Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño leads the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the SBMA Child Development Center at Building 662 in Subic Bay Freeport zone with Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Ramon Agregado.  

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga- Three  former rebels yielded to authorities and 10 supporters withdrew their support to the CTGs between August 6 and 9. Brig.Gen.Jose Hidalgo,Jr., said that a 48-year-old former rebel surrendered to police authorities in Tarlac on August 7, identified only as “Ka Gerry,” the individual voluntarily turned in a homemade Caliber .38 revolver and five live rounds of ammunition. Meanwhile, on August 6, a former member of the UGMO, linked with the Samahan ng mga Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Tabing Dagat, turned in an improvised firearm known as “Deposporo” and voluntary presented himself to authorities in Aurora. Also on August 6, a former member of the Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP Bataan-Zambales), under Ka Arlan Command, took an “Oath of Allegiance” to formally renounce insurgency. The surrender was facilitated by the San Fernando City Police Station, 302nd Mobile Company, and other supporting units. The individual handed over a revolver, six live rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade, and detonating cords. Relatedly, 10 Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid (LMB) members withdrew their support from the Alyansang Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) on August 9. The withdrawal occurred at the 2nd PMFC 3rd Forward Operation Base in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Additionally, on August 8, a joint operation led by the 91st Infantry Battalion, alongside the Aurora Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit (PECU), Police Intelligence Unit (PIU) Aurora, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) 3, and the Maria Aurora Municipal Police Station, successfully unearthed a hidden armaments cache believed to belong to Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) in Barangay Dikildit, Maria Aurora. The operation resulted in the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and other items such as four(4) M76 grenade rifle rounds with bullet traps, one MK2 fragmentation hand grenade, six non-electric blasting caps, four sticks of dynamite, and various ammunition, including a magazine for an M16 rifle, empty shells, and live rounds for calibers .22, .45, and 5.56mm. In addition to the weaponry, the excavation also revealed non-military items, including two pairs of black boots, a silver wristwatch, three black flashlights, a book titled “Promoting Indigenous Knowledge for Food Security,” and a tarpaulin bearing the logo of Katribu, an Indigenous people’s advocacy group. These coordinated efforts across various provinces in the region show the government’s commitment to fostering peace and encouraging former rebels to reintegrate into society, contributing to the broader goal of ending local communist armed conflict. Moreover, this discovery of armaments is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to weaken the operational capabilities of CTGs in the region. We continue to urge local communities to report any suspicious activities through hotline numbers 09175562597/09176235700 or to the nearest police station that may lead to the dismantling of insurgent operations and promote peace and security in Central Luzon,” Hidaldgo stated.      

Subic Bay Freeport – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Subic Freeport community have mobilized additional equipment to control the oil spill in Bataan. SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that the SBMA has allowed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to use its 160-meter spill boom last Friday to help contain the oil spill from the MT Terra Nova that sank off the waters of Limay town on Thursday. Aliño said that the SBMA is willing to provide any assistance to the PCG by lending equipment from the agency’s Seaport Department. The SBMA helped the PCG provide the needed equipment at the Subic Bay Yacht Club (SBYC). “We hope that they would also use it not just for the MT Terra Nova incident, but also for the MTKR Jason Bradley that sank on the coastal waters of Mariveles,” he added. The SBMA conducted an emergency meeting thru Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao last week to discuss the deployment of the oil spill boom using the PCG’s BRP Suluan. Meanwhile, two towage companies were also tapped to assist in containing the oil spill from MT Terra Nova using their expertise, equipment, and tugboats. Yambao identified the companies as Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. and Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. “The two companies have requested from the Operations Branch of the Seaport Department to exit the Port of Subic to respond to the oil spill in Limay,” he added. Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. mobilized siphoning equipment to extract at least 300,000 liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO). At least 50,000 liters of IFO are targeted to be siphoned per day. Recently, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) held a joint meeting with the national and regional disaster risk reduction committee to address the Bataan oil spill incident. DILG Sec. Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. led the meeting along with the National at Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils. Bataan Gov. Joet Garcia, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, and other government agencies were also present to discuss possible actions to avert massive oil spill in the region.    

