PNP-Abra PPO bags BGen. Rafael T. Crame Balangay Award 2020

Photo Courtesy || Abra PPO

Cordillera - The Abra Police Provincial Office (PPO) bagged the 2nd BGen. Rafael T. Crame Balangay Award during the Flag Raising Ceremony, on February 17, 2020 (Monday) at Camp Crame in Quezon City. 

PCol. Alfredo K. Dangani, who heads the Abra PPO personally received the award for being one of the outstanding PPOs in the country. 

A Balangay Trophy and a grand prize amounting to Php 400,000 from the Public Safety Savings and Loan Association Inc (PSSLAI) which is the exclusive savings and loan association of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were received  by PCol. Dangani.

The Abra PPO was recently recognized as the Best Police Provincial Office in the entire country due to its relentless campaign against major problems in the province and its strengthened partnership and collaboration with various stakeholders in the community. 

The annual BGen. Rafael T. Crame Balangay Awards is given to deserving PPOs, City Police Offices, Municipal Police Stations who passed the following criteria; 

- Unit performance rating

- Remarkable Improvements in the index and non-index crimes

- Crime solution efficiency and crime clearance efficiency

- Significant accomplishments in the execution of the enhanced managing police operations

- Internal driven operations

- Internal Cleansing against illegal drugs

- Practice Adherence to community service-oriented policing

- Recovery and wellness program. 

Congratulations Abra PPO!

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Access Road to Abra's famous Kaparkan Falls is ongoing - DPWH

Photo Courtesy || DPWH || Daniel's Eco Travel

Cordillera - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced the ongoing construction of an access road going to the famous Kaparkan Falls in Tineg, Abra. 

DPWH secretary Mark Villar announced that the construction of the 11-kilometer Alimusgan-Bai-Caganayan Access Road has been the priority project of the DPWH Abra District Engineering Office that started in 2018.
Booking.com READ ALSO: Apao Rolling Hills: The Most Majestic Hills in Abra

Tourists and visitors who wanted to visit the Kaparkan Falls can now experience safe and pleasant travel by passing through this fully paved road.

"The constructions of the 11-kilometer Alimusgan-Bai-Caganayan Access Road is among the priority projects of DPWH Abra District Engineering Office to ensure safe and pleasant experience for visitors of the high terraced falls in Barangay Caganayan," Villar said.

READ ALSO: Abra Police Provincial Office recognized as Best Police Provincial Office in the entire country

The construction of the said road would not only benefit tourists but also the local businesses in the area especially agriculture. 

"More than the boost in tourism, the construction of Alimusgan-Bai-Caganayan Access Road aims to improve mobility and transfer of goods and services in the agricultural municipality of Tineg, Abra, Villar added. 

Cost of the project according to DPWH report is more than P82 million.

source || DPWH

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Two Cordillerans among official candidates for Miss Universe Philippines 2020

Photo Courtesy || Miss Universe Philippines

Cordillera - Miss Universe Philippines has announced on Friday the official candidates who will vie for the crown and have the chance of representing the country in the 2020 Miss Universe pageant.

Among the official candidates are from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). 

They are Ms. Bea Theresa Maynigo from Baguio City and Ms. Noreen Mangawit from the province of Kalinga. 

Ms. Noreen Mangawit is a daughter of Nicanor and Rebecca Mangawit of Limos, Pinukpuk, Kalinga. 

Miss Universe Philippines is a beauty pageant competition and organization in the Philippines that selects the country's representative to the Miss Universe pageant.

READ ALSO:  Cordilleran Beauty Queen Roxie Baeyens is an official candidate for Miss Earth Philippines 2020

All the candidates will be promoting the pageant's slogan "Beautiful Transformation, Beyond the Coastline, and Inspiring Women with Action". 

The current Miss Universe Philippines is Gazini Ganados who was crowned on June 9, 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. 

The 52 official candidates for this year Miss Universe Philippines were introduced at a red carpet yesterday in Manila by the new franchise owner, the Miss Universe Philippines organization. 

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Duterte appoints Abrenean Lucas Bersamin as GSIS chairperson

Photo Courtesy || SC

Cordillera - Former Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin has been appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the new Chairperson of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). 

In a press release by Malacañang on Friday (February 14, 2020), Duterte has approved the nomination of Mr. Bersamin to chair the GSIS and as a member of the Board of Trustees. 

"We are confident that Mr. Bersamin would serve the GSIS with the same dedication and integrity he demonstrated in his many years of government service," Malacañang Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement. 

