TUGUEGARAO CITY (September 2, 2024)—A hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) was rescued after it was accidentally trapped in a fish net in Diora Zinungan, Sta. Ana, Cagayan on Saturday, environment workers said on Thursday.

Fisherman John Kenneth Recolizado found the turtle entangled in his net, prompting him to immediately report the matter to the Santa Ana Fishery Station of the Provincial Agriculture Office.

Environmental workers Derick Adap and Jomar Cabingabang of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Aparri met with Santa Ana local representatives, and they decided to bring the sea turtle back to its natural habitat after a checkup.

The hawksbill sea turtle, a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae and the only extant species in the genus Eretmochelys, measures 51-cm in length and 48-cm in width.

Environmentalists put the tag PH2179BA so that it can be known immediately in case it is caught or netted in the sea again.

BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA

TUGUEGARAO CITY (August 31, 2024)—A total of 1,678 cases of dengue were recorded from January 1 to August 26 this year in Cagayan province, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported on Thursday.

The PHO records show that most of these cases were from Lasam town with 225, Tuguegarao City with 184, followed by Aparri with 147 cases, Abulug with 135, and Gattaran with 117.

The PHO has intensified close monitoring and on-site inspection in various towns in Cagayan to ensure the breeding grounds of mosquitos that carry dengue virus are cleaned to prevent the spread of the disease.

In the face of increasing cases of dengue, the PHO has once again called on the public to follow the 5S strategy to prevent the further spread of the disease.

The 5S are search and destroy, self-protection, seek early consultation, support fogging and spraying, and sustain hydration.

The PHO warned that the number of dengue cases in the province could increase and called on the public to be vigilant and follow the recommendations of the health authorities to ensure everyone’s safety.

BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA

TUGUEGARAO CITY (August 27, 2024)—The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) in Cagayan Valley has received numerous complaints from farmers about fake, unregistered and mislabeled pesticides and fertilizers.

FPA regional manager Leonardo Bangad, in a statement, said the FPA is moving to pursue the people behind the counterfeit agriculture products as well as traders selling products with expired certificates of product registration.

“It is a great help in catching the accused in complaints received from farmers such as selling them with strange colors, different packaging, and ineffective fertilizers and pesticides, reason for the FDA and law enforcement agencies to conduct surveillance and entrapment operations,” Bangad said.

Bangad said the agency regularly monitors stores selling agricultural products in Cagayan Valley to ensure that only legitimate fertilizers and pesticides are sold in the region.

The FPA also visits the warehouses of the manufacturers to ensure the quality of their products.

Bangad also reminded the farmers to avoid buying from barangay agents, especially if they are not licensed distributors.

“And if the products are sold at a cheap price and if the label on their packaging is written in foreign characters, report them to the FPA or the municipal agriculturist,” he said.

Anyone caught selling counterfeit pesticides and fertilizers may be charged for violation of the provisions of PD 1144 which is punishable by imprisonment and a fine of P5,000 to P50,000 depending on the severity of the violation.

This is in addition to the charges that may be filed for violating the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

TUGUEGARAO CITY (August 25, 2024)—At least 8,481 tuberculosis cases have been registered in the first seven months this year in the Cagayan Valley region, with smoking tagged as one of the primary culprits.

Janet Ibay, infectious disease cluster head of the Department of Health-Cagayan Valley, on Wednesday invoked the need for healthy living amid reports that the region has recorded a 106-percent notification rate of tuberculosis.

Health officer Florentino Somera III noted that most of those affected were men with ages 50 and above.

Ibay said that tuberculosis was minimal during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but this was reportedly due to people’s limited access to hospitals.

Many patients were not immediately able to undergo examination and treatment due to restrictions and fear of being included among the Covid patients, she added.

Health officials asked villagers not to ignore the symptoms of tuberculosis such as having a cough for more than a week, fever, weight loss, body weakness and loss of appetite.

The health department in the region has partnered with the Philippine Business for Social Progress for the implementation of the TB Caravan that delivers free chest x-rays to different municipalities in the region, Ibay said.

“We are having a schedule of our free chest x-ray in different local government units in our region, so just coordinate, ask our rural health units for the schedule of the free chest x-ray,” she added.

The number of rebels who were awarded cash assistance was based on the data from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

According to PSWDO, 36 of them were former members of the People’s Militia each receiving P15,000 immediate assistance while nine former New People’s Army regulars received P15,000 immediate assistance.

For their reintegration, the surrenderers received P21,000 and P50,000 livelihood assistance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Cagayan.

The financial assistance provided to the beneficiaries was funded under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) fund, a government program that aims to help former members of rebel groups who want to return to the government and live a normal life.

Gov. Manuel Mamba joined the activity as committee chairman of E-Clip.

In his message, Mamba emphasized the importance of choosing a leader who is willing to listen to those who do not have the strength and voice to express their ideals.

Also joining the activity were the DILG in Cagayan, Task Force Balik Loob, Cagayan Police Provincial Office, Army’s 95th Infantry Battalion, 17th Infantry Battalion and 502nd Infantry Battalion. LCD

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 around 100 metric tons or an equivalent of 14 MT of dried guraman.

Antiporda noted that their bountiful harvest showcased the commercial production of guraman in the Buguey Lagoon where farming technology was enhanced.

