Articles by Leander Domingo
House OKs 4 more trial courts for Nueva Vizcaya
BAYOMBONG — The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 11171, which seeks to create four additional Municipal Trial Court (MTC) branches in the province — one each in Diadi in the north, Quezon in the central area, Santa Fe along the Nueva Vizcaya-Nueva Ecija boundary and Alfonso Castañeda in the far southeast. The bill is designed to address a practical barrier that residents in peripheral towns have long faced: distance.
Biotech training modules for LGUs updated
THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) is updating its agricultural biotechnology training module to help local government officials make informed decisions and communicate science-based information to their constituents. The revision was undertaken during a writing workshop on Sept. 24-25 at the Searca Residence Hall in Los Baños, Laguna.
MMSU pushes improved forages for Ilocos Norte
BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte — As prolonged dry spells threaten to shrink available feed for ruminants in northern Luzon, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) is moving to establish community-based forage sources for cattle and goat raisers. Through its Extension Directorate and the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD), the university has started giving out free starter planting materials to local livestock keepers who are willing to build forage plots in their villages.
OceanaGold upgrades monitoring system
KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya — As the southwest monsoon (habagat) brings heavy rains to this gold-deposit-rich upland town, the listed firm OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. (OGP) has upgraded its monitoring system for the tailings storage facility (TSF) at its Didipio Mine, a structure often at the center of community concerns over mining risks.
MGB suggests reducing exploration area
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — A proposal by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Cagayan Valley (MGB-2) to substantially shrink a contested exploration permit in the upland town of Kasibu has become the focal point of efforts to ease tensions between the exploration firm and residents maintaining an anti-mining barricade.
Congress urged to probe Kasibu exploration permit
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Calls are mounting for the Senate and House of Representatives to investigate the issuance of a 4,456-hectare exploration permit in the gold-rich upland town of Kasibu, amid unresolved questions on what government agencies verified — and what they may have missed — before approval. At the center of the demand is Exploration Permit 000029-II, reportedly issued to North Luzon Mineral Resources Corp. (NLMRC) on June 25, 2025.
DA expands use of IPM to fight corn armyworm
LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) has launched a broader push to adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocol for corn fall armyworm, a technology developed to address persistent infestations that have affected corn production in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) since 2019. The technology was formally presented during the 4th National Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Exhibition held at the Legazpi City Convention Center in Albay on Oct. 1, 2026.
Nueva Vizcaya economy grows 2.6% as output hits P67.24B
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Nueva Vizcaya’s economy grew by 2.6 percent in 2025, reaching P67.24 billion at constant 2018 prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Region 2 reported. The latest provincial product accounts show a clear structural shift. Services now account for 44.5 percent of the economy, surpassing industry at 35.3 percent and agriculture, forestry and fishing at 20.2 percent.
Gambito pushes revival of Bagabag Airport
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Gov. Jose Gambito has renewed a long-standing bid to reopen Bagabag Airport, enlisting Canadian experts to conduct a feasibility study to address transport bottlenecks that have constrained farmers, businesses, and disaster response in the landlocked province. The governor said the airport is central to lowering logistics costs and opening new markets. “I am determined to reopen the airport.
FPIC key to mining disputes in Kasibu
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Tense encounters between law enforcers and residents opposing mining activities in Barangay Pao, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, have placed on the spotlight the unresolved issue of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). The controversy here revolves around the FPIC, the legal requirement for affected Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples (ICC-IP) to freely give their consent before any project that could affect them moves forward.
Cagayan seeking aerospace industry
WHAT is scheduled to lift off in Lal-lo, Cagayan, in February 2027 is a sounding rocket, but what the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) wants to land is an industry. The planned launch at Cagayan North International Airport is being developed by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and CEZA, together with Ascend International Gateway and South Korea’s Perigee Aerospace.
