Cagayan

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.

JDVC is the Philippines’ first large-scale offshore mining company that focuses primarily on magnetite (or Fe3O4) mining. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY (April 1, 2023)—To avoid a possible repeat of the Oriental Mindoro oil spill, the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) of Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) called for a meeting to coordinate with offshore mining company JDVC Resources Inc. for a smooth operation in the waters off Cagayan province. According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) briefer, JDVC is the Philippines' first large-scale offshore mining company that focuses primarily on magnetite (or Fe3O4) mining, operating in Cagayan's coastal towns. It has an area of 1,902.59 hectares located 14 kilometers offshore from the municipality of Gon...

BOOSTING MSMEs To strengthen synergy and the whole-of-government approach toward recovery and growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 2 conducted the 1st quarter regional micro, small and medium development council meeting at the DTI Region 2 Negosyo Center in Tuguegarao City on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (March 31, 2023)—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has gathered 30 members of the regional micro, small and medium enterprise development council (RMSMEDC) for a robust inter-agency collaboration for recovery and growth from the effects of the pandemic. DTI Region 2 Director Leah Pulido Ocampo said the move is to strengthen synergy and the wh...

CAGAYAN GOV. MANUEL MAMBA BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA TUGUEGARAO CITY (December 16)—The Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba from the 2022 gubernatorial race, which he had won for his third consecutive term, for breaching the ban on election spending. A Comelec-Second Division resolution granted a petition lodged by Zarah Rose Lara who ran but lost to Mamba in the 2022 contest for governor. She is the wife of Cagayan Third District Rep. Joseph Lara, supposedly a nemesis of the Mambas. Presiding Commissioner Marlon Casquejo and Commissioners Rey Bulay and Nelson Celis signed the resolution, which was promulgated on Dec. 14, 2022. "Respondent MANUEL N. MAMBA is DISQUALIFIED as a candidate for the position of Governor...

WIKIPEDIA PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY (December 13)—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has appealed to pasture holders to help increase food production in the country. DENR Region 2 executive director Gwendolyn Bambalan appealed to the Forest Land Grazing Management Agreement (FLGMA) holders in Cagayan Valley to increase the number of livestock raised in their respective areas. Under DENR Administrative Order (AO) 36, series of 1999, the FLGMA is a production sharing agreement between a qualified person, association and/or corporation and the government to develop, manage and utilize grazing lands. In a recent FLGMA holders' meeting in the region, Bambalan encouraged the pasture holders to meet the one liv...