By Marie Joy S. Carbungco

BACOLOR, Pampanga — A total of 110 families affected by persistent flooding in Bacolor, Pampanga have received essential relief aid from the national government, as part of its sustained response to the impact of the southwest monsoon (Habagat) and recent tropical disturbances Crising, Dante, and Emong.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian personally led the distribution of food packs, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, family clothing kits, and ready-to-eat meals to the affected families.

In addition, the provincial government, led by Governor Lilia Pineda, also provided the evacuees with hotdog sandwiches and bottled water.

“Ang instructions ng ating Pangulo ay no let-up. Ibig sabihin, tuluy-tuloy tayo. (The President’s instructions are clear — no let-up. Relief operations must continue),” Gatchalian said, referring to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ‘s directive for uninterrupted disaster assistance.

The 110 families from Bacolor are among the 615,000 families nationwide that have already been provided aid by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through food and emergency supplies.

“Laging tinatanong sa amin kung kaya pa ng DSWD. Kayang-kaya pa ng DSWD. Nakahanda tayo para sa ganitong mga pagkakataon. (They always asked if DSWD could do it. DSWD is more than capable. We are prepared for situations like this where disasters come one after another),” Gatchalian added, reaffirming the agency’s readiness amid successive disasters.

Flooding in several areas of Central and Northern Luzon has forced thousands of residents into evacuation centers. 

With this, President Marcos also directed the deployment of standby medical teams in all evacuation centers to help prevent outbreaks of diseases like leptospirosis.

“Kapatid ng social welfare at relief packs ang medikal na pagtugon. (Medical response is the twin of social welfare and relief packs),” Gatchalian stressed, noting the coordination between the DSWD and the Department of Health under Secretary Ted Herbosa.

For her part, Governor Pineda expressed gratitude to the national government for its swift support, especially as many barangays remain inundated and local government calamity funds are limited.

“Kung hindi mag-aaugment ang national government, talagang hindi kakayanin. (If the national government will not augment our efforts, we wouldn’t have managed),” she said.

Pineda stressed that many villages in Pampanga are still inundated, and that prolonged flooding requires sustained support from the national government. 

“Ang pondo na nakalaan sa mga LGU [local government units] para sa calamity fund ay five percent lang. Minsan ang isang bayan, 10 [barangays] ang flooded, thousands ang naapektuhan. (The allocation for the calamity funds of LGUs is only five percent. Sometimes  there are 10 flooded villages in a town with thousands of people affected),” she said. 

The governor also appealed to residents experiencing symptoms of illness amid the flooding to seek medical help immediately.

“Pakiusap lang po, kapag may nararamdaman kayong mga sakit, pumunta lang po kayo sa inyong mga barangay health worker, sa kapitan ninyo. Meron po kaming mga nakaprepare na gamot sa ospital…Wag nyo pong palalain ang sakit ninyo. (If you feel sick, just go to your barangay health workers, to your captains. Hospitals and medicines are ready. Don’t let your illness get worse),” Pineda said, urging Kapampangans not to delay treatments especially with exposure from contaminated floodwaters. 

Meanwhile,53-year old Orieta Gagui, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her heartfelt appreciation on behalf of the displaced families. 

“Presidente [Marcos], dakal a dakal a salamat pu kekayu. Ala kami man pung aligtas gamit. Malan mi man ala kami. May naawa lang po sa amin na nagbigay ng damit. (President, thank you so, so much. We have nothing left. We were not able to save any belongings, not even clothes. Someone just took pity on us and gave us clothes. We’re really very grateful for this aid,” she said in Kapampangan. 

As floods persist and rains show little sign of letting up, Gatchalian assured that the national government remains on full alert.

“Sa disaster response, talagang naka-prepare ang pamahalaang nasyonal. (When it comes to disaster response, the national government is truly prepared — not just the DSWD, but also the DOH, and all other national government agencies),” he said. 