Aurora intensifies drive against ASF
MARIA AURORA, Aurora — Alarmed by the continuing threat of the African swine fever (ASF), the municipal government of Maria Aurora has tightened controls, warning barangay officials against the trading of live hogs and pork products in the area. Mayor Ariel Bitong said local officials who tolerate such movements in their jurisdictions may face sanctions from the municipality as animal disease control team struggled to contain the virus.
Future agri-leaders gain insights into Searca Original
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Forty-two graduates preparing for the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists gained firsthand exposure to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture's (Searca) education, research and innovation initiatives during a learning visit on Sept. 11, 2026.
Philippines: Urban agriculture takes root in Isabela
Fresh harvests from a solar-powered greenhouse and mushroom house thrive inside Saint Matthias Medical Center in Tumauini, Isabela. DA PHOTO If replicated, the approach positions hospitals not only as consumers of food but as producers — reducing procurement costs, ensuring freshness and providing therapeutic green spaces.
OceanaGold: No exploration yet in Conner
CONNER, Apayao — OceanaGold Copper Fields clarified that it has not started any exploration activities in this municipality, amid growing public queries about its proposed project. In a public advisory issued in Filipino, the company said no exploration work is currently being conducted on the ground in Conner.
Gambito remembers Cua for his quiet generosity
CABARROGUIS, Quirino — Amid the mourning for Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Jose Gambito framed his tribute not around positions held or laws passed, but on a personal act of accommodation that occurred more than two decades ago. Gambito, who visited the wake at the Quirino Capitol People’s Gymnasium on Friday told those gathered that Cua’s defining trait was a willingness to step aside for others.
3,720 NVizcaya trike drivers get cash aid
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has extended financial assistance to 3,720 tricycle drivers and operators as part of its response to continuing fluctuations in petroleum prices that have eroded earnings in the transport sector. The aid was distributed under Project JING, or Jobs In Need of Gifts, a provincial program intended to cushion the impact of economic pressures on vulnerable workers. The latest payout covered 526 drivers from Aritao, led by Gov.
Scholars explore smart farming
SOME 21 Dual Agritech scholars and faculty facilitators from Dagatan Family Farm School Inc. (DFFS) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) on Aug. 27 to learn how digital tools and modern technologies are changing agriculture. The visit covered smart farming, agricultural modernization and digital agriculture, giving the young farmers a look at technologies aimed at reducing production costs and improving farm incomes.
Dengue cases in Aurora increase by 137%
BALER — Dengue infections in Aurora province have climbed to 2,172, with health officials reporting continued transmission across all municipalities. The Aurora Provincial Health Office (PHO) said the latest count includes 106 new cases as of Sept. 12, 2026, logged by Disease Reporting Units provincewide. The total is 137 percent higher than the 915 cases recorded in the same period last year.
Battery storage eyed to address Visayas power woes
THE Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities is pushing a more diversified, decentralized and flexible power system in Visayas to address recurring grid alerts and high prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, which it attributed to forced outages of large coal plants. In a statement, the ICSC said the current situation highlights the risks of overdependence on centralized baseload plants. Coal accounts for about 60 percent of electricity generation in the Philippines.
Bulacan food products eyed for regional markets
BULACAN’S food and agribusiness products could soon be featured in an international trade fair, paving the way for their entry into regional and global markets. This, as the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) is targeting to showcase “Tatak Bulakenyo” products at the International Food Expo (IFEX) 2027, leveraging the Bulacan Food Fair and Exposition (Buffex) as a qualifying platform.
Urban agriculture takes root in Isabela
INSIDE a hospital compound in Tumauini, Isabela, lettuce grows under solar-powered hydroponics and mushrooms fruit in a climate-controlled house — a shift that shows how health care facilities are becoming new frontlines for food security. Saint Matthias Medical Center of Isabela Inc. has integrated food production into its operations through the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (Nupap) of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2).
