By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya, under the leadership of Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito, recognized Saint Mary’s University’s (SMU) 4PAUSE team for clinching the title in the Regional Tourism Start-Up Challenge. The team was formally introduced to provincial government employees during the flag-raising ceremony at the Provincial Capitol on Monday, February 16. The recognition was facilitated by the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office, citing the group’s innovation as a meaningful contribution to the province’s “Naturally Vibrant Nueva Vizcaya” development agenda. Gov. Gambito congratulated the group and underscored the role of academic institutions in strengthening local tourism development. “Congratulations to our young innovators. Your work shows how our academe can help move tourism forward—bringing fresh ideas that benefit communities and support local enterprises,” Gambito said. Composed entirely of Novo Vizcayanos, the 4PAUSE team includes Christian Josh B. Acosta, Jasfer Dela Cruz, John Paul C. Dres, Jullainne Candy Lou I. Bajo, Johanna M. Delos Santos, and Kyneshie A. Dalpig, with Aryan L. Yuzon serving as coach. In recognition of their achievement, the provincial government awarded the team Certificates of Commendation along with tokens of appreciation. The 4PAUSE project seeks to help position Nueva Vizcaya as a “therapeutic destination “, a place for rest and wellness by using digital tools in tourism. It promotes the province’s beautiful nature and cool weather to attract visitors, help small businesses, and support the local economy in a responsible way. It also supports UN goals on jobs and economic growth, new ideas and better facilities, and building safe, sustainable communities. The team is now preparing for the national round of the competition, where they will vie for a potential grand prize of ₱5 million.

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — FCF Minerals Corporation will shut down its Runruno Gold Project by the end of 2026 after the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) suspended the Dupax Exploration Permit, the mine firm announced this week. Management said the suspension cut off the mine’s “last operational lifeline.” Employees were notified this week that existing gold reserves at Runruno are nearly depleted, and the halted Dupax exploration program would have been the only way to extend the mine’s life. “Without reserve replacement, operations must end,” said Lorne Harvey, FCF Minerals General Manager. The closure will affect more than 1,500 workers and ripple through local businesses, including contractors, suppliers, and transport providers. Local government revenues, national taxes, royalties, and community development funding tied to production will also stop. FCF Minerals said it had hoped exploration in Dupax would preserve jobs and sustain economic contributions. Analysts noted that regulatory interruptions at this stage can have irreversible effects on mines nearing depletion, highlighting risks for investors in the Philippine mining sector. The company vowed a responsible closure, complying with all laws and environmental standards. “Our responsibility extends to employees, host communities, shareholders, and government stakeholders,” Harvey said. “Runruno’s closure will be carried out safely, responsibly, and in full compliance with Philippine regulations.” Harvey also vowed he will issue updates as the transition progresses.      

By Rachel Magday   BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — In celebration of February as the love month and in a strong show of support for the LGBTQ+ community, Bambang Mayor Benjamin Jamie Cuaresma officiated a commitment ceremony for eight LGBTQ+ couples who have long shared their lives as partners. The ceremony, held on February 13 at the Municipal Auditorium, marked a historic first for a municipal local government unit in Nueva Vizcaya. It recognized the couples’ enduring relationships while reaffirming the town’s steadfast commitment to inclusivity, equality, and respect for all. Mayor Cuaresma described the event as a meaningful affirmation that love, regardless of gender, deserves acknowledgment and respect. “The meaningful event affirms that every love story deserves recognition, respect, and dignity,” Cuaresma said. “Here’s to equality, acceptance, and a community where everyone is seen, valued, and celebrated.” The LGBTQ+ community regarded the initiative as a significant milestone for the municipality, reflecting the local government’s strengthened commitment to equality and inclusion. Community members expressed sincere appreciation for the administration’s ongoing efforts to champion diversity and cultivate a safer, more welcoming environment for all in Bambang.  

Wesleyan University-Phillipines Aurora fields full contingent   Baler, Aurora, Philippines – The sun had barely risen when the streets began to fill with colorful performers, music, and festivities. Streets fluttered from every post, people awaiting the street dance performance of contingents from the different municipalities. It is the day of the Indak Pasidayaw Festival Provincial Competition for the Aurora Day Celebration 2026, a celebration of culture, artistry, and unity among the municipalities of Aurora. No one, however, anticipated the overwhelming joy that would follow. As the final performance concluded, the crowd waited in breathless silence. It was the time to wait for the minor awards. Parts of the preliminaries to the jubilation and celebration were the announcements of Best in Arena Performance and Best in Choreography, which were both bagged by Maria Aurora and with P15,000.00 award for each category. When the emcee finally announced the Provincial Champion for Indak Pasidayaw Festival 2026, the silence exploded into thunderous cheers. Shouting in tears streaming down their faces painted with festival colors and with their costume made of native Igorot attire, all screaming “Mebiyay, Marialeño!” The Municipal Mayor, Ariel Bitong – standing behind the event host and waiting for the final result – was in complete awe and jumping in cheers, together with other key officials of the Municipality, the School Administrator of Wesleyan University-Philippines – Aurora, Dr. Ferdinand Romano, seen crying out of elation, the Academic Heads of WU-P, teachers, coaches, trainers and WU-P contingent in unison shouted and celebrated the triumph of Maria Aurora, fielded with WU-P Aurora students, and received a glaring amount of P150,000.00. This year’s championship in the Indak Pasidayaw Festival is not just a win in a competition; it is a shared triumph that bound the community together in jubilation and celebration – proof that when culture, dedication, and unity dance as one, victory becomes a celebration for all. Big Congratulations, Municipality of Maria Aurora! Congratulations as well, WU-P Aurora!

