By Danny Estacio   GUMACA, Quezon- This town municipal mayor Webster D. Letargo announced here the town feted a Panata Ko Bayan Awards on March 11, 2025. Letargo said the recognition of excellence was received as  a Model Local Government Unit Implementing Persons with Disability Affairs Office in municipal level which was the only town in Quezon. Also the town was presented as “LGU Implementing Supplemental Feeding Program in the municipal level being a “Hall of Famer” Letargo was with the Municipal Social Welfare officer Nancy Pascual, Person with Disability Affairs Office head Haven Hamilton Villapando, MSWDO staff Zsarina SJ. Anacion and Sharralaine Ledda, municipal councilors GJ Ylagan, Juancho Mercurio,  Wilfredo Veluz, and Gilbert Amier. Letargo said with an excellent and dedicated service to the citizens we will continue to achieve success and honors that will serve as an instrument towards a more progressive and developed Gumaca.            

  Dala ang hangaring makapaghatid ng libreng serbisyong pangkalusugan sa mga Quezonian, matagumpay na naisagawa ang “Kalinga sa Mamamayan, Libreng Gamutan” o Medical Mission sa Brgy. Dinahican, Infanta, Quezon, noong Marso 6. Sa inisyatibong ito ni Governor Doktora Helen Tan, umabot sa 3,551 na indibidwal ang nahandugan ng serbisyo medikal sa nasabing bayan. Naging katuwang ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan sina Vice-Governor Third Alcala, Board Member Julius Luces, mga Private Doctors, at iba’t ibang espesyalista na mula pa sa loob at labas ng Quezon. Ilan sa serbisyong naibigay sa mga benepisyaryo ay ang Medical Consultation, Dental Extraction, Minor Surgery, FBS, Laboratory, Ultrasound, at ECG. Handog din ang bagong idinagdag na optical service kung saan may konsultasyon sa mata at libreng salamin para sa mga higit na nangangailangan. Kasama ring naghandog ng serbisyo ang Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, kung saan may 188 na benepisyaryo ang nakinabang sa libreng konsultasyon at bakuna sa anti-rabies. Samantala, asahang hindi titigil ang Pamahalaang Panlalawigan sa pagbibigay ng libreng serbisyo na tiyak na mapapakinabangan ng lahat ng mamamayan sa Quezon.

Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ngayon ang pagsasagawa ng Diving Activities sa buong lalawigan ng Quezon hanggang sa magkaroon ng impormasyon na ligtas na muli ang pagsasagawa nito. Ipinararating sa publiko lalo na sa mga nagmamay-ari ng beach resorts na may mga diving activities na pansamantalang ipinagbabawal muna ang pagsasagawa ng diving activities at mga kaignay nito. Sa kadahilanang sa hindi ligtas sa ganitong gawain ang lagay ng karagatan sa ngayon at may ilang kumpirmadong ulat ng din ng “Shark Attacks”. Ito ay batay na rin sa liham na natanggap ng Quezon Provincial Tourism Office mula sa Coast Guard Station Southern Luzon. Matatanaan na dalawang Russian diver ang nalunod habang nag-scuba diving sa dagat na puno ng pating ng Sitio Pulong Bato, Barangay San Agapito, Isla Verde, Batangas City, noong Pebrero 27.  

