QUEZON, Philippines– Bilang tugon sa nakaambang pananalasa ng Bagyong Opong, tiniyak ng Quezon Police Provincial Office na ang kanilang mga tauhan na nakatalaga bilang Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) ay handang magbigay ng agarang tulong at serbisyo sa publiko. Ang mga naka-standby na RSSF personnel ay nakahandang magsagawa ng rescue operations, evacuation assistance, at relief distribution bilang suporta sa mga local government units at iba pang ahensya. Patuloy namang nananawagan ang Quezon PPO sa publiko na makipagtulungan, sumunod sa mga paalala ng kanilang mga lokal na pamahalaan, at maging mapagmatyag sa kanilang komunidad upang sama-samang malampasan ang banta ng Bagyong Opong. PIO Quezon PPO  

ATIMONAN, Quezon — Nakiisa ang Atimonan Municipal Police Station sa Quezon sa pangunguna Police Major Marnie Abellanida, chief of police, sa Community Clean-Up Drive na dinaluhan ng mga civil servants mula sa Local Government Unit ng Atimonan sa pamumuno ni Atty Elvis Uy. Ang nasabing programa ay ginawa bilang bahagi ng ika-125 Philippine Civil Service Anniversary. Kalahok rin ang mga barangay officials at mga residente ng Barangay  Zone 1, 2, 3, at 4. Naging matagumpay naman ang nasabing aktibidad dahil bukod sa mga napulot na basura ay nagbigay din ito ng mensahe na dapat nating pangalagaan ang ating kapaligitan.    

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna, Philippines – Ipinahayag ni Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr., na sinangayunan na ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ang kanyang panukala na magtayo ng agri-industrial economic zone sa lungsod. Ayon sa ulat ng City Information Office, ang resolusyon ay inisponsoran ni City Councilor Chad Pavico. Ayon sa alkalde, ang plano para sa ecozone, na kanyang ipinangako noong eleksyon, ay isusumite sa Director General ng PEZA at kalaunan kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. upang ideklara ang site bilang isang special economic zone. Matatandaang noong bumisita ang Pangulo sa San Pablo noong Setyembre 15, sinabi nito kay Mayor Najie na agad isumite ang mungkahing ecozone sa Malacañang. Unang nagpakita ng interes sa nasabing proyekto si businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, na bumili ng Franklin Baker Company, at nangangailangan umano ng 20 ektarya para sa kanilang operasyon. Inaasahang makalilikha ng maraming trabaho para sa mga San Pableño ang itatayong ecozone. Pinasalamatan ni Mayor Najie si OIC City Administrator Rick Jason Tatlonghari na naghanda ng concept paper para sa proyekto. Si Tatlonghari ay may malawak na karanasan sa paggawa ng concept papers at feasibility studies para sa mga programang pangkaunlaran, kabilang na ang dating at kasalukuyang binubuong Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) ng San Pablo. SPC Update)    

BATANGAS, Philippine — Once again proving its mettle on the national stage, the outstanding team of BatStateU Industrial Engineering students secured first place in the PITCH PH 2025 competition during the 10th International Conference on Engineering Education – Philippines (ICEE-Phil 2025) and 70th PAES General Assembly, held on September 13 in the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila. The winning team, Team SABANAYAN, composed of Ria Gale M. Asilo, Cleo Graciana R. Aya, Chastine Lyka Antoinette Jade H. Dorado, Alexis M. Granados, and Irish Lyn D. Lardizabal, triumphed over 19 participating universities across the country. With guidance from their coach, Engr. Ladyllyn M. Culla, the team delivered a powerful pitch that showcased technical brilliance, societal relevance, and entrepreneurial viability—all aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their innovation, SABANAYAN, is a breathable textile, addressing both agricultural waste and the erosion of Filipino textile heritage. The project earned high praise for its financial feasibility, with a projected ₱19M investment and an expected return on investment within 4 years, strong validation from tailoring businesses, and support of five key SDGs: SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being. From one hectare of banana plantation, 140,000 yards of SABANAYAN fabric can be produced, demonstrating both environmental and economic viability. With a net profit margin of 17–27% and an FIRR of 21%, the project redefines what it means to “engineer the future.” PAES Innovation & Technopreneurship Challenge Hub Philippines (P.I.T.C.H. PH) 2025 is a premier platform for showcasing innovative ideas and creative solutions toward a better, sustainable future. It aims to empower young engineers to become catalysts of change through innovation and technopreneurship. 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝘼𝘽𝘼𝙉𝘼𝙔𝘼𝙉! 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩.