Gambito rallies for unity during service caravan in Bayombong
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The one-stop service caravan that brought thousands of Novo Vizcayanos to the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center on Sept. 14 also became a platform for Gov.
Searca photo contest offers $1,000 top prize
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Survey: Only 1 in 5 CEOs are hitting AI targets
A RECENT survey by consulting firm Bain & Co. revealed that only 1 in 5 chief executives is achieving desired AI outcomes. The primary bottlenecks stem from human factors rather than technical limitations: workers lack training and tools, organizations remain confined to isolated pilot projects, and staff exhibit hesitancy toward adoption. “The bottleneck is human, and it is widening every quarter,” the firm noted.
Desiltation of Magat Dam to help reduce floods
SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said it is pushing ahead with studies to remove accumulated sediments in Magat Dam to restore its storage capacity and improve flood control in Cagayan Valley. NIA said the consultation meetings they are conducting, particularly in this city, are part of the continuing Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) Study for the Magat Dam Sedimentation Countermeasures Project.
Scholars undergo training in practical research writing
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Twenty-six graduate scholars from six Southeast Asian countries have undergone training aimed to bring academic research beyond journal publication and into policy and broader use.
Feeding programs benefit small farmers
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — A new policy brief from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) highlights how school feeding programs in Southeast Asia can serve two development goals at once: improving children's nutrition; and providing more dependable markets for smallholder farmers.
DA interventions boost Vizcaya vegetable growers
ALFONSO CASTAÑEDA, Nueva Vizcaya — Vegetable farming in this upland town is becoming a sustainable agribusiness activity, lifting growers from low yields and high costs to high-volume production and direct market access. The shift is being seen among members of the Alfonso Castañeda Vegetable Growers Association (Alcavega), a Securities and Exchange Commission-registered group formed in 2017 with 34 members.
NVizcaya races to deliver P906M infra program
BAYOMBONG — The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya is pushing to deliver nearly P906 million worth of infrastructure after a series of disruptions threatened to stall construction across the province. The Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) said it is now moving 61 projects forward after confronting a wave of setbacks — from election restrictions and delayed environmental clearances to super typhoons, failed biddings and surging construction costs.
Aurora coconut farmers back Marcos' 100-million tree target
DILASAG, Aurora — Coconut farmers in Aurora are helping push the national target of planting 100 million coconut trees, joining the Philippine Coconut Authority's (PCA) push to rehabilitate aging farms and storm-hit plantations in Central Luzon. The effort is being carried out under the PCA Coconut Hybridization Program (CHP), which provides incentives to replace old and unproductive palms, restore typhoon-damaged areas, and expand new planting.
Proposed Nueva Vizcaya tribal center gains momentum
ARITAO — The call to establish the Provincial Indigenous Peoples Tribal Center in Nueva Vizcaya is being framed as a response to both cultural preservation and service delivery gaps in a province that is home to about 18 Indigenous peoples’ groups. Millennial Isinai leader Sherlock Jama Magaway, a member of the Isinai Council of Elders in Aritao and founder of Uwwa si Vizcaya (Brother/Sister of Vizcaya), described the proposed facility as a permanent second home for Indigenous peoples.
DA intensifies ASF containment efforts in Cagayan Valley
TUGUEGARAO CITY — Hog industry in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) is facing renewed pressure from scattered cases of African swine fever (ASF), prompting the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) to step up containment measures across the region.
Technology converts compliance to advantage
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Science and technology applications in supply chain transparency took center stage at a recent seminar organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca). Held on Aug.
Ifugao town bans weapons in schools
LAGAWE, Ifugao — The municipality of Hingyon has approved an ordinance seeking to keep schools free from deadly weapons to protect students, teachers, non-teaching personnel and visitors. The measure, titled “No Deadly Weapons Within School Premises,” prohibits the carrying, possession and use of deadly weapons and similar materials inside school grounds when done without authorization, particularly if intended to cause harm, cause death, sow fear or intimidate.
