Cagayan

MONEY FROM SEAWEEDS Two workers attend to their seaweed (Gracilaria), locally known as ‘guraman,’ in their backyard which is their primary source of income in Buguey, Cagayan. The local government unit headed by Mayor Licerio Antiporda III has collaborated with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 2 to boost the seaweed industry and help fisherfolk improve their income. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BUGUEY, Cagayan (May 6, 2024)—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 2 has collaborated with the local government unit (LGU) to boost the production of seaweeds (Gracilaria), also locally known as "guraman." Mayor Licerio Antiporda III said their fishing community during the second Buguey Agri-Fiesta conducted in April harvested ar...

DENR Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) spearheads the planting of bamboo and trees on the Philippine Bamboo Month kickoff. FACEBOOK PHOTO FROM DENR REGION 2 BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY (September 16, 2023)—To kick off the Philippine Bamboo Month celebration, more than 16,000 bamboo propagules and Indigenous species were recently planted by around 3,000 volunteers in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley). According to Carolyn Annang-Tumamao, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 information officer, the planting activity, which was spearheaded by the DENR Region 2 in partnership with One Movement Inc., was simultaneously held in 17 sites in the region. These sites can be found in the following towns: Ivana in Batanes; Baggao, Camalaniugan, Sanchez Mira, Solana, ...

Cagayan State University embraces 11,883 fresh faces during the welcome ceremonies for the new members of the CSU academic community on September 4, 2023, as they mark the beginning of their college journey. FACEBOOK PHOTO/CSU OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT TUGUEGARAO CITY (September 14, 2023)—Some 11,883 freshmen in nine campuses for the School Year 2023-2024 mark the beginning of their college journey with the Cagayan State University (CSU) during the welcome ceremonies for the new members of the CSU academic community on September 4, 2023. CSU President Dr. Urdujah Alvarado said the university opens a new academic year and embraces these brand new faces with 2,035 freshmen of the CSU-Andrews Campus who officially took their first steps on the campus during the traditional Gra...

Cagayan Valley Medical Center. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY JERICO JOSHUA KAHULUGAN, The Manila Times TUGUEGARAO CITY (September 13, 2023)—The Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) has announced that the construction of its project, the Behavioral Medicine Center which promises to redefine healthcare services in Region 2, has started. CVMC chief Dr. Glenn Mathew Baggao said the project, which has a budget of P50 million, will cover 3,904.39 square meters. Once completed, the center will offer a wide range of services to meet the diverse health care needs of the community, including specialized inpatient services covering forensic, geriatric, recovery, chronic, custodial, child and adolescent care, as well as occupational therapy. Moreover, an outpatient department extension is set t...

BY JERICO JOSHUA KAHULUGAN TUGUEGARAO CITY (September 12, 2023)—The Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) has identified four towns in Cagayan province as election hotspots ahead of the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. These towns are Aparri, Gonzaga, Rizal, and Baggao. While the provinces of Batanes, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) remain relatively peaceful, these four towns have been identified as election hotspots due to the presence of communist terrorist groups and heated political rivalries. Maj. Sharon Mallillin, regional police information officer of PRO2, said to maintain security in these areas, PRO2 has established 86 strategic checkpoint areas and deployed 900 police personnel at the start of the election perio...

SANTA ANA, Cagayan (August 11, 2023)—The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Now Group to expand the connectivity and information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP). Secretary Katrina Ponce Enrile said the MoU intends to formally establish an understanding between the two parties to design and develop a world-class Communications Critical Infrastructure that also provides unified connectivity, software systems and services in the CSEZFP. On Aug. 3, 2023, the MoU was signed by CEZA, through Enrile, and Now Group, through its chairman, Mel Velarde. Witnessing the signing were CEZA Deputy Administrator for Operations lawyer Marichelle de Guzman and Now Co...

Sec. Katrina Ponce Enrile, CEZA administrator and chief executive officer. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO SANTA ANA, Cagayan (August 8, 2023)—With its strategic geographical position, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) is being groomed as an ideal option for the gaming investment and digital markets. CEZA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Katrina Ponce Enrile said investors and locators may also consider the modern infrastructure and support facilities on top of a clear set of policies and systems that make CEZA a haven for operators and players. She said the geographical location of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Free Port (CSEZFP) puts it in a favorable position to conveniently penetrate the gaming and digital markets of the Asia-Pacific region and the United States. ...

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (August 7, 2023)—The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) will be "strategizing and pooling efforts" to rehabilitate areas damaged by Typhoon "Egay" in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley). In a convergence meeting on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, DA-RFO2 Executive Director and Officer in Charge Rose Mary Aquino said there is a need for a methodical strategy through the Masagana Industry Rice Development Program in the rehabilitation of damages, especially to rice. The meeting was attended by officials from the National Food Authority (NFA) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and provincial agriculturists of the different provincial governments of Cagayan Valley. It was convened to act on the rehabilitation of rice areas damaged by "Egay," st...

Department of Science and Technology undersecretary and Region 2 director Sancho Mabborang (third from left) is awarded an honorary degree in Public Administration during the 45th Commencement Rites of the Graduate School of Cagayan State University-Carig Campus on July 22, 2023, with CSU President Dr. Urdujah Alvarado (fourth from left) assisting. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Department of Science and Technology undersecretary and Region 2 director Sancho Mabborang (third from left) is awarded an honorary degree in Public Administration during the 45th Commencement Rites of the Graduate School of Cagayan State University-Carig Campus on July 22, 2023, with CSU President Dr. Urdujah Alvarado (fourth from left) assisting. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO THE Cagayan State University (CSU) has awarded Departme...

By Catherine S. Valente, The Manila Times (UPDATE) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed business magnate Katrina Gloria Ponce Enrile as the new head of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). Malacañang announced the appointment of Enrile, daughter of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, on Wednesday. The young Enrile would serve as administrator and chief executive officer (CEO) of the CEZA with Cabinet rank, the Palace said. In a Facebook post, Katrina expressed her gratitude to the President for her appointment. "Thank you for the trust President @bongbongmarcos. I am beyond grateful. This is Katrina Ponce Enrile, newly appointed CEZA Administrator/CEO at your service," she said.