  SAN FERNANDO CITY,Pampanga — In a heartwarming display of community spirit and collaboration, SM City Clark, SM City Pampanga, SM City Telabastagan, and SM City San Fernando Downtown recently participated in the annual Brigada Eskwela at elementary schools in Pampanga. At Dau Homesite Elementary School, SM City Clark joined forces with dedicated volunteers to undertake a comprehensive transformationof the learning environment. Classroom walls and window grills were repainted, and the surroundings were cleaned to create a vibrant and conducive atmosphere for students. Meanwhile, SM City Pampanga adopted Lagundi Elementary School, where they donated cleaning and painting materials. Similarly, SM City Telabastagan extended their support to Telabastagan Integrated School, where they provided cleaning materials. Furthermore, SM City San Fernando Downtown took their commitment to community development to the next level by adopting Sta. Teresita Day Care. In addition to cleaning the facility, they donated school supplies to the school.   Part of the activity was the turnover of books to support the educational needs of students, enriching their learning experience and expanding their access to knowledge. This act of kindness and generosity from SM will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the school community, promoting a positive and hygienic learning environment. The annual program of SM, in partnership with DepEd, has been a traditional activity where SM employees devote their time to help clean, repaint, and repair classrooms for the improvement of school facilities    

  The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Board of Directors and agency officials welcome US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and US  Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, during their brief visit to Subic Bay Freeport on Wednesday as part of their official itinerary. The United States government plans to invest in high-quality, high-impact infrastructure via the Luzon Economic Corridor that includes key economic hubs such as Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas.    

By Arvin F.M.Cabalu/PIO TARLAC Governor Susan Yap lauded the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in banning all POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation) in the country during his third State Of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa, June 22. “I was elated and relief to hear when the president mentioned the banning of POGO in the country. The best SONA I ever heard so far.,” the governor said when asked during the Department of Migrant Workers press conference at the Diwa ng Tarlac last July 23. The lady governor who has attended 14 previous SONAs both as a Congresswoman and now as Governor, expressed her admiration for the President’s comprehensive agenda and his administration’s achievements over the past year. She noted that President Marcos’ address highlighted crucial initiatives that resonate deeply with the people of Tarlac and the nation as a whole.   “This is my 14th SONA ever since I joined public service and in all of these, this is the first time I took notes [of the] 45 topics that the president discussed. First time. That’s how impressed I was with the president’s SONA. [A] very strong, very decisive and very clear message to all the Filipinos, especially his last statement,” the governor said. Yap noted that the president’s order to ban all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country by the end of the year is “the best decision that a president can make.” “Effective today [July 22], all POGOs are banned. I hereby instruct [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation] PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year,” the President said in his SONA. “This strikes us in the heart because finally someone heard us. As early as 2020 I’ve had many press releases. In January 2021, we didn’t want the POGO in our province but it did happen. His ending statement last night made me very happy because finally someone took a decisive step to ban POGOs,” Yap said. 𝗣𝗢𝗚𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘆 In March of this year, Tarlac was at the center of controversy when a POGO Hub in Bamban town was raided by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime. The Mayor of Bamban, Alice Guo, was subjected to a senate hearing and several criminal cases were filed against her. POGO has come to the attention of all Filipinos in the past months as Senate and Congressional hearings have unearthed various illegal activities involving elected officials of the country. Yap, in previous interviews said that as early as January 2021, POGOs were already been banned in Tarlac province by virtue of a Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution.

  Mahigit sa 100 bata mula sa iba’t ibang barangay na nasasakupan ng Parokya ng Ina ng Laging Saklolo sa Aringin,Moncada,Tarlac, ang tumanggap ng Unang Banal (First Communion), noong Hulyo 26,2024. Karamihan sa mga batang Katoliko ay tumatanggap ng kanilang Unang Banal na Komunyon kapag sila ay 7 o 8 taong gulang, dahil ito ay itinuturing na edad ng pangangatuwiran. Sila’y inihanda at tinuruan ng mga katekista at Ang Banal na Misa ay idinaos sa pangunguna ni Kura Paroko, Reb. Padre Alvin S. Ramos. Ang nasabing aktibidad ay pinangunahan ng Ministeryo ng Kabataan at ng Committee on Education.Ang Unang Banal na Komunyon ay itinuturing na isa sa pinakabanal at pinakamahalagang okasyon sa buhay ng isang taong Romano Katoliko. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na ang isang tao ay tumanggap ng Sakramento ng Banal na Eukaristiya, na kung saan ay ang pagkain ng banal na tinapay at pag-inom ng banal na alak.    

  CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga- Police in Central Luzon continue to carry out disaster response operations as effects of Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Typhoon “Carina” remains in Central Luzon. PRO3 Regional Director Brig.Gen. Jose Hidalgo,Jr. said, that he gave directives to all commanders to implement previous measures that were observed including all guidelines under the PNP Critical Incident Management Operational Procedures (CIMOP). The Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3 was also instructed to conduct forward deployment to readily respond to any eventuality brought by the typhoon. A total of 474 personnel are deployed for response operations including those deployed in evacuation centers while 578 are on standby and ready on call for search, rescue and retrieval operations, and 466 comprise the Reactionary Standby Support Force. Based on combined reports from all police units of Region 3 and the Office of the Civil Defense-Region 3, as of press time, a total of 528 families composed of 1,509 individuals are temporarily sheltered at 34 of the 800 evacuation centers region-wide particularly in Bataan, Bulacan, and Olongapo City, 71 barangays in Bulacan and 68 in Pampanga are flooded while 7 roads also in Bulacan are impassable to vehicles. Relatedly, 33 individuals in Bataan and 1 in Angeles City were rescued by authorities. Unfortunately, two individuals including a minor died due to landslide in Angeles City and two (2) persons are still missing in Bataan. Some provinces in Central Luzon have announced the suspension of classes and work due to severe weather conditions brought about by the intensified typhoon. Hidalgo also said that PRO3 will start the distribution of relief packs to families most hard hit during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina in Central Luzon.

By: Dante M. Salvana PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – “Nangangailangan kami ng mas maraming army reservists.” Ito ang naging pahayag ni Major General Romulo Manuel Jr. ng Army Reserve Command (AResCom) sa ilalim ng Philippine Army (PA) sa ginanap na Joint Task Force (JTF) Kaugnay Reservist Forum at Press Conference na pinangunahan ng 7th Infantry Division (7ID) sa Fort Magsaysay noong Linggo July 21. Ayon kay Manuel, ang bansa ay mayroong 150,000 aktibong tauhan mula sa Armed Forces of the Philippines at 1,400,000 Ready Reserves para sa taong 2024. Idinagdag na ang populasyon sa buong Pilipinas ay nasa 119,194,072. “Ang bilang ng ating mga sundalo sa bansa ay mahigit isang porsyento lamang ng kabuuang populasyon. Hinihimok ko ang bawat Pilipino na magboluntaryo bilang bahagi ng ating mga reserba at maglingkod sa ating bansa sa panahon ng krisis,” aniya. “Ang Pilipinas ay umaasa sa mga reservist nito upang magbigay ng suporta at pagpapalakas sa regular na sandatahang lakas, lalo na sa panahon ng krisis at pambansang emerhensiya,” at idinagdag na ang kontribusyon ng mga reservist ng hukbo sa pambansang depensa ay kritikal at kailangang-kailangan. Sinabi pa nito na ang mga reservist ay magkakaroon din ng parehong pagsasanay tulad ng sa isang tauhan ng militar, kabilang ang mga pagsasanay sa militar at paghawak ng armas. Upang maging bahagi ng ResCom, ang enlistment ay sa pamamagitan ng Military Orientation Training Course (MOTC) at ng Basic Citizens Military Training (BCMT). Ang mga Reserve Officer sa kabilang banda ay direktang kinomisyon batay sa AFP Policy Circular 30. Ang isang enlisted o officer reservist kapag tinawag sa aktibong tungkulin sa bisa ng mobilisasyon ay tatanggap ng lahat ng suweldo at allowance, pangangalagang medikal, ospital at iba pang mga pribilehiyo at benepisyo na itinakda ng batas o mga regulasyon para sa mga opisyal at enlisted personnel ng regular na puwersa. Nakasentro ang forum sa suporta ng 7ID sa Army Reserve Force Development kasama si Manuel bilang panauhing pandangal at tagapagsalita, at bahagi ito ng 36th Founding Anniversary celebration ng Kaugnay Division na may temang, 7ID@36: Husay at Disiplina tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas.