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BACKDROP BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO IN Barangay Bitnong, Dupax del Norte, a P2.1-million hanging bridge now connects Purok Bingo 1 and Purok Bingo 2, and stretches of farm-to-market road in Sitio Keon and Sitio Bingo have been concreted through the provincial government's Dalan ti Umili program — 650 bags of cement from the province, labor from the barangay. For Barangay Captain Bert Gorio and his constituents, the meaning is immediate and practical. Farmers can move their produce even when it rains. Children can go to school without risking a river crossing. A new P1-million day care center is on the way. It is easy to understand why Gorio thanked Governor Jose Gambito. This is development at its most basic and most felt. And it is happening across Nueva Vizcaya's uplands. ...

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC), the government’s mining arm, has expressed its support for and adoption of “Big Brother–Small Brother” initiative, a partnership framework that encourages cooperation between large-scale mining operators and small-scale miners. https://valleyjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/pmdc-2.jpeg PMDC President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Job Adrian M. Ambrosio said the Corporation is adopting the approach in recognition of the support of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for collaborative programs that promote the formalization of small-scale mining, responsible mineral development, improved mine safety, environmental compliance, and inclusive economic growth. Under the model, established and...

Access road to a mining site in Balatoc, Pasil, Kalinga. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The leadership of the Balatoc Kalinga Tribe Inc. (BKTI) has strongly denounced recent statements circulating in the media opposing the development of the Batong Buhay mining project, describing them as false, misleading, and unrepresentative of the legitimate position of the Balatoc Tribe. Speaking on behalf of the Balatoc tribe, Victor Gumisa emphasized that the statements being attributed to the Balatoc community do not represent the views of the recognized Indigenous People's organization (IPO), the Council of Elders, nor the overwhelming majority of the Balatoc, Pasil people in Kalinga. "The public deserves to know the truth. These statements are not supported by the recognized le...

CAGAYAN (August 7, 2024)—To improve capabilities of personnel in managing Protected Areas (PAs), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) recently conducted a three-day capacity building workshop for protected area managers and staff in Tuguegarao City. The DENR Region 2 said the activity aims to orient the participants on the legislation process and requirements for the remaining initial component and proposed protected areas in the region, and to introduce new policies and guidelines in protected area management. Currently, the Cagayan Valley region has eight legislated protected areas, and the DENR is working on the legislation of four additional protected areas, including the five areas under the initial component. Directed by DE...

MASTERMINDS of Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. (KAPA), touted as the largest investment scam in Philippine history, have been sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment for syndicated estafa, following a case build-up by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its illegal investment-taking activities. In a decision promulgated on December 12, Branch 33 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Butuan City found Kapa leaders Joel Apolinario, Cristobal R. Baradad, and Joji A. Jusay guilty beyond reasonable doubt of eight counts of syndicated estafa, as defined and penalized under Article 315 (2)(a) of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Presidential Decree No. 1689. Apolinario, also referred to as Pastor Joel, was the founder and president of KAPA, wh...

DIVIDED COMMUNITY Didipio villagers in the copper and gold deposit-rich upland town of Kasibu in Nueva Vizcaya rally in support of Australian OceanaGold’s renewal of its financial or technical assistance agreement or FTAA. PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 26)—A provincial board member has told Australian OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. (OGPI) to respect the independence and right of barangay (village) officials in opposing the firm's mining operation in their village. "It is harassment when their (barangay officials) independence becomes a reason for the mining firm not to release funds because they are obliged to release such funds for the development of the community where they operate," board member Edgardo Balgos said. Also a...

A multi-sectoral tree planting activity in Quezon town in Nueva Vizcaya was led by the Office of Civil Defense as part of the National Disaster Resilience Month observance. NVDRRMO FB PAGE PHOTO BY BENJAMIN MOSES M. EBREO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 12)—The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Cagayan Valley led a multi-sectoral Tree Planting recently in this province as part of the National Disaster Resilience Month celebration. According to Robert Corpuz, Disaster Risk Reduction Management officer, the tree planting activity was carried out in Barangay Maddiangat Watershed in Quezon town. It was joined by various government agencies and private organizations in the province and neighboring provinces in Region 2, all members of different municipal disaster risk reduction man...

Engineer Nestor Bambalan, FCF-Community Relations Office resident engineer, conducts final inspection and turns over two completed infrastructure projects in Cordon, Kasibu town and Bonifacio, Quezon town in Nueva Vizcaya province. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya (July 15)—A British-based mining firm operating in Barangay Runruno has funded the concreting of two farm-to-market road (FMR) in two municipalities worth more than P2.38 million. Agnes Rosales, FCF Minerals Corporation Community Relations Office (FCF-CRO) manager, said the concreting of FMR in Purok 1 in Cordon village here worth more than P1.52 will benefit 1,431 residents while the concreting of the FMR in Lower Diayan in Bonifacio village in Quezon town worth more than P855,194 will bene...