Mr. Bersamin has a sterling record of public service capped by a 10-year service in the Supreme Court where he assumed the position of Chief Justice in 2018. 

The 70-year old Bersamin is a native of Bangued, Abra, a brother of former Abra congressman Luis P. Bersamin. 

He finished law at the University of the East in 1973, and placed 9th in the Bar Examinations of the same year. 

He served as a trial court judge and appellate court magistrate before being appointed to the Supreme Court in 2009. He also served as a presiding judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 96 in 1986. 

Bersamin was a recipient of the Judicial Excellence Award for the Best Decision both in Civil Law and Criminal Law. 

Congratulations Mr. Lucas P. Bersamin. 

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WATCH: Drone Footage of Halsema Highway by SEFTV

Cordillera - With an altitude of around 2,255 meters above seal level, the Halsema Highway also known as mountain trail is the highest altitude highway in the Philippines just next to the Kiangan-Tinoc-Bugias Road in Tinoc, Ifugao. 

Don't you know that Halsema Highway was name after an American engineer who was known for building Baguio's most important public structures? 

His name was Eusebius Julius Halsema who served as Baguio's mayor during the year 1920 to 1937. It was during his term that Halsema Highway was constructed.

The highway has served motorists and tourists from the lowlands to have access to the northern part of Cordillera and the Ilocos Region. 

It was also the main road use by vegetables farmers to transport their produce to the trading post in La Trinidad.

The 150-kilometer or 93.2 miles highway covers 95 kilometers of Benguet province and traverses eight of its municipalities (La Trinidad, Tublay, Atok, Bokod, Kabayan, Bugias, Bakun, and Mankayan. 

In recent years, Halsema was considered one of the most dangerous highways in the world due to sharp road curves, landslides, zero visibility during rainy season due to fog. 

But the road has now improved tremendously, as the road has been regularly repaired and cemented concrete railings have been installed and the landslide prone area has been layered with stone walls. 

Much works has been done to improve the conditions of the Halsema Highway and it now becomes one of the top tourists spot to visit in Cordillera. 

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Abra Police Provincial Office recognized as Best Police Provincial Office in the entire country

Photo Courtesy || Abra PPO FB

Cordillera - The Abra Police Provincial Office has been recognized as the Best Police Provincial Office in the whole of Philippines after bagging the 2nd Brigadier General Rafael T. Crame Balangay Awards for this year. 

The Balangay Awards is given to deserving Police Provincial Offices/City Police Offices, Municipality Police Stations and City Police Stations as recognition of their exceptional and outstanding significant accomplishment and contributions in the police force.

According to the Abra PPO Facebook Page, the award was garnered by the office due to its relentless campaign against major problems in the province and its strengthened partnership and collaboration with various stakeholders in the community, surpassing all other police provincial office in the entire country. 

It added that the office's best practice KADABRA and Tongtongan (CMD) were among the peculiar strategies that let it stand out over other police offices in the country. 

READ ALSO: Duterte appoints Abrenean Lucas Bersamin as GSIS chairperson

"This award is our response to the demands of the community for an enhanced and improved police services rendered to our People and the result of the collaborative efforts and strengthened police-community partnership towards establishing a community that is safer, more progressive and conducive to live, work and do business," Abra Provincial Director, PCOL Alfredo K. Dangani said in a statement. 

The award is set to be conferred to the Abra PPO through PCOL Dangani in the awarding ceremony to be held during the flag raising ceremony on February 17, 2020 at Camp PBGen Crame. 

Congratulations Abra Police Provincial Office. 

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First Hospital for OFWs to rise in Pampanga: Free medication and hospitalization for OFWs

Photo Courtesy || Senator Bong Go

Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs will soon have their own hospital that will exclusively cater to their medical needs. This hospital for OFWs will soon be built in the province of Pampanga. 

News from Philippine Information Agency says a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Wednesday (February 12, 2020) by the private-public partnership of the provincial government of Pampanga, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc.

According to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who led the signing of the MOU, the construction of the hospital is to recognized the OFW's vital contribution to the country's economy. 

"Ang kahalagahan nito ay free medication and hospitalization. Libre, walang bayad ang ating mga OFW. (The significance of the project is free medication and hospitalization for our OFWS). It is solely for the OFWs," Bello said. 

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) will donate PHP200 million worth of hospital equipment to further improve the healthcare services of the soon-to-rise OFW hospital. 

