News

‘Save our Watershed’ campaign launched in Quirino

15Jul

By Alfred Del RosarioNo Comments

News, Quirino

‘Save our Watershed’ campaign launched in Quirino

BY MIKE DEL ROSARIO DIFFUN, Quirino (July 15)—The Provincial Government of Quirino has joined the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB) in launching the provincial campaign dubbed as "Save Our Watershed" or SOW. Quirino Vice Gov. Jojo Vaquilar joined the motorcade as a show of support to the "Save our Watershed" campaign of the national government. (From R-L: MENRO of Diffun, Vice Governor Jojo Vaquilar, PNP Chief of Diffun, Mike del Rosario, CENRO Sagun of Maddela, PENRO Marriam Frances Malana, FMP PPMO Jose Saguilot). PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE DEL ROSARIO Gov. Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua said it is critical that the provincial government strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders and partners as this pandemic is testing everyone's r...

Philippine government renews Didipio FTAA—OceanaGold

14Jul

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, World

Philippine government renews Didipio FTAA—OceanaGold

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO THE Philippine government has renewed the Didipio Mine Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) for an additional 25 years beginning June 19, 2019, according to the Australian OceanaGold Corporation. Australian OcenaGold's Didipio Mine in Kasibu town in Nueva Vizcaya. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO In a statement, OceanaGold said the renewed FTAA reflects similar financial terms and conditions while providing additional benefits to the regional communities and provinces hosting the operation. OceanaGold operates the Didipio Gold and Copper Project in the upland town of Kasibu in Nueva Vizcaya province. "We are pleased to confirm the renewal of the Didipio Mine's FTAA and thank the government for their endorsement and renewal. We have worked through the re...

IMEE: SUSPEND 12% VAT ON OIL PRODUCTS AMID PANDEMIC

14Jul

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, News

IMEE: SUSPEND 12% VAT ON OIL PRODUCTS AMID PANDEMIC

SENATOR Imee Marcos has called for a one-year suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil products amid lingering economic difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, noted on Tuesday another price hike by oil companies that reached per liter increases of P1.15 for gasoline, P0.60 for diesel, and P0.65 for kerosene.Since January, fuel prices per liter have already increased by P13 for gasoline, P10 for diesel, and P9 for kerosene, Marcos said. SEN. IMEE MARCOS Marcos said suspending the 12 percent VAT on oil products will provide relief to various consumers other than just motorists. "Oil price hikes have a domino effect on agricultural products and other essentials. The higher costs will be passed on to the ordina...

FCF Minerals conducts environmental monitoring

12Jul

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

FCF Minerals conducts environmental monitoring

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (July 12)—A British mining firm here has conducted over the weekend its environmental monitoring activities in Runruno village and neighboring communities encouraging the public to be part of safeguarding the environment. FCF Minerals Corp. conducts environmental monitoring in its host village of Runruno and neighboring communities in Quezon town, Nueva Vizcaya to ensure water quality both surface and groundwater. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO James Carmichael, FCF Minerals Corporation country manager, said the company is committed to the implementation of projects and programs in a showcase of care for the environment and the people of the host and neighboring communities. Runruno village in this town hosts the multibillion peso FCF Minerals Co...

DENR, NVizcaya govt to renew co-management of forest reserve

12Jul

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

DENR, NVizcaya govt to renew co-management of forest reserve

BY CORIE CORPUZ, DENR-Region 2 The Steering Committee for the Lower Magat Forest Reserve (LMFR) in Cagayan Valley has pushed for the renewal of the co-management agreement between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya. In 1998, the DENR and the provincial government entered into a 25-year co-management agreement to jointly allocate, protect, develop and manage the forest reserve. Amended in 2004, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) is valid until 2023 and renewable for another 25 years. During its meeting on July 9, the Steering Committee (SC) unanimously recommended the renewal of the MOA and adopted the proposed amendment by the DENR. The committee is chaired by Gov. Carlos Padilla and co-chaired by DENR R...

SNAP brings PEACE to small businesses in Nueva Vizcaya

10Jul

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

SNAP brings PEACE to small businesses in Nueva Vizcaya

The provincial govenrment of Nueva Vizcaya led by Gov. Carlos Padilla has collaborated with renewable energy solutions provider SN Aboitiz Power Magat on an initiative to assist small business owners affected by the coronavirus disease 2019. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Renewable energy solutions provider SN Aboitiz Power Magat (SNAP-Magat) and the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya have collaborated on an initiative to assist small business owners affected by Covid-19. Project PEACE, or "Provincial Economic Aid to COVID-affected Entrepreneurs," is funded by SNAP-Magat's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. The first batch of 36 beneficiaries received cash assistance of P5,000 to P10,000 each on July 7, 2021, during a short program led by Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla...

FCF holds ‘I plant for life’ tree planting activity

7Jul

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

FCF holds ‘I plant for life’ tree planting activity

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO FCF Minerals Corporation's "I plant for life" tree planting activity in Barangay Darubba in Quezo , Nueva Vizcaya. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (July 7)—British firm FCF Minerals Corporation conducted an activity dubbed “I plant for life” which culminated with the planting of some 200 fruits trees in Barangay Darrubba in this town. FCF Minerals country manager James Carmichael said the event was part of a series of activities for the 2nd quarter of this year launched by the company’s Information, Education and Communication section of the Community Relations Office. Carmichael said a total of 200 guyabano seedlings were planted on the said barangay's multi-purpose hall grounds. A limited number of participants joined the activity due to the ...

Cayetano renews call for establishment of Department of Disaster Resilience

3Jul

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, News

Cayetano renews call for establishment of Department of Disaster Resilience

Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday renewed his call for the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), saying the country needs a department that will focus on rehabilitation efforts and boost the national government’s rehabilitation capacity. “Ang point ay hindi kaya ng present set-up natin na DOH, DSWD, at DOLE ang sila ang tumutugon kapag mayroong kalamidad, kasi after ‘yung relief, wala ng effort sa rehabilitation,” Cayetano said in a press conference in Baguio City on July 2. (The point is our present set-up, where the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Labor and Employment all respond to disasters, is not working because no rehabilitation efforts usually ...

OceanaGold opens modern health facility for Covid-19 patients

22Jun

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nueva Vizcaya

OceanaGold opens modern health facility for Covid-19 patients

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO Engr. Edgar Rivera, OGPI officer-in-charge, noted the importance of mutual cooperation among the LGUs, community and private sector in overcoming the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya (June 22)— An Australian mining firm-built first-class isolation facility started accommodating patients specifically those infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the gold and copper deposit rich upland barangay (village) of Didipio here. According to lawyer Joan Adaci-Cattiling, OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) president, the P10.8 million Didipio Family Health Center (DFHC) was refurbished to serve Covid-19 infected patients at its host community in Didipio and its neighboring areas. Constructed in 2...

3Jun

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Cagayan, News

Calayan Island remains Covid-free

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (June 3)—The island town of Calayan in Cagayan Province remains free of Covid-19 despite a report from the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit two Calayan residents were tested positive for the virus on Monday. According to Mayor Joseph Llopis, the two natives who tested positive remained stranded in Aparri, Cagayan and had not reached the island yet. Llopis noted it has become the policy of the Calayan local government unit that everyone who returns to the island must undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test from their point of origin. "This makes Calayan Island Covid-free because the two new cases recorded for the island have not set foot or returned to their hometown," Llopis said. He said they ar...