MADDELA, Quirino — Kusang sumuko sa mga pinagsanib na pwersa ng kapulisan at kasundaluhan ang isang dating high-ranking official ng New People’s Army sa Barangay San Dionisio I, Maddela, Quirino. Kinilala ito na si Alyas “Benson”, 42 anyos, may asawa, residente ng nasabing bayan, at dating Platoon Leader at Intelligence Officer ng Platoon Remo sa ilalim ng Komiteng Probinsiya ng Isabela (KOMPROB Isabela) ng Komiteng Rehiyon Cagayan Valley. Ayon sa ulat, ang sumukong rebelde ay itinuturing din bilang regional top one most wanted person dahil sa mga kinahaharap nitong kaso na kinabibilangan ng murder, attempted murder, attempted homicide, at direct assault. Kaugnay nito, kasabay ng kanyang pagbabalik-loob ay isinuko rin nito ang ilang armas at pampasabog sa mga awtoridad. Bagama’t idineklara nang insurgency-free ang buong Rehiyon Dos ay patuloy pa ring pinaiigting ng pamahalaan ang kampanya laban sa insurhensiya upang tuluyang mapanatili ang katahimikan at maiwasan ang muling pag-usbong ng armadong grupo sa rehiyon. Samantala, patuloy na isinusulong ni Gobernador Edgar “Manong Egay” Aglipay, bilang Chairperson ng Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) ang patuloy koordinasyon ng mga LGU, pulisya, at militar upang mapanatili ang kapayapaan at kaayusan sa rehiyon kasunod ng deklarasyon na insurgency-free na ang Cagayan Valley. (Cagayan Information Office)      

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya’s tourism sector continued to gain momentum, with overall visitor arrivals rising in 2025 and paying tourists increasing by 28.02 percent in the first quarter of 2026, the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office (PTCO) said. Provincial Tourism Officer Marichelle O. Costales told Monday’s flag‑raising ceremony that total tourist arrivals in the province rose 10.2 percent in 2025 compared with 2024. Day visitors and excursionists also rose by 5.4 percent, reflecting sustained interest in the province’s destinations and tourism activities, she said. In the first quarter of 2026, visitors reached 10,478, up from 8,185 in the same period last year. Costales thanked Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito for including tourism among his administration’s priority programs, saying the provincial government’s support has strengthened efforts to promote Nueva Vizcaya’s destinations and develop tourism-related initiatives. Collections at the Lower Magat Eco‑Tourism Park (LMET) totaled P6.8 million in 2025, down from P9 million in 2024 — a 24.4-percent decrease, Costales said. She attributed the decline to the temporary closure of the LMET Conference Center after damage from Typhoon Uwan, and to reservation cancellations caused by road construction and heavy traffic along portions of the Maharlika Highway. She said the conference center and other halls at LMET are among the park’s major income-generating facilities, making their temporary closure a significant factor in the decline in collections. Costales, however, said the outlook remained positive, noting that LMET’s accommodations reached full occupancy during a recent long holiday weekend. This, she said, indicated the park’s strong potential to recover revenue once rehabilitation work is completed. LMET remained Nueva Vizcaya’s top tourist attraction in 2025, drawing 37,284 visitors. The province is also preparing to host next year the International Summit on the Conservation of the Gray-faced Buzzard, expected to draw birdwatchers and conservationists from Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Borneo. Costales said the province is likewise promoting airsports, including paragliding, and supporting the reactivation of Bagabag Airport to expand tourism opportunities in Nueva Vizcaya.