Vizcaya gets citrus nursery facility
KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya — The municipality of Kasibu is being positioned as the Citrus Hub of Northern Luzon following the turnover of a P8-million four-unit citrus nursery facility to the Malabing Valley Multipurpose Cooperative (MVMPC). The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) for Cagayan Valley awarded the facility on Aug. 24, 2026, in Malabing in this upland town. Already have an active account? Log in here.
Carabao center expands buffalo entrustment in Nueva Ecija
MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija — The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) under the Department of Agriculture is stepping up its herd buildup efforts in Nueva Ecija through two separate animal entrustments aimed at strengthening community livelihoods and increasing local milk production. The PCC at Central Luzon State University turned over on Aug. 12, 2026 five female buffaloes to the IGB’s Women Association in General Tinio.
Gambito calls for justice reform in IP rape cases
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Gov.
PH, US, Japan to co-host first Luzon economic corridor investment forum in Manila
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Tribe elders want barricades removed
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The Bugkalot Confederation of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora Inc., through its Council of Elders, called on authorities to “completely dismantle, clear, and put an end to all these illegal barricades” inside the Bugkalot/Ilongot Ancestral Domain, saying the structures have hampered development and public services for more than three months.
PCA, MMSU to boost ‘makapuno’ output
Mariano Marcos State University has signed an agreement with the Philippine Coconut Authority to operationalize a biotechnology facility that will produce embryo-cultured makapuno seedlings.
‘1 in 4 Filipino seniors risk falling into poverty’
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Solar Industry alliance, MMSU power PH green energy shift
SOLAR and storage are expected to carry more of the country’s power mix as demand grows, and the government pursues cleaner energy targets. But scaling up requires more than installing panels. It needs tested equipment, trained people and data that match local conditions. Pushing to expand solar power in the Philippines is a new industry-academe tie-up aimed at turning research into deployable technology.
Social enterprises seen as growth engines
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Social enterprises are emerging as business models that can help make Southeast Asia’s agrifood systems more resilient while expanding opportunities for farmers and buyers. This is what an entrepreneurship expert said during a regional webinar hosted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca).
Ukraine eyes stronger agricultural trade ties with PH, Southeast Asia at Searca forum
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Batanes makes strides in organic farming
THE Participatory Guarantee System or PGS Batanes Core Group has received official organic certification from the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFE), a development that can expand market access for Ivatan farmers while protecting the ecosystem of Batanes. The certification was achieved with support from the provincial government of Batanes, municipal local government units, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Regional Training Center 2, and DA Regional Field Office 2.
PhilMech pushes specialized machines for Cordillera farmers
FARMERS from Kalinga and Apayao got a firsthand look at modern agricultural equipment during the 2026 Mechanization Roadshow, the country’s largest traveling exhibit on farm machinery, held at the Kalinga Provincial Capitol in Tabuk on July 28-29, 2026.
ATI intensifies support for Bataan coconut farmers
THE Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) office in Central Luzon is sustaining its efforts to strengthen the country’s coconut industry by expanding technical support to farmers in Bataan, with 25 coconut farmers from different municipalities in the province among the most recent beneficiaries. The program, carried out with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), places particular emphasis on hybridization and nursery management.
US announces $2.5-B investment package
THE United States (US) announced an investment of over $2.5 billion for Southeast Asia during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Manila from July 21 to 23, with a series of new programs for the Philippines and broader initiatives across Asean countries. Rubio traveled to Manila to engage with Asean and regional leaders to advance the US vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, reaffirm US commitment to Asean centrality, and strengthen the US-Philippine alliance.
DoST promotes composting to boost green economy in Nueva Ecija
The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) branch in Nueva Ecija is promoting compact composting systems as part of a broader push to build a green, circular economy at the barangay and household level. Through the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), it is introducing two technologies designed for local waste reduction: the Dual Drum Composter for communities, and the Household Tumbling Composter for families.
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