A dialysis and cancer centers are also being planned to be built on a 2,000-square meter lot adjacent to the OFW hospital, according to PIA. 

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BFFFI announces new schedule for Panagbenga 2020 activities

Photo Courtesy || Public Information Office - Baguio

Cordillera - The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Incorporated (BFFFI) has announced the rescheduling of the top Panagbenga activities. 

In a press conference on Wednesday (February 12, 2020) BFFFI co-chair Mr. Anthony De Leon together with Baguio Mayor Benjie Magalong announced the rescheduling of the following Panagbenga activities in consideration of the Corona Virus Diseases threat.

Here's the new schedule:

March 15 - Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio including Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom, Cultural Show, Open Kite-Flying Competition and Fireworks Display. 

March 21 - Opening Parade

March 28 - Grand Street Parade

March 29 - Grand Float Parade

March 30 to April 5 - Session Road in Bloom

Here is the full list of the 25th Panagbenga Calendar of Activites

Photo Courtesy || BFFFI 

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Philippine Congress to formally recognize and honor Team Lakay's contribution to the country

Photo Coutesy || Mark Sangiao

Cordillera - To formally recognize and honor Team Lakay members' contribution to the country, Benguet appointed caretaker congressman Eric Go Yap submitted a resolution to Congress to thank and praise them for bringing tremendous honor and glory to the country. 

Cong. Yap said, he submitted House Resolution No. 707 as a way of recognizing and thanking the champions of Team Lakay. 

"Bilang saludo ang pasasalamat sa inyong mga tagumpay, ating isunumite ang House Resolution No. 707 upang pormal na kilalanin ng Kongreso ang inyong mga ambag para sa bayan," Yap said. 

Yap personally thanked current ONE Strawweight Champion Joshua Pacio, reigning Brave Combat Federation Bantamweight Champion Stephen Loman and former URCC Welterweight Champion and former ONE Lightweight Champion Eduard Folayang for their great contribution in the field of Mixed Martial Arts in the country. 

Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao and the champions visited the House of Representative on Tuesday. 

Yap met them in his office and personally handed them certificate of recognition and promised them support to improve their gym and further enhance their training.

"Maraming salamat sa pagiging inspirasyon sa maraming kabataang Pilipino na may pangarap magpursige sa kani-kanilang larangan. Asahan ninyo na nasa likod ninyo kami at handang sumporta hanggang sa abot nga aming makakaya. Mabuhay kayo! Mabuhay ang Pilipino, Yap added. 

Team Lakay is a Benguet-based Mixed Martial Art team in the Philippines. It was founded by former mixed martial artist Mark Sangiao. 

The team operates in a close to zero budget with a gym that is not air conditioned, no state of the art training facilities but produced the best mixed martial artists that are making waves in major international organizations. 

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Apao Rolling Hills: The Most Majestic Hills in Abra

Photo Courtesy || LGU Tineg, Abra

Cordillera - One of the most picturesque travel destinations in Cordillera is the Apao Rolling Hills located in Apao, Tineg in the province of Abra. 

Such 360 degrees of pure majestic view of the wave-like hills with no large trees but plain brown and green grasses in the rainy seasons provides relaxing atmosphere for travelers who wanted to feel the cool and fresh air.

The sea of clouds can also be seen in the early morning.

To reach Apao paradise hills, you have to travel an hour and half from the provincial capital of Bangued. 

The road is not fully concreted yet but any type of vehicles can pass. 

Before reaching this place, you will have to cross the city of Tayum and pass the third longest bridge in the entire Philippines, the Don Mariano Marcos Bridge in the town of Dolores and San Juan. 

From there, you can also get to the Kaparpakan Falls, which is one the top tourist destination in Abra.

Going to the Apao Hills, you need to register at the Municipal Hall and get some advice from local tourism officials. 

Apao Hills has becoming a national attraction lately and many local tourists have come to visit this place in past few months. 

Fill your eyes with the beautiful landscape but don't leave any garbage to maintain the cleanliness and natural beauty of the place.

The local government of Tineg advised visitors to practice CAYGO (Clean As You Go) when visiting Apao Rolling Hills. 

As much as possible, take you garbage with you when you go home.

Offenders caught throwing their garbage will be penalized in accordance with the Municipal Ordinance No. 08 Series of 2017 also known as Ecological Solid Waste Management System of the Municipality of Tineg, Tineg LGU said in a statement.

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