Kasabay ang paggagawad kay Governor Doktotra Helen Tan bilang Lieutenant Colonel ng AFP Reserved Force, ginanap rin ang activation ng Quezon Provincial Cyber Response Team (QPCRT) and Signing of Deed of Donation, na ginanap sa Camp BGen Guillermo P Nakar, Lucena City, noong Pebrero 18. Sa kasalukuyang panahon ang cyberscam ay lumalaganap na krimen, gumagamit ito ng teknolohiya upang makakuha ng pera o impormasyon mula sa mga tao. Madalas na ginagamit ng mga scammer ang email, social media, at mga pekeng websites upang magmukhang lehitimo at magpanggap bilang isang kumpanya o tao na may magandang layunin. Sa patuloy na pagdami ng mga online na scammer, naalarma ang mga kapulisan sa dumaraming kirmen sa Lalawigan ng Quezon, dahil dito minabuti ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan sa pangunguna ni Governor Tan na pagkalooban ang mga kapulisan ng mga laptop, printer at computer na makakatulong para sa mas mabilis na pagtuklas ang mga kriminal online. Kasabay nito pormal na ring binasbasan ang bagong rehabilitasyon ng Detective Office sa pangunguna ni Command Chaplain, SOLCOM Rev Fr (MAR) Joseph Jim M Camargo, hangad ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan na magkaroon ng kamalayan ang mga Quezonian sa cyberscam upang hindi malinlang ng ibang tao. Samantala, tuloy-tuloy ang pakikipagbalikatan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan sa pagtupad ng tungkulin sa pangkapayapaan at seguridad ng buong Lalawigan ng Quezon.    

Bumisita sa Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ang mga kinatawan mula sa UNICEF Council for the Welfare of Children, at Social Watch Philippines upang makipagpulong kay Governor Doktora Helen Tan, noong Pebrero 3. Layunin ng pagpupulong na ipakilala sa lalawigan ng Quezon ang Enhanced Child Budget Tagging Tool (CBTT), na ayon sa UNICEF ay magagamit sa pagpapalakas ng public financial management for children at makatutulong sa monitoring at tamang alokasyon ng pondo at programa para sa kapakinabangan ng mga kabataan gaya ng programa sa edukasyon, kalusugan, nutrisyon, social welfare and protection, at child participation. Pinaunlakan ni Governor Tan ang nasabing pagbisita at tiniyak na natututukan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ang mga proyekto na mapapakinabangan ng mga kabataan, tulad ng mga programa sa edukasyon at social assistance na kinakailangan ng bawat Quezonian. Dagdag pa rito, siniguro ng Gobernadora na bukas ang tanggapan sa kolaborasyon mula sa iba’t ibang organisasyon na nagnanais na makipagtulungan para sa kabutihan ng mga kabataan. Samantala, dumalo rin sa pagpupulong sina DILG Provincial Director Abigail Andres, Provincial Administrator Manny Butardo, Executive Assistant John Francis Luzano, at ilan pang mga pinuno ng tanggapan mula sa pamahalaang panlalawigan.        

  Camp BGen Vicente P. Lim – The Drug Enforcement Team of the Angono Municipal Police Station successfully arrested 5 drug suspects and seized P2,720,000.00 worth of shabu in Brarangay San Isidro, Angono, Rizal, on January 19, 2025. The arrested suspects were identified as alias “Rodney,” 27; alias “Melquiadez,” 73; and alias “Gladdys,” 45, all residents of Barangay San Isidro, Angono, Rizal, and listed as High-Value Individuals (HVI). Also arrested were alias “Jose,” 32, a resident of Barangay Muzon, Taytay, Rizal, and alias “Samuel,” 48, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Angono, Rizal, both categorized as Street-Level Individuals (SLI). All suspects are under the Angono MPS Drug Watchlist. During the operation, authorities confiscated 11 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets and 2 knot-tied transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu, weighing 400 grams with a standard drug price of P2,720,000.00. Also seized were two Android phones, a digital weighing scale, a brown handbag, and buy-bust money. Regional Director PBGen Paul Kenneth T Lucas lauded the successful operation. “This accomplishment demonstrates our relentless efforts in combating illegal drugs. The arrest of these high value individuals is a significant step toward ensuring the safety and security of the community. Rest assured, we will continue to intensify our operations to protect the public and uphold the rule of law,” he said. Meanwhile, the arrested suspects, along with the confiscated evidence, are under the custody of the Angono MPS Custodial Facility, while cases for violation of RA 9165, also known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” is being prepared for filling at Rizal Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Hilltop, Taytay, Rizal. RPIO4A

