Isabela

CITIZEN SOLDIERS Photo shows a batch of 120 citizen soldiers who have undergone a Basic Citizen Military Training program at the 2nd Regional Community Defense Group, Reserve Command, Philippine Army, in the coastal town of Palanan in Isabela province on November 13, 2025. CDC CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO PALANAN, Isabela—In a ceremony marking a significant milestone in the nation's defense and disaster response capabilities, a total of 120 civilian volunteers graduated from the Basic Citizen Military Training (BCMT) Class 12-25 here on Thursday (November 13, 2025). Col. Monib Mamao, Group Commander of the 2nd Regional Community Defense Group, Reserve Command, Philippine Army (2RCDG-Rescom-PA), said that the graduates, who completed a rigorous 45-day training program, ...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUMAUINI, Isabela (September 12, 2025)—The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has approved P6 million worth of environmental projects for six barangay within the Tumauini Watershed Natural Park in this province. According to DENR Region 2 Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan, during the 3rd Quarter PAMB En Banc Meeting, the Board approved the allocation of P1 million each to six barangay local government units (BLGUs) in the municipalities of Tumauini and Cabagan. These projects will be financed through the Protected Area Retained Income Account of the Integrated Protected Area Fund or IPAF, in accordance with Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protec...

Isabela State University officials and 2024 graduates of ISU Cauayan Campus with Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios 'Imee' Marcos (center, front) after the graduation ceremonies at the Isabela Convention Center in Cauayan City, Isabela on Aug. 6, 2024. PHOTO FROM WWW.ISU.EDU.PH ECHAGUE, Isabela (August 19, 2024)—Students and some 487 2024 graduates of Isabela State University (ISU) can avail assistance from the P19.8 million Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) cash program. This was according to Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios "Imee" Marcos who was the commencement speaker during the ISU Cauayan City Campus graduation ceremonies at the Isabela Convention Center in Cauayan City, Isabela on Aug. 6, 2024. Kalahi-...

BRIDGING Gaps in Higher Education through Tertiary Scholarships (Brights), an SN Aboitiz Power's (SNAP) scholarship program, recently celebrated the graduation of another batch of scholars for the academic year 2023-2024. SNAP said there are 11 graduates, five of whom received Latin honors and two received honorable mentions and whose commencement ceremonies took place at their respective schools in SNAP host communities in Ifugao, Isabela and Benguet provinces throughout July and August this year. "We are immensely proud of our scholars and their achievements. We believe they are tomorrow's innovators and change-makers; through them, we hope to realize our vision of a better and sustainable Philippines in the future," said Joseph Yu, SNAP president and chief executive officer. A...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO In a collaborative effort to enhance recycling efficiency and innovation, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 2 conducts a Technology Needs Assessment validation for Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program or Setup applicant Isabelino Scrap Trading located in Benito Soliven, Isabela province. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BENITO SOLIVEN, Isabela (August 17, 2024)—To enhance recycling efficiency and innovation, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) recently conducted a technology needs assessment validation for a Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program applicant firm based in this town. DoST's validation aims to "evaluate and address the technological needs of Isabelino Scrap Trading to support th...

Gregorio Uy (second from right) and Samuel Uy, CPA, RGC (left), founders of the Gregorio P. Uy and Lee Peng Scholarship Foundation, have been helping college students in Isabela fulfill their dreams through education. With them in this photo are Geralda Hoggang (fourth from right) and the first 12 scholar-graduates from Isabela State University and Cagayan State University. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO ISABELA (August 5, 2024)—A long-time advocate of education, the Gregorio P. Uy and Lee Peng Scholarship Foundation (GPULP Scholarship Foundation) is looking for a fresh batch of scholars to join its program and is now ready to accept applications for the new academic year. GPULP Scholarship Foundation Vice President Michael Uy said the scholarship's successful entrants will get monthly allowance...

TREE PLANTING Employees and students from Isabela State University-Cabagan and Cauayan campuses plant 600 Molave seedlings at Sition Bantay Pukaw, Barangay Rizal, San Guillermo in an initiative spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Cauayan City, Isabela, and in partnership with Jollibee Foods Corporation. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO ISABELA (August 5, 2024)—At least 600 molave tree seedlings were planted in Cauayan City to address deforestation and promote environmental sustainability. Diosdado Contillo, an officer of Isabela's Community Environment and Natural Resources, said the Molave tree propagation project is in partnership with Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC). Contillo said the seedlings were planted at ...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO CAUAYAN CITY (May 11, 2024)—Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Operations Nichols Manalo lauded the DA Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) for rewarding the 63 rice farmers who achieved eight to 10 tons of inbred and hybrid rice per hectare in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley). Among the awardees were 41 hybrid users and 22 inbred users who received certificates of appreciation and agricultural inputs. Manalo commended DA-RFO2 executive director Rose Mary Aquino for giving tribute to rice farmers considering their important role in achieving self-sufficiency in rice. He also congratulated the rice farmers, local government units and the DA-RFO2 for initiating the activity which will "surely make an impact on the region's food production and supp...

SN Aboitiz Power-Magat (SNAP-Magat) turns over and switches on rooftop solar panels with a capacity of 3.3 kilowatts to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo National High School in Ramon, Isabela on February 21, 2024. The project is a collaboration between the school’s General Parent-Teacher-Community Association and SNAP-Magat volunteers. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO RAMON, Isabela (March 7, 2024)—SN Aboitiz Power-Magat (SNAP-Magat) turned over and switched on rooftop solar panels with a capacity of 3.3 kilowatts to the Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo National High School (GEANHS) in Ramon, Isabela on February 21, 2024. SNAP Magat said the project was a collaboration between the school’s General Parent-Teacher-Community Association (GPTCA) and SNAP-Magat volunteers. Daryl Homer Ramos, SNAP-Magat assistant vice pre...

The tray harnesses the sun’s energy, providing a renewable and eco-friendly heat source for drying Thai tea leaves. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO CORDON, Isabela (August 12, 2023)—The Multipurpose Solar-Powered Speed Drying Tray is a groundbreaking innovation that is transforming the way Thai tea or the "Chiang Mai" tea leaves are processed. Adopting the use of this technology is the Amancio Nicolas Agri-Tourism Academy (Amancio) in Cordon town in Isabela province which has become an institution of sustainable agricultural practices. According to the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), the Amancio has also now become a hub for aspiring farmers who desire to be horticulturists. The DoST calls this ingenious device "Portasol...