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito has directed department heads and division chiefs of the provincial government to accelerate the implementation of programs and projects, citing delays in execution as a major concern. Presiding over the 1st Management Conference (ManCon) meeting held Monday, Gambito urged all offices to sustain the momentum and further speed up the implementation of programs and projects to ensure timely delivery of services. “We need to accelerate our efforts so that the people can immediately feel the impact of the services and projects of the provincial government,” he said. To address the issue, the governor announced key administrative reforms, particularly the shift to a centralized procurement system. Under the new setup, procurement will no longer be handled individually by each office but will instead be consolidated under a specific unit. Gambito said the previous per-office procurement system was identified as one of the reasons behind delays in project implementation. Provincial Administrator King Webster Balawing said centralized procurement means one designated office handles the purchase of goods and supplies for the entire provincial government, instead of each department buying separately. He added that this system, required under Republic Act 9184 and implemented through the DBM-Procurement Service, is meant to make procurement faster, more transparent, and more cost-effective. Balawing cited as an example the procurement of medicines for provincially managed hospitals. Under a centralized setup, purchase requests for medicines from all provincial hospitals can be consolidated so the province can buy in bulk, streamline delivery schedules, and help ensure that essential medicines remain available for patients. While acknowledging that the reforms may be challenging, Gambito stressed they are necessary to improve public service delivery, particularly for priority initiatives. “These reforms may be tough and there may be offices that will be affected, but we have to implement them,” he said. “We need to make sure that our programs—especially our flagship projects—reach the people and are truly felt by them.” Gambito emphasized that the reforms aim to ensure taxpayers see tangible benefits from government spending. “Hopefully, the effects of these reforms and innovations will ensure that what the people pay in taxes will be returned to them through concrete programs and projects of the provincial government,” he said. The governor also urged offices to fast-track implementation ahead of the expected election ban in October for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. “We need to implement our projects as soon as possible because once the election ban takes effect, it will slow down our operations,” Gambito said. “Be cooperative. We will try these new innovations to compensate for the lag that may be caused by the election ban.”    

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines — Muling nagbigay ng karangalan sa Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, ang pitong taong gulang na si Haliya Catarina Flores Guzman matapos magwagi ng Gold Award sa Final Round ng Thailand International Math Olympiad (TIMO) nitong Pebrero 7, 2026. Si Guzman ang nag-iisang pambato ng lungsod at ng probinsiya sa naturang kompetisyon. Umabot sa 1,290 kalahok mula sa iba’t ibang bansa ang dumaan sa Heat Round kung saan pumangalawa si Guzman. Ito na ang ikalawang sunod na taon na nagkamit siya ng Gold Award sa naturang international math competition, matapos din siyang magwagi noong 2025. Sa tulong ng kaniyang lola na si dating Provincial EngineerBasilia Baccay Flores at ng kaniyang mga magulang, naging masigasig si Haliya sa paghahanda para sa patimpalak. Sa murang edad, patuloy niyang pinatutunayan ang kahusayan ng batang Cagayano sa larangan ng matematika sa pandaigdigang entablado. (Mae Amarles)

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Dr. Harold V. Gallo, Ph.D., school director of the DOST- Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Cagayan Valley Campus, said the Pisay community “loves Papa Jing,” referring to Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito, during a courtesy call at the governor’s office on Thursday,Feb.5. Gallo led the visit together with 15 students and two teacher-chaperones from National Yilan Senior High School (YLHS) in Taiwan, who are currently in Nueva Vizcaya as exchange students under the PSHS Exchange Forum and Joint Learning Immersion Program. While in the province, the students are under the care of foster parents arranged by the program. In an interview after the visit, Gallo said PSHS is open to deeper collaboration with the provincial government for programs that will benefit science high school students. “Whatever Pisay achieves—and whatever challenges we face—the provincial government is part of that,” Gallo said. “We hope Governor Gambito’s support for education and the youth continues, because the pride of Pisay is also the pride of Nueva Vizcaya.” Gallo also expressed appreciation for the provincial government’s approval of a P2 million request to repair the campus auditorium, which was damaged by Super Typhoon Uwan last year. “The rehabilitation fund allocated for PSHS through the office of Governor Gambito is a big help, especially since we do not have a large fund to cover the repairs,” he said. After meeting with the governor, the group proceeded to the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Museum, where the Taiwanese students were introduced to the province’s history, heritage, and traditions. The museum visit is intended to strengthen the cultural immersion component of the exchange program.

