Isabela

BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela (April 1, 2023)—The Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army–National Democratic Front (CPP–NPA–NDF) has been declared as persona non grata in Caglayan, Conner, Apayao, the military here said on Friday. Maj. Rigor Pamittan, 5th Infantry Division spokesman and public affairs chief, said the persona non grata tag was approved through a joint resolution passed by the Sangguniang Bayan and Liga ng Barangay of Conner and was signed by Mayor Jorico Bayaua. In the resolution, the council members said that for 54 years, the CPP-NPA-NDF has reportedly been imposing atrocities, instilling fear in the community, killing government forces and innocent individuals, and other terrorist activities. "The residents now ...

BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA SANTIAGO CITY (April 1, 2023)—At least 1,126 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program received P4.504-million payout at the Rosario Community Center in Barangay Rosario in this city. The beneficiaries rendered 10 days of community work through cleanup and beautification of public roads and public facilities in their respective villages. The Department of Labor and Employment Isabela Field Office (DoLE-IFO) and the Office of Isabela Fourth District Rep. Joseph Tan led the two-day payout. In a message, Tan expressed his gratitude to the agency for "the continued support and response to the needs of the displaced and marginalized workers of the city, helping them recover and be able to provide for th...

BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA CAUAYAN CITY (March 26, 2023)—The newly refurbished health center of the barangay government of District 1 in this city was formally turned over by the SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) in collaboration with Uniqlo Philippines at the barangay hall compound on Mabini Street on March 23 late afternoon here. The upgraded District 1 Health Center is a part of the foundation's Health and Wellness Program launched in 2001 in an effort to have social good collaboration with partners, said Connie Angeles, SM Foundation for Health and Medical Programs executive director. Angeles lauded barangay frontliners for providing "quality health care despite the pandemic and natural calamities." The foundation did not disclose the amount spent. Once a dilapidated warehouse, the bui...

CLOSURE TO A TRAGEDY Members of retrieval teams arrive at the crash site in Isabela to retrieve the bodies of the pilot and the five passengers of a Cessna plane that went missing almost two months ago on Jan. 23, 2023. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA CAUAYAN CITY (March 26, 2023)—Six investigators and mechanics from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have wrapped up their field investigation in the crash site of the Cessna 206 plane with tail number RP-C1174 in Barangay Ditarum, Divilacan, Isabela, the local Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) officer said. Engineer Ezikiel Chavez, Divilacan DRRM officer, told reporters here that the CAAP probers completed the field investigation and were safely back to the village proper after their sortie wit...

Comelec chairman George Garcia (fourth from left) is joined by Cagayan Valley election officials during his monitoring of the resumption of voters’ registration in the towns of Luna and Cabatuan and the City of Cauayan in Isabela. Also in the photo are Atty. Manuel Castillo, Isabela provincial election supervisor; Atty. Ederlino Tabilas, Cagayan Valley election regional director; Atty. Jerbee Anthony Cortez, assistant election regional director, and election officers Rose Ann Rodriguez and Dennis Sanchez on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. PHOTO BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA LUNA, Isabela (December 14)—The number of registrants for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections is expected to balloon in the coming weeks. This is the projection of Commission on Elections...

Soprano Soloist Aneglica Licudan. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA GAMU, Isabela (December 14)—Soprano soloist Angelica Licudan of Isabela will represent the Philippines in the vocal solo competition at the 26th Annual World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Anaheim, California, USA in July 2023. Licudan, a 33-year-old music teacher and vocal soloist, said her inspiration for joining the audition was perked up by her dream to represent the country. "I am starting to achieve this dream. This is my chance and I will continue my quest for victory," she said as she will be competing against bets from around 70 countries. "My dream is within reach, I believe. I did not go there just to pass the audition because I prepared very hard and I was able to get one slot...

Cagayan River. WIKIPEDIA BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO ISABELA (December 10)—Part of an ongoing effort on water management research in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) is the continuing series of dialogues between the Isabela State University (ISU) and the Japan-based Kyoto University, aiming to introduce innovation on river basin management for disaster resilience and water hazard mitigation. This, as delegates from Kyoto University recently met with counterparts from ISU for the Cagayan River Basin Research Dialogue during the two-day special meeting of the technical working group (TWG) for the initiative. According to ISU, this water research effort is in partnership with the National Irrigation Administration, Cagayan River Basin Management Council, Department of Science and Technology, ...

Traveling around the premises of Isabela State University Echague Main Campus is now made easier as transport bikes will be available to every ISUan this year. PHOTO FROM HTTPS://ISU.EDU.PH BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO ECHAGUE, Isabela (December 8)— The Isabela State University (ISU) has procured 100 bicycles for the use of ISU denizens to make traveling easier around the premises of its Echague Main Campus. According to ISU President Dr. Ricmar Aquino, the procurement of bicycles was made possible through the congressional budget insertion introduced by Sen. Pia Cayetano to ISU's General Appropriations. He added that the appropriation was in support of new line items including state universities and colleges operations in the new normal. Aquino said the transport bikes can be ac...

BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela (December 8)—Army soldiers recovered a gun and assorted ammunition allegedly owned by New People's Army rebels after a morning firefight in Barangay Maragat, Kabugao, Apayao on Tuesday, December 6, the military said on Wednesday. Capt. Rigor Pamittan, 5th Infantry Division public affairs chief and information officer, said the 102nd Infantry Battalion soldiers seized an M-16 Armalite rifle, ten-piece M-16 bullets, a magazine, a notebook with confidential and subversive information, and a poncho. These were placed under the safekeeping of the battalion. Army soldiers initiated a combat operation following a tip from villagers about the presence of an undetermined number of alleged communist rebels under the Komiteng Laran...

QUEZON, Isabela (December 6)—More than P6 million worth of marijuana was recovered from a suspect in an anti-illegal drugs operation on Saturday, December 3, in Barangay Abut here. Authorities identified the suspect as Bryan Appag, who tried to elude arrest during the buy-bust. Confiscated from the suspect were two sacks containing 55 pieces of bricks of dried marijuana leaves with fruiting tops weighing 55 kilograms with an estimated market value of P6,600,000. Joint operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino and this town's police station collaborated with the Kalinga Regional Force Mobile Battalion during the operation. The PDEA said a case for violation of Section 5, Article 2 of Republic Act 9165 is being prepared for fi...