By Rachel Magday NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Jobseekers and residents seeking frontline government services will have access to both in one venue as the provincial government holds the Gayyem ti Umili Jobfair cum Government Service Caravan on May 6 and 7, 2026, at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center. More than 750 job vacancies from local to international will be available at the job fair. The two-day event, part of the Pre Grand Ammungan activities, is spearheaded by the Office of Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito through the provincial government’s Public Employment and Service Division(PESD). Carrying the slogan “Bring Best • Look Best • Speak Best,” the fair will assemble private employers across banking and finance, retail, logistics, healthcare and manufacturing — plus accredited overseas recruiters — to recruit for local and overseas positions and conduct on‑the‑spot hiring. “This job fair and service caravan is our way of bringing opportunities and government services closer to the people,” Gambito said. “We want our constituents to find decent work, secure the documents they need, and access public assistance without having to go from one office to another. Government must be felt where the people are.” The government service caravan will provide on-site assistance from national agencies, including National ID registration and verification by the Philippine Statistics Authority; membership registration and updating by PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund and the Social Security System; and motorcycle and tricycle plate distribution for 2017 model year and below by the Land Transportation Office. The Department of Information and Communications Technology will promote e-government systems, while TESDA will process National Certificate applications and renewals, as well as scholarship applications. The National Bureau of Investigation will offer clearance processing and verification. For overseas Filipino workers, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Department of Migrant Workers will provide welfare services, Overseas Employment Certificate issuance for balik-manggagawa, legal assistance, OFW records issuance, e-registration, anti-illegal recruitment and anti-trafficking campaigns, and Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar services. The Department of Social Welfare and Development will also offer Employment Assistance Fund services. Dolly Rose C. Minas, Supervising Labor Employment Officer and head of the PESD, urged jobseekers to bring updated résumés, government-issued IDs and other necessary documents for hiring and service processing.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines -‘ Nueva Vizcaya officials and the Chinese Consulate in Laoag have discussed a possible sisterhood agreement with a province in China, along with potential cooperation in agriculture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The proposals were raised during a courtesy call by Li Xiaoyan, consul and head of the Chinese Consulate in Laoag, on Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito at the provincial capitol on Monday,April 27. Vice Gov. Eufemia Ang Dacayo, members of the provincial board and provincial department heads also attended the meeting, which focused on possible Chinese assistance for Nueva Vizcaya’s agriculture and tourism sector. Areas of cooperation discussed included the sharing of best practices, provision of farm machinery and technical assistance to help local farmers adapt to emerging agricultural technologies and trends. Li said the discussions could help strengthen relations between Nueva Vizcaya and China, particularly through exchanges in culture, development and local governance. “I hope we can deepen our understanding and friendship, and we can explore many more collaborations like people-to-people exchange,” Li said. Li also praised Nueva Vizcaya, describing the province as beautiful, and invited its residents to visit China to observe development projects. She said the consulate could extend assistance to those applying for Chinese visas. Gambito welcomed the proposed cooperation, saying outside support would help the province pursue development programs, particularly in agriculture and tourism. “Nueva Vizcaya is not one of the richest provinces in the region, so we welcome any outside assistance that can help our people,” the governor said. Gambito also thanked Li for visiting the province, noting that she was the first Chinese official to pay a courtesy call on the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya. He said the provincial government hoped the prospective partnership would provide technical support, resources and possible funding assistance for priority projects. The visit ended with an exchange of tokens of gratitude between Gambito and Li, symbolizing the two sides’ interest in pursuing further cooperation. Gov. Gambito said the proposed sisterhood agreement and areas of cooperation would still be subject to further discussions and coordination between the provincial government and the Chinese Consulate.  