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 30 issued a new show-cause order on Friday after defendants in a mining-related dispute allegedly reinstalled barricades and again obstructed access along Keon Road in Barangay Bitnong, Dupax del Norte, despite an existing writ of preliminary injunction. In a seven-page order dated Feb. 6, 2026, Presiding Judge Paul R. Atolba, Jr. said Woggle Corporation, the plaintiff in SCA Case No. 139-25J, filed a manifestation on Jan. 28 reporting that a group led by anti-mining leader Florentino Daynos reinstalled a barricade on Jan. 27 about 70 meters from the junction of the National Highway and Keon Road. The barricade allegedly blocked the company’s employees and contractors from entering Keon Road. The court identified Daynos and several others as allegedly involved in reinstalling and manning the barricade and in excavating portions of Keon Road. The order also noted that Daynos was included in both show-cause orders previously issued by the court. The order noted that the court had earlier issued a preliminary injunction ordering the defendants and their supporters to remove the barricades and stop blocking the barangay road. The court said an initial attempt to enforce the order was only partly successful because the group allegedly formed a human barricade, so sheriffs paused to prevent violence. A later enforcement operation was completed and led to arrests. While criminal complaints arising from that enforcement were reportedly dismissed by the provincial prosecutor, the court said the dismissal did not justify noncompliance with court directives. In its warning, the court stressed the binding nature of judicial orders and stated: “Court Orders are not mere Suggestions or ‘frameworks’ or ‘guidelines’ but are mandatory and must be obeyed.” Judge Atolba added that deliberate defiance undermines the rule of law. The court directed the named individuals to explain within 10 days why they should not be cited for contempt for willful disobedience of a lawful writ and other court orders. They were ordered to submit sworn written explanations and were cautioned that unsatisfactory responses or continued defiance could lead to coercive or punitive sanctions, including fines, imprisonment until compliance, and immediate arrest and detention. Judge Attolba also criticized the conduct of defense lawyers who were present during the enforcement operations, saying their actions interfered with the work of the sheriffs and police and raised doubts about their willingness to support an orderly implementation of the court’s orders. The order warned that lawyers who obstruct lawful court proceedings may face disciplinary action or contempt charges. The order concluded that the court’s authority “must be obeyed promptly, fully, and without obstruction.”        

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya, through the Governor’s Office–Internal Audit Services Office (IASO), initiated the ceremonial turnover of more than 100 school buildings and facilities, funded through the province’s Special Education Fund (SEF) from 2018 to 2024 and valued at nearly P180 million, to public elementary and secondary schools across the province. The turnover ceremony was held at the Ammungan Hall of the Provincial Capitol and was led by Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito, together with Vice Governor Eufemia Ang Dacayo,BM Flodemonte S. Gerdan and Department of Education (DepEd) officials headed by Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Orlando S. Manuel. Monica A. Bejarin, Internal Auditor III of IASO, said the activity was conducted to comply with Commission on Audit (COA) requirements. COA earlier noted that the school buildings were built using the Special Education Fund and are intended for DepEd public schools, but their value—about P173.480 million—was still listed in the provincial government’s financial records. COA said the records should be transferred to DepEd because DepEd is the agency that actually receives and uses the buildings. If the transfer is not completed, the provincial government’s recorded assets will be overstated. The projects turned over included classroom buildings, kindergarten buildings, child development centers, home economics buildings, industrial arts buildings, Special Education (SPED) buildings, and other dschool facilities. During the program, Gov.Gambito thanked DepEd Nueva Vizcaya and school officials for their continued partnership with the provincial government. He also asked for their sustained support and cooperation with his administration, saying the province aims to further strengthen programs and projects for learners, teachers, and public schools through close coordination with DepEd. SDS Orlando S. Manuel, in turn, lauded Gov.Gambito’s dedication to public service—describing it as “deeper than the ocean and higher than the mountains”—and conveyed the division’s gratitude for the provincial government’s support to the education sector. “From the bottom of our hearts, we expressed our heartfelt gratitude and thanksgiving to the excellence of work of the provincial government that accelerate and propel the growth and development of the province,” Manuel said. He added that DepEd commits to work “hand in hand” with the provincial government to make learning spaces “the best environment ever for our learners—the future leaders in Nueva Vizcaya.” Meanwhile, Punong Barangay Manuel B. Gines of Barangay Busilac,Bayombong, speaking on behalf of various barangays, also expressed gratitude to the provincial government for its support to education, which he said is vital to communities. He noted that aside from key officials, DepEd serves as a “central pillar” of the province.