By Danny Estacio   CALAMBA CITY, Laguna- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office 4A said on Wednesday that while Quezon province has been experiencing persistent moderate to heavy rainfall caused by the “shear line” since November 2024, the Daang Maharlika in Pagbilao and Atimonan-Calauag, has significantly affected the road conditions. Regional Director Jovel Mendoza said that these sections have long been classified as Beyond Routine Maintenance (BRM) areas due to their sustained deterioration. Mendoza added that currently, 9.37% of Daang Maharlika, spanning 20.67 kilometers is categorized as being in bad condition and 14.60% of the road that covers 32.19 kilometers is classified as being in poor condition.   The said areas require rehabilitation to ensure safety, Mendoza said. He added the ongoing maintenance efforts are being undertaken by the Quezon 1st and Quezon 4th District Engineering Offices. Both concerned offices have been diligently implementing temporary and palliative measures to minimize disruptions and ensure road safety. These efforts include continuous pothole patching even during rainy periods, roto milling, and rehabilitating severely damaged asphalt sections. Mendoza assured the public that the DPWH-4A remains committed to maintaining these critical roadways to the best of its ability. He mentioned that there are ongoing road rehabilitation including 44 scheduled projects along Daang Maharlika Road for 2025. Your safety and convenience are our priority, and we are working to ensure smooth traffic flow along these vital routes, said Mendoza. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we carry out these necessary road maintenance and rehabilitation activities, Mendoza said.      

By Danny Estacio   TIAONG, Quezon – Local government unit (LGU) led by Municipal Mayor Vincent Arjay Mea distributed P33 million worth of service vehicles, heavy equipment, garbage hauler type and 31 mobile patrols on Monday, Jun.13, here. Mayor Mea turned over the symbolic keys of the said vehicles together with the members of the Municipal Council to 31 villages, and the Office of the Senior Citizens. The vehicles were newly acquired by the LGU in 2024 composed of utility, passenger vans, mini dump truck, garbage compactor truck, two hydraulic excavators, garbage haulers and patrol vehicles. Mea said the funds were taken from the town’ s general funds under 20 percent development, supplemental budget, special trust fund for calamity, and purposely for general use of the local government units while the passenger van is assigned to the office of senior citizens. The Patrol vehicles are for emergency use and regular patrolling of the barangay’s maintenance of peace and order. Mea added that he also gave P100,000 cash assistance to every barangay intended for gasoline, so that the barangay councils would not need to allocate funds.        

Camp BGen Vicente P. Lim – The Drug Enforcement Team of Lumban Municipal Police Station successfully seized ₱1,020,000 worth of shabu and apprehended a high-value individual (HVI) during a police operation in Barangay Concepcion, Lumban, Laguna, on January 9. The arrested suspect was identified as alias “Axcel,” 24, listed as a high-value individual in Lumban MPS drug watchlist and a resident of Barangay Maytalang 1, Lumban, Laguna who was arrested after selling a heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu to a police officer who posed as poseur buyer. During said operation, authorities recovered 1 knot-tied transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, along with 2 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing the same substance weighing 150 grams with Standard Drug Price of Php1,020,000.00, weighing scale, a pouch; and drug bust money. Regional Director PBGen Paul Kenneth T Lucas commended the operatives for their successful operation. “This successful operation highlights our steadfast commitment to eradicating illegal drugs in CALABARZON. We assure the public that the Philippine National Police will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities from the dangers of illegal substances as your safety and well-being remain our top priorities, and we will not rest until every corner of our region is safe and drug-free,” he said. Meanwhile, the arrested suspect together with the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to Lumban MPS for documentation and proper disposition and violation of Section 5 and Violation of Sec 11 Article II of RA 9165 is being prepared for filing before the Provincial Prosecution Office, Sta Cruz, Laguna. RPIO4A