag District Hospital, said a team from the Department of Health Regional Office 2 conducted a site inspection on May 8 to assess the extent of the damage and validate the proposed repairs. The DOH HFEP team was composed of engineers Jay R. Tatto, Jones Pascual Jr. and Frank Ivan Santos. They were joined by engineers from the Provincial Engineering Office, led by Architect Audry Mae C. Dominguez. Dominguez said the inspection was conducted to evaluate the hospital’s condition, validate storm-related damage and finalize the list of repairs and improvements needed for the facility. Areas identified for immediate rehabilitation include the ward, laundry and dietary building, emergency room, laboratory and X-ray building, and cadaver holding area. Dominguez said the project will cover the repair of damaged structural and architectural components, repainting of affected interior and exterior areas, and upgrading of electrical systems and fixtures to meet safety and operational standards. Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito, who recently inspected the Bagabag District Hospital, expressed his gratitude to the Department of Health for the P6-million allocation intended for the facility’s rehabilitation. He said the funding will help fast-track the hospital’s recovery from typhoon damage, restore vital health services, and ensure the continued delivery of safe and responsive medical care to residents of Bagabag and nearby communities.

By Rachel Magday   Nueva Vizcaya emerged as one of the region’s top-performing provinces at the WorldSkills Philippines Cagayan Valley Regional Skills Olympics, placing third overall and bringing home four golds, four silvers, three bronzes and two medallions of excellence at the May 19–20 competition held at the Aparri Polytechnic Institute in Maura, Aparri. Isabela topped the overall standings, followed by Cagayan in second place. The 55-member Nueva Vizcaya delegation — composed of technical-vocational (tech-voc) trainees and recent graduates from training centers and schools across the province — competed in 14 of the meet’s 33 trade areas. The team was led by TESDA provincial director Benhur Baniqued. Eva Doniego, supervising technical education development specialist of TESDA Nueva Vizcaya, expressed gratitude to the Office of Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito for providing PHP 250,000 in financial assistance, saying the support was instrumental in enabling the delegation’s participation and preparation for the regional meet. Governor Gambito also extended his congratulations to the Nueva Vizcaya delegation, praising the trainees, their trainers and TESDA officials for demonstrating excellence and dedication. He reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening skills development programs and expanding employment and international-competition opportunities for the province’s youth. Medal summary for Nueva Vizcaya Gold: Cyber Security (SMU); Cooking (PLT); Bakery (PLT); Landscaping (Nueva Vizcaya Polytechnic Institute) Silver: Web Technologies (SMU); Patisserie (PTC); Carpentry (Bambang NHS); Fashion Technology (Nueva Vizcaya Polytechnic Institute) Bronze: Information Networking (SMU); Automotive (Bambang NHS); Electrical (Bambang NHS) Medallion of Excellence: Hotel Reception (SMU); Restaurant Service (PLT College Inc.) The TESDA Skills Olympics, or WorldSkills Philippines, is an annual contest that tests the vocational and technical skills of Filipino youth. Regional meets like the Cagayan Valley event spotlight top performers who can advance to national and international competitions and highlight local efforts to improve tech‑voc training.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito praised the 17th Grand Ammungan Festival(GAF) Executive Committee for mounting what he described as a successful and meaningful celebration of Nueva Vizcaya’s founding anniversary despite a compressed one-day schedule. Gambito commended the festival’s Executive Committee, led by Director General and Board Member Eunice Galima-Gambol, for efficiently managing the day’s activities after the original five-day celebration was scaled down. “This is beyond my expectation,” Gambito said during the opening program, thanking the committee for ensuring that the province’s annual festival would still push through. House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy served as guest of honor during the program and delivered a video message expressing his continued support for Nueva Vizcaya. He said his support would extend not only to tourism initiatives but also to other programs and projects that would benefit Novo Vizcayanos. Dy said he considers Nueva Vizcaya not just a neighboring province but one close to his heart, noting that many of his relatives live in the province. Gambito said the provincial government considered President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call for austerity measures amid the national emergency situation. However, he said thanksgiving, celebration and fellowship remain deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of Novo Vizcayanos. He said the provincial government found a way to hold this year’s Grand Ammungan Festival in a simpler but still meaningful manner. The day-long celebration opened with an ecumenical service attended by leaders of various religious groups, including Bishop Elmer Mangalinao of the Diocese of Bayombong. Also present during the opening program were Department of Tourism Regional Director Troy Alexander G. Miano, Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and municipal/ barangay officials from across the province. The Grand Ammungan Festival is Nueva Vizcaya’s annual gathering and thanksgiving celebration held in observance of the province’s founding anniversary. The festival highlights the unity, culture and traditions of Novo Vizcayanos, as well as the province’s rich heritage and diverse communities.