LAGUNA, Philippines — Kasunod ng nalalapit na pagpapatupad ng South Korea ng smartphone ban sa mga silid-aralan, patuloy na isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang katulad na panukala para sa mga pampubliko at pribadong paaralan sa bansa. Muling inihain ng senador ang Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act sa pagbubukas ng ika-20 Kongreso, na una niyang inihain noong ika-19 Kongreso. Layunin ng panukalang batas na bigyang mandato ang Department of Education (DepEd) na bumalangkas ng mga alituntunin upang ipagbawal ang paggamit ng mga mobile device at electronic gadgets sa oras ng klase, mula Kindergarten hanggang Senior High School, para sa mga guro at mag-aaral. Gayunpaman, may mga nakasaad na eksepsyon sa panukala, kabilang na ang paggamit ng gadgets para sa pag-aaral (classroom presentations), pangkalusugan (medical conditions), at pamamahala ng mga panganib (off-campus activities at emergencies). “Isinusulong nating ipagbawal ang mga smartphones sa oras ng klase upang hindi maabala ang ating mga mag-aaral. Nais nating paigtingin ang pagtutok ng ating mga mag-aaral sa kanilang aralin,” pahayag ni Gatchalian, Vice Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education. (San Pablo City Update)  

  SAN PABLO CITY,Laguna,Philippines —  Tinanggap ng 322 mag-aaral mula sa iba’t-ibang paaralan ng San Pablo City ang tig-₱9,000 allowance mula sa Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) ng Public Employment Services Office (PESO) katuwang ang City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). Pinamunuan ni PESO Manager Pedrito D. Bigueras at CSWDO Administrative Officer V Edward C. Alcantara ang pamamahagi ng allowance na ginanap sa One Stop Processing Center. Nagsilbing kinatawan ni Mayor Arcadio “Najie” B. Gapangada Jr. si Senior Advisor to the Mayor, Former Ambassador Romy Manalo, na nagbigay ng inspirational message upang hikayatin ang mga estudyante na mas lalo pang pagbutihin ang kanilang pag-aaral at maabot ang pangarap na mas magandang buhay. Ang mga mag-aaral na naging bahagi ng SPES ay nagtrabaho sa kani-kanilang barangay bilang data encoder, profiler, at assistant sa mga indigency programs.

By Belinda Otordoz- PNA SAN PABLO CITY, Philippines — The local government of San Pablo City broke the Guinness World Record for most people planting coconut seedlings simultaneously in different venues, a title formerly held by Nagapattinam District in India.   Driven by a desire to reclaim the city’s former title as the country’s top coconut producer and to revive the industry, Mayor Najie Gapangada spearheaded the planting of 11,000 coconut seedlings in 15 minutes in 12 villages. India’s previous record was not immediately known. The main planting site on Friday was an eight-hectare land owned by Philip Young, special assistant to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Thousands of volunteers, including students, civic organizations, and government employees, participated in the synchronized planting. The seedlings were provided by the City Agriculturist Office and the Philippine Coconut Authority. In his speech before the planting, Gapangada said the initiative also replaced trees from a 500-hectare site where an industrial zone will rise. “The event marks the beginning of a massive three-year coconut planting program to restore San Pablo City’s standing as the number one coconut-producing area in the Philippines,” Gapangada said in a Facebook post. “Planting coconuts is not just the responsibility of the government. Community participation is vital. Government and citizens must work together.” Before the official awarding, Guinness adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar visited the other planting sites to validate the record.      

SAN PABLO CITY, Philippines — In celebration of National Coconut Week, San Pablo City is set to attempt a Guinness World Record for the most number of volunteers planting 11,000 coconut seedlings simultaneously within 15 minutes.The record attempt will take place on August 29, 2025, with thousands of participants expected to join in the historic event.This initiative highlights the city’s commitment to environmental sustainability and coconut industry development.

CAVITE, Philippines — The U.S. government, through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), donated Php1.9 million ($34,500) worth of equipment to the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) Fleet Maintenance and Repair Group (MRG) Workshop in Sangley Point, Cavite, on August 18, The donation will enhance the PCG’s ability to maintain and repair vessels. “This activity is another important step in our capability buildup to provide the necessary equipment for our MRG,” Coast Guard Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Rommel Supangan said during the turnover ceremony.  He also welcomed this support as “another meaningful step forward” in the cooperation between the PCG and the U.S. Embassy to promote maritime security. “INL pledged to continue supporting the MRG as they operationalize their maintenance facility and address vessel sustainment requirements comprehensively across the Coast Guard Fleet.  This transfer of essential equipment and backup power supply will enable a broader and more effective equipment repair program,” U.S. Embassy INL Director Kate Riche said. The PCG’s 400-square-meter Fleet MRG Workshop in Sangley Point was inaugurated in May 2024 as a joint initiative among INL, the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group Philippines, and the PCG to enhance maintenance and repair capability for small boats and systems aboard larger patrol vessels, complementing the MRG facility in the Manila Port Area.  The U.S. Department of Defense funded the construction of the Php54-million ($950,000) MRG Workshop in Sangley Point while INL funded its design and outfitting in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard. INL and other U.S. government agencies are planning additional support for PCG vessel maintenance efforts in the coming year through technical training programs, maintenance and logistic systems planning, and equipment donations for vessel operating stations.