News

23Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

FCF remits over P393-M in taxes, fees

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (April 23)—A London-based mining company here has remitted more than P393.24 million in taxes to national and local governments. James Carmichael, FCF Minerals Corporation country manager, said the amount of P42,640,501.66 in local taxes is expected to boost this municipality’s economy amid the pandemic. Carmichael added that the local taxes remitted to the municipal government here pertain to local business tax, mayor’s permit and other regulatory fees for the first and second quarters of 2021. For 2020, he said, FCF remitted a total of P350.6 million to the national and local governments. “This effort of the company has been a great factor for the municipality of Quezon to be recognized for their tax collection efficiency,” Carm...

21Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

‘NVizcaya town is LGU top taxpayer’

Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (April 21)—Quezon town in this province was declared as the number one municipal local government unit (MLGU) in the collection of locally sourced revenues for 2019 nationwide, according to the Bureau of Local Government and Finance (BLGF). “We are so proud to be chosen by the BLGF as the country's number one MLGU on the collection efficiency of locally sourced revenues for 2019,” Quezon town Mayor Dolores Binwag said. She also expressed thanks to the British FCF Minerals Corporation for its prompt payment of local taxes to the municipality in connection with their operation of the Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project in the municipality. "For many years, the British FCF has been a major contributor to ou...

Kayapa town loom weavers share skills with IPs in Runruno

20Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

Kayapa town loom weavers share skills with IPs in Runruno

Loom weavers from Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya share their skills with the Indigenous Peoples in Runruno village in Quezon town. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (April 20)—British FCF Minerals Corp. has initiated a loom weaving project in its host Barangay (village) Runruno in Quezon town for the indigenous peoples (IPs) under its social development management program (SDMP). James Carmichael, FCF Minerals country manager, the company’s project is in partnership with the Barangay Runruno Local Government Unit to preserve and promote the culture and traditions of the Ifugao and Igorot tribes of Runruno villages and its adjacent IP villages. Carmichael said they tapped accredited loom weavers in Kayapa town to share their knowledge and skills with the m...

NVizcaya police gets equipment from FCF mine firm

12Apr

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya, Technology

NVizcaya police gets equipment from FCF mine firm

James Carmichael, FCF Minerals Corporation country manager, turns over electronic equipment to Col. Ranser Evasco, NVPPO chief who said the equipment will help strengthen their anti-criminality campaign as well as their fight against the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 in the province. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (March 18)—The Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Police Office (NVPPO) here has been provided with equipment to strengthen its anti-criminality campaign and to fight the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the province. Col. Ranser Evasco, NVPPO chief, said the public address system equipment was given by FCF Minerals Corporation to help the police in effectively communicating their assistance and services to communities in the pro...

10Apr

By Alfred Del RosarioNo Comments

News, Opinion, Quirino

Forest Communities in Quirino

BY MIKE DEL ROSARIO THE pandan leaves are woven together by the members of the Macate Diffun Upland Farmers Association (MDUFA) Inc. in Diffun town, Province of Quirino, before being transformed into colorful bags, and the traditional "bayong" modernized as “Ecobags” that we used to carry goods from the market or grocery stores. Rather than planning a family hike or outing, weaving provided an alternative treat for families in Barangay Macate in Diffun to spend more time together, staying safe at home, while increasing their productivity or cash flow during this seemingly unending pandemic. This people’s organization is one among the ten partner beneficiaries of the Forestland Management Project (FMP) which is a foreign-assisted project implemented by the Department of Enviro...

FCF mine builds P17.4-M Runruno village hall

10Feb

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

FCF mine builds P17.4-M Runruno village hall

FCF Minerals Corporation allots P17.4 million from its annual Social Development and Management Program for the year 2020-2021 to construct of the mine firms' host village its Barangay hall building. PHOTO COURTESY OF FCF MINERALS CORP. BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (February 10)—A P17.4 million barangay (village) hall to house the Runruno village local governed unit will soon rise with the help of a London-based company operating in the village. Barangay Captain John Babli-ing said the structure was funded under the FCF Minerals Corporation’s mandated Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) being collaboratively implemented by the village council and the mining firm. "This will be a symbol of our partnership for the progress and development of our bar...

SNAP holds series of blended forums with host communities

21Dec

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Isabela, News

SNAP holds series of blended forums with host communities

Renewable energy solutions provider SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) Group recently concluded its series of blended and virtual host communities’ forums across Benguet, Ifugao, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya in November and December. The nature of the forums—the first of its kind for SNAP—was in the interest of health and safety and in support of the government's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. SNAP-Benguet was the first to hold a blended-approach forum on November 19, 2020 at the Benguet Provincial Capitol, attended by a total of 42 in-person and virtual participants. Following strict social distancing and other protocols on official gatherings, in-person attendees included SNAP executives, members of Indigenous Peoples' organizations, and Benguet government officials headed by Gove...

31Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, News, Nueva Vizcaya

DTI reaches out to 385 MSMEs

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY (August 31)—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2 now covers 171 barangay (villages) in the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, providing 13,203 information kits as well as livelihood kits to 385 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Lea Pulido Ocampo, DTI-Region 2 director, said this was done under the DTI’s Livelihood Seeding Program-Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay, which aims to help MSMEs cope with the effects of the pandemic by providing livelihood kits worth P5,000 to P8,000 to enable them to restart or continue with their business operations. Ocampo said livelihood and business starter kits vary according to the needs of the identified beneficiaries, ...

Imee to Meralco: No more bill shocks, please

28Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Nation, News

Imee to Meralco: No more bill shocks, please

SENATOR Imee Marcos has lauded the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for slapping a Php19-million fine on Meralco and demanding a discount on behalf of the power distributor’s smaller customers consuming up to 100 kilowatt hours per month. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, said the penalties imposed by ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera were “absolutely justified for Meralco’s bill shock on its customers.” “Meralco boomeranged on its own mess. Its condescending attitude toward customers reaped its karma, after causing confusion, anxiety and inconvenience in the middle of a health and economic crisis,” Marcos added. Meralco provoked an outcry among its customers after overcharging them during the first three months of lockdown in May to March, without con...

22Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Cagayan, News

Cagayan buys 4 heavy equipment

NEW EQUIPMENT. Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba (center inset, in red shirt) leads provincial officials and priests in blessing the four new units of heavy equipment that will be used to repair municipal and barangay roads and in other infrastructure projects of the province. PHOTO BY JESSICA BACUD BY JESSICA BACUD, Manila Standard TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan—Governor Manuel Mamba led the blessing of four heavy equipment for infrastructure projects in the province recently. Mamba is confident this will further address a streamlined process aimed to boost Cagayan’s economic progress and will upgrade the services of the government to the residents. Mamba said the continuous rehabilitation and construction of road networks would spur the local economy and help in the upliftment of the ...