The relief distribution reflects the Marcos administration’s broader commitment to leave no family behind, ensuring that relief reaches even the smallest communities battered by back-to-back natural calamities. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)

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By Shane F. Velasco

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan (PIA) —   Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Maria Christina Garcia-Frasco reaffirmed the agency’s strong support for youth participation in tourism development, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of positioning the Philippines as Asia’s next tourism powerhouse. 

Speaking at the ‘Paglawig 2025’ graduation rites of Bulacan State University’s College of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the College of Business Education and Accountancy, Frasco highlighted the role of the next generation in reimagining the country’s tourism industry. 

Aligned with the vision and aspirations of Marcos Jr. for the tourism sector, which he underscored during his previous State of the Nation Addresses (SONA), the DOT chief reiterated the significance of the Tourism ChampionsChallenge.

This is a nationwide competition designed to empower newly graduated tourism and hospitality students to pitch innovative ideas to strengthen sustainability, inclusivity, and visitor experiences in line with national development goals. 

Secretary Frasco believes that this approach is already working in Bulacan. During her previous visit to the province for the launch of the Philippine Experience Program, she witnessed the commitment of Bulakenyo youth and local stakeholders in advancing tourism while preserving heritage, arts and culture.

Her current visit coincided with Bulacan being hailed as the third safest travel destination in the Philippines by the World Travel Index.

From January to June 2025, the province generated over P500 million in tourism receipts from a diverse mix of destinations such as heritage sites, agri-tourism farms, glamping areas, wave resorts, and fusion cuisine fusion restaurants. 

Nationwide, DOT reported a record-breaking P760 billion in inbound tourism revenue from January to December 2024, a 9.04 percent increase  from the P697.46 billion in 2023 and well the P600.01 billion pre-pandemic income in 2019. 

To sustain this momentum particularly in domestic tourism, DOT has been building Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) across the country to provide travelers  clean restrooms, safe spaces and accessible facilities. The first TRA in Bulacan is set to be built in the city of San Jose Del Monte.

On tourism workforce development, the Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (PHACTO) partnered with the DOT in implementing the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Program.

Thousands of Bulakenyo tourism workers have been trained under this program, which aims to foster excellent service to tourists by enhancing and uplifting the quality of services in all tourism touchpoints.

In addition, Secretary Frasco encouraged the graduates of hospitality and tourism management to welcome the world not only to assure but immerse them in the vibrant story of the Filipino people. (MJSC/SFV, PIA Region 3-Bulacan)

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By Marie Joy S. Carbungco

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) continues to strengthen support for women entrepreneurs with expanded financing programs, digitalization initiatives, and capacity-building efforts. 

During the 2025 Central Luzon Women’s Entrepreneurs’ Summit, DTI Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group Blesila Lantayona announced that DTI launched the Women Enterprise Fund, a P1 billion loan facility dedicated to support women-led businesses across the country. 

“This is a bold step forward in acknowledging women’s needs and backing them with the resources they deserve. It is now open to receive loan applications from women-entrepreneurs all over the country,” she said. 

Lantayona said this is part of DTI’s commitment to promote inclusive development by giving women entrepreneurs access to needed resources like financial, market, trainings, and technology. 

In his previous State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the vital role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in national recovery and resilience. 

He specifically cited the need to streamline support systems, improve access to financing, and promote digital transformation—goals that this new initiative directly addresses.

Through the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp), DTI has also been providing financing programs such as the Pondo para sa Pagbabago at Pag-Asenso (P3), Purchase Order Financing, and RiseUP Multi-Purpose Loan to provide financing options for businesses’ diverse needs. 

The undersecretary cited that DTI’s Gender and Development program mainstreams gender-responsive policies to ensure that women entrepreneurs are given priority in national development initiatives. 

Among these, she mentioned initiatives like the Kapatid Mentor ME,  One Town One Product, e-commerce, and digitalization programs that continue to enhance women’s abilities to compete and prosper. 