He said seaweed farming remains one of the major sources of income in the municipality as its cultivation is year-round.

The BFAR explained that seaweed is a raw material for gulaman bar production, wherein agar is used as an emulsifier for commercial products, or processed as chips, noodles or pickles.

It said this is also locally consumed in fresh form and is used as supplemental feeds for siganids culture.

“Due to the promising economic returns from seaweed farming in the municipality, more farmers are encouraged to engage in such livelihood,” Antiporda said.

Thus, the need for interventions on culture and post-harvest management to sustain the industry in the municipality, he added.

Meanwhile, BFAR Region 2 director Angel Encarnacion said the bureau has been supporting the LGU in its efforts to develop and manage its various aquatic resources uniquely found in the municipality such as gracilaria, siganids, mud crabs and oysters, among others. LEANDER C. DOMINGO

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, Gattaran and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan; Dinapigue, Palanan, Quirino, Ramon, Naguilian, San Guillermo and Cabagan in Isabela; Diffun in Quirino; and Bambang in Nueva Vizcaya.

Planted in these sites were bamboo and Indigenous tree species such as bayog, kawayan tinik, kawayan kiling, narra, molave, kalumpit, ipil and dao.

Presidential Proclamation 1401 was signed on June 27, 2022 which declared September as Philippine Bamboo Month while September 26 is annually celebrated as Save Sierra Madre Day under Proclamation 413 signed in 2009. 

Tumamao said the activity is part of a simultaneous nationwide bamboo and tree-planting activity in support of the socioeconomic and environmental development agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tagged as “LAB for All: Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan,” which was also done in time with the President’s birthday celebration.

“We just don’t plant trees and bamboo, we grow them. Growing connotes maintenance and protection,” said DENR Region 2 Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan.

Officials and representatives from the national government, including law enforcement agencies, municipal and barangay local government units, people’s organizations, civil society organizations, mining companies and other partners, also participated in the activity.

Bambalan also emphasized that it is the responsibility of the volunteers to ensure the survival of the seedlings. She said the One Movement Inc. intends to plant trees within the 10 provinces covering the Sierra Madre Mountain range that include Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

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 Grand Athena Walk through the Parthenon-inspired stairs.

Supported by all faculty, staff and returning students, the welcome activity with a festive atmosphere greeted freshmen with a jump-street competition among the first-year students.

Alvarado welcomed the undergraduate students as they enter a new chapter in their lives saying that her office is always open for all members of the CSU community.

“I may not be able to entertain all of you at the same time, but I will always make time for you. I want you to make me and all of your professors, deans and administrators a part of your journey,” she said.

Remarking that learning is an endless and exciting journey, Alvarado said, “I am glad that you chose Cagayan State University to be the home of your growth in knowledge.”

She also noted that the students will find in the university the fount of their visions and the cradle of their dreams “as long as you are prepared to give all that you can to the cause of your education and formation.”

In his opening remarks, Prof. Ramon Kanapi, CSU-Andrews Campus executive officer, also advised the students.

“In college, your goal is to recreate yourself. Your transition is your responsibility and soon will be your achievement,” Kanapi said.

According to Alvarado, other CSU campuses also conducted their welcome activities in their respective campus.

CSU-Carig has welcomed the largest batch of freshmen at 4,068. CSU-Aparri welcomed 1,550 new students, while CSU-Sanchez Mira has 1,394. The campus of Gonzaga registered 728 new students.

CSU-Lal-lo Campus greeted 629 new students while CSU-Piat recorded 545 first-year students. The newest addition to the university, CSU-Solana has 519 new students, while CSU-Lasam has the smallest freshmen population at 415. LCD

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 to benefit residents of Amulung, Solana, and select areas of Alcala, making quality health care more accessible than ever before.

The center will also provide essential support services, including pharmacy, nursing, dietary, psychological, social, billing, and cashier services, ensuring comprehensive care for patients.

In a boon for the local economy, this state-of-the-art health facility is expected to create approximately 200 jobs, offering newfound opportunities for the community.

Baggao expressed his gratitude for the funding, which was made possible through the 3rd District of Cagayan.

For the people of Cagayan, this transformative healthcare endeavor not only promises elevated standards of service but also a significant enhancement in overall well-being.

With its comprehensive services and dedicated team of healthcare professionals, the Behavioral Medicine Center is poised to become a pivotal asset in the regional healthcare landscape, dedicated to the health and happiness of its residents.

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 period two weeks ago.

Additionally, the police are conducting spot and mobile checkpoints with 862 personnel.

The upcoming elections in the region will see a significant number of candidates vying for various positions.

Commission on Elections data reveals that 5,634 candidates are running for barangay captain, 41,281 candidates for barangay kagawad, 5,933 candidates for SK chairman, and 25,831 candidates for SK kagawad.

Notably, there are no unopposed candidates in Region 2.

Since the implementation of the election gun ban two weeks ago, law enforcement authorities have made arrests in five cases and confiscated four firearms and 57 rounds of ammunition.

Cagayan Valley region boasts a substantial voter population, with 2.88 million registered voters for the barangay elections and 813,660 for the SK elections.

The region consists of 2,311 total barangay, highlighting the importance of maintaining peace and security during this electoral season. Authorities are committed to ensuring a safe and orderly voting process for all residents in the region.