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region II has lauded the Nueva Vizcaya OFW Welfare Center for its role in connecting the agency with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the province, as the agency awarded livelihood and other assistance to more than 100 distressed migrant workers. OWWA Region 2 Reintegration Unit Head Alma Chavente said the provincial OFW center has become a crucial link for reaching Novo Vizcayano OFWs who experienced problems while working abroad. She noted that Nueva Vizcaya is currently the only province in the region with a center that serves both OFWs and their families, improving coordination and response times. Under the Balik-Pinas, Balik-Hanapbuhay program, qualified beneficiaries received up to P20,000 each in livelihood assistance to help them start small enterprises in their home communities. Recipients included OFWs repatriated from the Middle East who were affected by the ongoing crisis in the region. Chavente said some beneficiaries also received burial and medical assistance. Chavente added that beneficiaries previously completed Entrepreneurial Development Training provided by the Department of Trade and Industry to equip them with the skills needed to manage their chosen businesses. It can be recalled that even Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Atty. Bernard Olalia commended the provincial government for pioneering programs for OFWs, particularly its financial literacy and family support initiatives. Olalia described the measures as a model that other local government units may replicate and praised efforts to institutionalize support for migrant workers through the OFW Welfare Center and complementary family programs. Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito reiterated the provincial government’s unwavering support for OFWs, urging beneficiaries to “invest their earnings abroad wisely.” He highlighted the province’s financial literacy program as a key component of that support,to help OFWs and their families manage remittances responsibly, plan for sustainable livelihoods and avoid common financial pitfalls. “This program, together with livelihood grants and training, will help turn assistance into lasting financial stability for migrant workers’ families,” Gov. Gambito said.      

Governor cites unity as Key to Sustained Progress By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Atty. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton on Monday renewed his support for the administration of Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito, saying his presence at the provincial government’s flag-raising ceremony signaled concrete backing for the governor’s leadership. “My presence in today’s flag-raising ceremony of the provincial government is an indication of my concrete support to the provincial government headed by Gov. Gambito,” Cayton said at the ceremony attended by provincial officials. Cayton said he has been closely monitoring the provincial government’s programs and activities and has sought to align his own initiatives with those efforts. He added that in his first nine months as congressman he has filed 43 House bills and resolutions intended to address the needs of Nueva Vizcaya residents and respond to contemporary challenges. Gambito thanked Cayton for his renewed support and framed the gesture as part of a broader unity among the province’s leaders. “Although we belonged to different political parties in the last election, we have come together as one for the sake of the people of Nueva Vizcaya,” the governor said. “Our priority is the welfare of our constituents, not partisan politics.” An advocate of unity since his return to the provincial government, Gambito said Nueva Vizcaya residents can expect sustained efforts to improve livelihoods and boost economic opportunities through continued solidarity among provincial officials.            

By Rachel Magday NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has lined up ₱45.05 million worth of school building construction, rehabilitation, and improvement projects under its 2025 and 2026 Special Education Fund (SEF) allocations. The projects were presented by Provincial Engineer Jerry A. Tan during a recent meeting of the Provincial School Board. Of the total amount, ₱30 million has been allocated under the 2026 SEF for the construction of new school buildings in three municipalities. These include an ₱11-million one-storey, four-classroom calamity-resilient school building with comfort rooms in Bascaran, Solano; a ₱12.5-million two-storey, four-classroom calamity-resilient school building with comfort rooms in Dupax del Norte; and a ₱6.5-million one-storey, three-classroom calamity-resilient school building with comfort rooms in Kasibu. Meanwhile, projects funded under the 2025 SEF amounting to ₱12.5 million are also ongoing. These include a ₱5.5-million one-storey, two-classroom calamity-resilient school building with comfort rooms at Catarawan Elementary School in Kasibu; a ₱2-million two-storey, eight-classroom calamity-resilient senior high school building at Solano National High School in Quirino, Solano; a ₱2-million one-storey, seven-classroom calamity-resilient building with comfort rooms, Phase II, in Tubungan, Kayapa; and a ₱3-million one-storey calamity-resilient building with comfort rooms, Phase II, at Nagbitin Alternative Learning School in Villaverde. In addition, ₱1.8 million has been earmarked for the repair and improvement of a three-classroom Marcos-type building at Bintawan North Elementary School in Villaverde, while ₱750,000 has been set aside for the Phase II construction of four comfort rooms with water supply at Diadi National High School. Tan said the projects are intended to improve educational facilities and provide safer, more resilient learning spaces for students and teachers across the province. Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito has repeatedly underscored the importance of investing in education as part of preparing Novo Vizcayano youth to become productive contributors to the province’s future.future of Nueva Vizcaya. He said the school infrastructure program forms part of the provincial government’s continuing effort to provide young people with better learning environments and stronger opportunities for development.