By Rachel Magday   Nueva Vizcaya Lone District Rep. Atty Timothy Joseph E. Cayton has urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to include vegetable farmers in the coverage of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk, and their Families Program (PAFFP), citing their crucial role in ensuring the country’s food supply. Cayton made the appeal during the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle meeting, where he said vegetable growers are also bearing the impact of rising production costs, unstable farmgate prices and market uncertainties. “Our vegetable farmers are also carrying the burden of high production costs and fluctuating market prices. They are an essential part of our food supply chain, and they should not be left behind in government assistance programs,” Cayton said. He said Nueva Vizcaya is among the country’s vegetable-producing provinces and serves as one of the sources of vegetables supplied to Metro Manila. Cayton added that Nueva Vizcaya plays an important role in helping stabilize vegetable supply, particularly when production problems affect the Cordillera Administrative Region, another major vegetable-producing area. “When there are disruptions in vegetable production in the Cordillera, Nueva Vizcaya helps respond to the needs of Metro Manila. This shows how important our vegetable farmers are not only to the province but also to food security in the capital and other markets,” Cayton said. He said expanding the PAFFP to cover vegetable farmers would provide much-needed support to growers who continue to face increasing costs of seeds, fertilizer, fuel, labor and transport. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. said the DA is open to expanding the coverage of the program if additional funding is made available by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The PAFFP is a government assistance program intended to support farmers, fisherfolk and their families affected by economic challenges in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.    

By Ben Moses Ebreo   BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines (PIA) — The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Cagayan Valley have signed an agreement for the management of a warehouse facility to further strengthen disaster response and mitigation efforts in the province. The agreement covers the turnover and management of the warehouse facility under a 30-year usufruct arrangement. Under the pact, the facility will be used for the storage and prepositioning of Family Food Packs (FFPs), non-food items, ready-to-eat food packs, and other relief commodities intended for disaster-affected communities. The agreement also allows the DSWD to utilize the warehouse for 30 years without transfer of ownership, ensuring the long-term and sustainable use of the facility in support of disaster response and social protection operations in the province. “This is a big help in strengthening the Department’s logistics capacity and ensuring the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected families in the province and nearby areas,” DSWD Regional Director Lucia Suyu-Alan said. She also thanked Governor Jose Gambito for the continued support and partnership in advancing the Department’s mandate to protect and promote the welfare of poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sectors. Last year, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian vowed to strengthen the agency’s logistics capability in the province to bring government services closer to communities in need, especially during disasters and calamities. The warehouse facility is expected to enhance the province’s preparedness and response capability during emergencies and ensure faster delivery of relief assistance to affected residents. (OTB/BME/PIA Nueva Vizcaya)

By Rachel Magday   Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Atty. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton said his vote in favor of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte was grounded on the constitutional mandate of Congress to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability in public office. “The duty of Congress is to obey and defend the Constitution. No one is above the law,” Cayton said, explaining his vote to affirm the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President. Cayton said the role of the House of Representatives under the 1987 Constitution is to determine whether impeachment complaints are sufficient in form and substance, and whether probable cause exists to send the case to the Senate for trial. He stressed that a vote to approve the Articles of Impeachment is not a vote to convict. “The House does not determine guilt or innocence. We are not a court. The only question is whether there is sufficient basis to bring the matter before the Senate for trial in accordance with due process,” Cayton said. According to Cayton, the House Committee on Justice had conducted proceedings in line with the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings and found probable cause based on the verified complaints filed before the chamber. “We have a process to follow. The Constitution provides a clear mechanism for matters like this. Our responsibility is to ensure that the process is allowed to proceed, not to obstruct it,” he said. Cayton said his position was not driven by political pressure or personalities, but by the need to protect democratic institutions and uphold accountability. “We must not allow our province to be compromised by politics or noise. Nueva Vizcaya must remain on the side of the law, good governance and accountability,” he said. “This is bigger than personalities and politics. This is about accountability to the people and respect for our institutions,” he added. Cayton also expressed confidence that the Senate, once convened as an impeachment court, would carry out its constitutional duty with fairness and impartiality. He said the proceedings should be viewed through the lens of the Constitution, accountability and the rule of law, rather than partisan politics. “In the end, what matters most is that our democracy remains strong, our institutions continue to function, and the Constitution and the law prevail above anyone else,” Cayton said.