News

10Apr

By Alfred Del RosarioNo Comments

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 ...

Lantion cautions Bayombong town officials causing delay in telco installations

20Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

Lantion cautions Bayombong town officials causing delay in telco installations

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Mayor Ralph Lantion here has warned officials and employees who may have been causing the delay in the installation activities of telecommunication companies in this town. "Officials and employees who are hampering [tower] installation may be held administratively liable," Lantion said This after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered telecommunication companies to shape up until the end of this year. In his recent State of the Nation Address, Duterte has called on telecommunication companies to improve their services until December this year for the welfare of Filipinos. Lantion has also issued an advisory that telecommunications requests at the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) as well as in the barangay (village) level fo...

Australian mining firm’s permit renewal pushed

18Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

News, Nueva Vizcaya

Australian mining firm’s permit renewal pushed

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya (August 18)—Seven big community-based cooperatives, people’s organizations, local businesses and employees here called on the local government unit to support the renewal of the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) of OceanaGold Philippines Inc. (OGPI). These community groups responded to a Barangay Didipio council’s resolution, which asked President Rodrigo Duterte, through the Office of the Mayor here, to deny the renewal application of the Australian mining company. These groups are the Didipio Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DCMPC), Didipio Community Development Corporation (DiCorp), Didipio Producers Cooperative (Dipco), Didipio Mine Employees Association (DMEA), Pun-o-o’haan-hi-kiphodan (Union) and Employees Al...

6Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Cagayan, News

Firm links farmers to markets

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (August 6)—A partnership with an agri-tech company will create wider online market access for Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Leah Pulido Ocampo, DTI-Region 2 director, said it forged a partnership with Mayani Inc. through a virtual signing of a memorandum of understanding last July 29. She explained the strategic intent of the collaboration is to create broader market access for smallholder farmers, farmer cooperatives and MSMEs across the Region 2 through e-commerce and innovative agri-food supply chain technology. “The DTI in Region 2 and Mayani share a common mission to enable a level playing field to the advantage of ou...

5Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Cagayan, News

78 nabbed in Cagayan raid

THE VALLEY JOURNAL SANTA ANA, Cagayan (August 5)—Some 75 Chinese nationals and three Filipinos were arrested by the authorities Tuesday night at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone in Santa Ana, Cagayan, nearly 700 kilometers north of Manila. The arrests were made by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Region 2, who cracked down on illegal online gaming operations inside the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport. Sec. Raul Lambino, CEZA administrator and CEO, said he sought the support of the PNP and the NBI upon receiving verified reports that established the illegal online gaming operations of OFA Cagayan Estate Developer Corporation, a real estate developer, a...