Cagayan

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 25)—The Department of Agriculture in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has reminded farmers to "detop" of corn plants and "deleaf" of banana plants before a typhoon hits their crops. According to Municipal Agriculturist Noel Baquiran Jr. of Tumaini town in Isabela province, more corn areas should have been damaged if farmers did not practice detopping in Barangay Sinippil just before Typhoon Florita hit their plants. However, Baquiran warned farmers that detopping is best undertaken if grains are already in their full maturity and near harvest. He explained that detopping is the process of removing the terminal portion from the uppermost node of a corn plant to prevent lodging during the occurrence of typhoons and strong winds. O...

The provincial government of Cagayan, through the provincial agriculture office led by Dr. Pearlita Lucia Mabasa, promotes a new technology in food production called hydroponics and aquaponics on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY (August 15)—Hydroponic and aquaponic food production in the province of Cagayan is gaining ground among vegetable farmers through the initiative of the provincial government. The provincial government led by Gov. Manuel Mamba has launched a training program for more than 50 provincial government employees to learn the new technology on hydroponic and aquaponic food production. Mamba said training on the said food production technology was held at the Cagayan Farm School and Agri-tourism Center in Barangay A...

Photo courtesy of gardeningknowhow.com BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY (August 11)—In partnership with local processors in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) and the local government unit (LGU) in Alcala town, farmers have started to boost the production of white corn and less yellow corn. According to the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 2, Alcala town is among the top five corn-producing towns in the province of Cagayan, particularly yellow corn. With the assistance of the Alcala LGU and the DA's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), Alcala town farmers are producing more white corn than yellow corn. Alcala Mayor Cristina Antonio explained that through the municipal government's initiative, farmers shifted to the production of white corn realizing th...

TUGUEGARAO CITY (August 10)—Due to the presence of three active fault lines, there is a high chance that Cagayan province can experience strong earthquakes, according to the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DoST-Philvolcs). Shally Marck Daguiao, DoST-Philvolcs Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) science research assistant, has identified the active fault lines during the "Kapehan sa Kapitolyo" program held by the Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Monday, August 8. The fault lines are located in Sicalao in Lasam town; Dummun River in Gattaran town and Taboan River in Baggao town. According to Daguiao, the earthquake magnitude can reach up to 6.7 if the fault line moves in Sicalao; 7.2 magnitude in Dummun River and 6.8 magnitude ...

University of Saint Louis (USL) in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, held its first on-site flag raising ceremony since the Covid-19 pandemic began at the university’s Friendship Park. PHOTO FROM USL FACEBOOK PAGE BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO THE Tuguegarao City campus of University of Saint Louis (USL) held its traditional flag raising ceremony on Monday, August 8, for the opening of expanded limited face-to-face (F2F) learning for the school year 2022-2023. This is the first time in two years that the students and teachers gathered at USL's Friendship Park to conduct its on-site morning assembly. University president Rev. Fr. Renillo Sta. Ana welcomed the Louisians during the opening ceremony, which was also attended by the non-teaching staff, university officials, parents and other guests...

The Divisoria HS Ilagan, Isabela was awarded the most eco-friendly school by the DENR on June 30, 2022. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY (July 16)—More than 100 environmental partners during the culminating activity of the Philippine Environment Month in June 2022 were recognized for their partnership with the government in its environmental programs. Among these partners, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) led by Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan said five entities were awarded in the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) programs. Bambalan said the Divisoria High School in Santiago City was recognized for having its institution sustained as the most eco-friendly school in the Philippines s...

The total number served by the Service Contracting Program Phase 3 of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) here in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has reached 3,430,182. BEN EBREO, PIA PHOTO BY MARK DJERON TUMABAO, PIA TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (June 21)—Umabot na sa 3,430,182 ang kabuuang bilang ng naserbisyuhan ng Service Contracting Program Phase 3 ng Department of Transportation (DoTr) at Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) dito sa Region 2 (Cagayan Valley). Ayon kay LTFRB Regional Director Edward Cabase, karagdagang 56,164 na mga mananakay sa rehiyon ang naging benepisyaryo ng Libreng Sakay kahapon, ika-20 ng Hunyo. Nagsimula ang pagpapatupad ng nasabing programa noong ika-20 ng Abril 20...

LEFT TO ROT. Village officials found carcasses of pigs dumped on a vacant lot by the roadside in Barangay Santa Maria, Gattaran, Cagayan province, on Sunday, June 19, 2022. PHOTO FROM ALBERT BUNAGAN’S FACEBOOK PAGE BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan: The Provincial Veterinary Office here said on Tuesday that it has not detected the presence of African swine fever (ASF) from the 18 pig carcasses dumped on the side of the road in Gattaran town on Sunday. Residents in the area speculated that the carcasses were abandoned on a vacant lot by the roadside in Barangay Santa Maria because the pigs were carriers of the dreaded ASF virus. Dr. Myka Ponce of the Provincial Veterinary Office said initial test results show no signs of ASF from the dead hogs. She said the carcass...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY (June 16)—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) market linkage assistance program is gaining results in the town of Enrile in Cagayan province. Known to be the “Peanut Capital of the Philippines,” Enrile town, however, has been on hiatus in supply for more than 40 years, but this time it is going to supply with its locally grown peanuts the well-known peanut company called Growers. Romeo Panopio 2nd, Processed Fruits and Nuts (PFN) DTI Region 2 focal person, has facilitated the said market linkage, as well as the laboratory analysis, coordination and delivery of one-ton, shelled peanuts with the Growers Food Industries Enterprises Inc. (GFIEI). Also, the DTI Cagayan through its provincial PFN focal person ...

BY LEIF V. DAHL Photo shows the solar panels that would be installed in Sitio Lagum in Santo Niño town in Cagayan province. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO SANTO NIÑO, Cagayan (March 12)—Households in Cagayan's poorest and most depressed communities will benefit from a Department of Science and Technology (DoST) project that will provide solar panels for free supply of energy. Santo Niño town is among the municipalities to be provided with appropriate science and technology (S&T) interventions in selected conflict-affected areas and vulnerable communities of Cagayan, according to the department. Some 56 households in Sitio (sub-village) Lagum in Santo Niño will benefit from the P300,000-worth of solar panels that will help provide their electricity needs. The DoST project titled "Emp...