By Rachel Magday   SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Police authorities arrested 26 individuals during an operation against illegal online cockfighting, or e-sabong, at the Solano Cockpit Arena in Barangay Roxas on April 12, 2026. Police identified several of those arrested as online livestream operators and a cockpit arena supervisor. The suspects included residents of Nueva Ecija, Baguio City, and Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. The operation was launched following reports of illegal gambling activities in the area and was led by the Solano Police Station under PMAJ John Anthony S. Sanchez, in coordination with several police and intelligence units. Investigators said the group is also being linked to a similar illegal e-sabong operation at New Ayaga Cockpit Arena in Abulug, Cagayan on April 11, 2026. The reported connection is now under investigation as part of the case build-up. Seized during the operation were ₱616,250 in cash believed to be betting money, betting tickets and receipts, three computer sets, five cellphones, four internet routers, two LED monitors, and other equipment allegedly used in the illegal activity. The suspects are now in the custody of the Solano Police Station and are expected to face charges for violating Presidential Decree No. 1602 and Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012            

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The total market value of real properties in Nueva Vizcaya rose to P155.89 billion in 2025, with 290,657 registered properties boosting the province’s revenue base, according to the Provincial Assessment Office. Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito said the increase signals steady growth and growing investor and public confidence. “The increasing value of real properties in Nueva Vizcaya reflects the province’s steady growth and the rising confidence of our people and investors. More importantly, it strengthens our capacity to deliver better services through a fair and transparent real property assessment system,” he said. Acting Provincial Assessor Salvador G. Aquino said projected real property tax collections for 2025 reached P299.18 million, highlighting the importance of property-based revenues for provincial services. Office records showed 13,090 assessment-related documents — including tax declarations, certified true copies, and property certificates — were issued in 2025, generating P1.09 million in fees. The office also approved 8,897 new tax declarations for subdivisions, transfers and improvements, yielding P1.03 million in transfer tax collections. Aquino said updating the Schedule of Market Values (SMV) remains a top priority. The proposed 2027 SMV has been posted on bulletin boards, social media and the provincial website in compliance with Republic Act No. 12001. Public consultations are scheduled for April 7 and 13, 2026, with business groups, property owners, farmers, local governments and revenue offices invited to attend. The Provincial Assessment Office and the Provincial Treasury are preparing a Real Property Tax Compliance and Impact Study for the Department of Finance’s approval. The study will review taxpayer compliance, revenue implications and possible socioeconomic effects, and its findings will help the Sangguniang Panlalawigan set assessment levels. Aquino said the province is also preparing for a general revision of real property assessments in 2027 to keep valuations current and aligned with market conditions. Aquino, also reported that province ranked first in Cagayan Valley in real property tax collection efficiency and total locally sourced revenues. He announced the recognition during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, saying the province also placed third in the growth of assessed property values from 2020 to 2024 and in overall local revenues. Aquino said Nueva Vizcaya ranked second in the timely and accurate submission of real property assessment reports, including for the first quarter of 2024, before rising to first in the second, third and fourth quarters. The province also received recognition for its Outstanding Focal Persons for fiscal year 2024. “These achievements reflect our sustained efforts to strengthen database management, improve assessment services, and uphold the integrity of our property records,” Aquino said. Gambito said the awards underscore the contribution of assessment personnel to the province’s revenue generation and public service delivery. “These recognitions are a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our assessment personnel. Their work directly contributes to strengthening our revenue base, which in turn allows us to deliver better services and programs to our people,” Gambito said. He said the provincial government remains committed to transparency, efficiency and innovation in governance.