Nueva Vizcaya

PLGU PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — In a bid to strengthen the province’s growing wellness tourism sector and uplift the livelihoods of hilots (traditional healers) and massage therapists, Governor Jose Gambito has called on these practitioners to organize themselves into a single, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered association. “By organizing into one group and registering with the SEC, hilots and massage therapists will find it easier to access government programs and assistance,” Gambito said. “A formal organization gives them stronger representation, credibility, and better chances of benefiting from livelihood and training opportunities.” According to the governor, a unified, registered group can serve as a direct channel for gover...

FCF Minerals Corporation’s Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project in Barangay Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya. PHOTO COURTESY OF FCF BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO, The Manila Times QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya — The impending closure of the Runruno Gold Project by the end of 2026 is set to deliver a heavy blow to employees, their families, and the surrounding communities that have long depended on the mine for livelihood and local development. FCF Minerals Corp. confirmed on Wednesday, Feb. 18, that operations will cease following the suspension of the Dupax Exploration Permit by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). The company described the suspension as removing the project’s "last operational lifeline," cutting off hopes of extending the mine’s life through new ore discoveries. For mor...

The house where the victim may have first been killed. PHOTO BY WAB QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (February 14, 2026)—A 33‑year‑old tricycle driver, identified only as alias Ernie has turned himself in to police after investigators linked him to the brutal killing of a 19‑year‑old Nueva Vizcaya State University student. The victim’s body was found charred in Barangay (village) Madiangat, Quezon on Thursday, February 12, 2026. According to the Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Office (NVPPO), the victim’s burned remains were found early Thursday morning, prompting an immediate case conference led by NVPPO Director Paul Bometivo. The meeting brought together investigators from the Quezon Police Station and the Provincial Intelligence Unit to review closed-circuit television or CCTV footag...

BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya—Mayor Benjamin Cuaresma III represented the Municipality of Bambang at the Second Forum on Local Governance and Development, where he pledged to accelerate digital transformation initiatives aimed at delivering stronger, more responsive public service to his constituents. The forum, centered on the theme “Reimagining Local Governance: Digital Transformation for Local Development,” brought together local chief executives and policymakers to explore how technology can reshape public service delivery. Cuaresma emphasized that innovation is not merely about adopting new tools, but about ensuring government services become faster, more transparent, and more responsive to the needs of the people. “The discussions highlighted that innovation is not just about ...

BY LEIF C. DAHL MANILA—The Truth Defenders (TTD), an advocacy organization committed to truth in communications, an industry advocate, and civil society watchdog, today issued a comprehensive statement questioning the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for its suspension of Woggle Corporation’s operations on the basis of “force majeure.” The group asserts that the MGB’s action fundamentally misapplies the legal doctrine of force majeure, creating a dangerous precedent that undermines contractual stability, regulatory certainty, and investor confidence in the Philippine extractive sector. Mischaracterization of Force Majeure The MGB’s suspension order against Woggle rests on its invocation of force majeure, citing civil disturbances and protest actions in Dupax del Norte as the...

IMAGE FROM NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) community is in deep mourning following the tragic and untimely death of Elyza Esmeralda, a 2nd-year Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management student from the College of Human Ecology. Elyza, who was reported missing on February 11, 2026, was later confirmed by authorities to have suffered a violent death. Her passing has left her family, friends, classmates, mentors, and the entire university community in profound grief and shock. In an official statement released on its Facebook page, NVSU expressed its sorrow and called for compassion, unity, and respect as the investigation into her death continues. “It is with prof...

BY LEIF C. DAHL DUPAX DEL NORTE, Nueva Vizcaya (February 12, 2026)—Woggle Corporation on Wednesday publicly questioned the temporary suspension of its exploration activities imposed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), warning that the order threatens both the rule of law and the Philippines’ attractiveness to responsible mining investors. VCM PHOTO The company stated that it received the MGB’s suspension order on the morning of February 11, but noted that leaked images of the document had already been circulating on social media and local news outlets hours prior. “The premature disclosure raises serious questions about due‑process and the integrity of regulatory actions,” Woggle’s statement read. Woggle’s Exploration Permit (EP No. EP000030II) was granted by the Republ...

Nueva Vizcaya State University has two campuses, in the municipalities of Bayombong and Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya—A government-run university in this province has reminded students to be “cautious in your advocacy activities,” warning them against “improper activism.” This was the message of Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) President Wilfredo Dumale Jr. during the recently held Kamustahan 2026, reminding students to be more cautious and responsible in their advocacy efforts and to prioritize their studies and well-being. Dumale said that student activism is acceptable as long as it is done properly and does not harm anyone. "Be an advocate for good causes, not to harm others," Dumale said, urging students to ...

The seven individuals arrested—including prominent anti‑mining leader Florentino Daynos—hold a copy of the Nueva Vizcaya prosecutor’s resolution dismissing charges of alleged direct assault, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, and obstruction of justice. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO THE VALLEY JOURNAL NEWS TEAM BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—In a decision that has reverberated across this province and beyond, the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office here on January 26, 2026 dismissed every criminal charge filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against seven members of a local anti‑mining coalition. The group—six women and their leader, Florentino Daynos—had been taken into custody on January 23 in Sitio Keon, Barangay Bitnong, Dupax del Norte, after allegedly obstructing the en...

The Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial force on Friday, January 23, 2026, disperses peacefully anti-mining groups forming as a human barricade along the Sitio (sub-village) Keon road, Barangay Bitnong, Dupax del Norte, with seven individuals arrested, including professed anti-mining leader Florentino Daynos, for obstructing the lawful implementation of a court order. PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – On Friday, Jan. 23, the Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Office (NVPPO) announced that a human barricade set up along the Sitio Keon barangay road in Dupax del Norte had been peacefully dispersed, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals, including prominent anti-mining leader Florentino Daynos. The arrests were made for obstructing the la...