In line with the President’s digitalization agenda, DTI Central Luzon Regional Director Edna Dizon stressed the agency’s effort to onboard more women entrepreneurs into digital platforms and integrate artificial intelligence tools to reach more markets efficiently. 

“Digitalization is now a critical component of business operations for ease of doing business and transactions,” she noted. 

DTI also presented the Central Luzon Strategic Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Plan 2023-2028, which lays down a roadmap for the diversification, digitalization, and empowerment of small business in the region. 

“We are here to support women with ideas and inclinations to transform them into viable enterprises. DTI has provincial offices, Negosyo Centers, and business consultancy desks across municipalities and provinces that are very willing and ready to guide aspiring entrepreneurs in transforming ideas into opportunities,” Dizon said. 

She said DTI programs continue to exemplify the Marcos administration’s commitment to enable a business environment that uplifts women, empowers small businesses, and accelerates digital transformation across all sectors. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)

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CITY OF MALOLOS—The P5,625 cash ayuda under Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for each of the 89,000 families affected of typhoon Carina in the provimce in 2024 have been fully delivered and completed this month. 

Rowena Tiongson, head of the Bulacan Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) said the provincial government of Bulacan is on the last three days—July 29, 30 and 31 of the distribution of the ECT to 5,257 families in each towns of Plaridel, San Miguel and the City of Meycauayan. 

Today, Wednesday, 5,257 families from the City of Meycauayan affected of the flood brought by heavy downpour of rains due to typhoon Carina last year are receiving their respective ECT’s. 

Yesterday, Plaridel Mayor Jocell Vistan witnessed the distribution to her constituents inside the Capitol Gymnasium. 

Vistan thanked President Marcos, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and the provincial government of Bulacan. Remaining residents from San Rafael town also received the ECT.

Tiongson told NEWSCORE Bulacan that the election ban during the election period from January-June caused the delay in the completion of the distribution. 

Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis Castro had made sure with the DSWD that all the 89,000 families affected of typhoon Carina last year will be given the ECT. 

A total of worth P500,625,000 cash are given to the said number of families. 

“Gov. Fernando and Vice Gov. Castro fought for that promise of the DSWD to be fulfilled, every family in the 89,000 families listed affected of typhoon Carina to receive the ECT allotted to them,” she said. 

Teams of Bulacan provincial government paramedics are on stand by inside the fully airconditioned 6,000 seater capacity Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium following an earlier incident where an ECT beneficiary who has an existing heart condition while seated and waiting for his turn to receive the P5.625 cash money suffered a heart attack and died. 

MANILA, Philippines—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made sure the poor water service problem affecting millions of Filipinos and the steps his administration is doing to address this is among the most significant issues he will discuss on his Monday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

The President said Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) is now doing the necessary measures against its incompetent partners to resolve the issues on poor water services to millions of people. 

He said, on top of this, he will make sure that those who committed negligence and incompetence in this basic service to the public will be held accountable. 

“Ginagawa na ng LWUA ang kaukulang hakbang laban sa palpak na ka-partner nila upang mailagay na sa ayos ang serbisyo sa tubig para sa milyon-milyon nating mga kababayan. Higit sa lahat, titiyakin  nating mapanagot ang mga nagpabaya at nagkulang sa mahalagang serbisyo publiko na ito,” the President said as he delivered his third SONA purely in the mother tounge. 

Among the other issues he tackled was the Mariveles-Naic Expressway which previous 5-hour travel time will be  lessened to only 45 minutes. The construction of this he said, will begin end of the year. 

Other notable projects of his administration he mentioned were that before the 2025 ends, all public schools in the country will have free internet and that more evacuation centers will be constructed to stop using schools and classrooms for the said purpose so that classes will not be disturbed. 

The country is now using advance and modern radar equipment for wheather system monitoring. 

The President said whoever is behind the missing sabungeros cannot evade the law. “Kahit malakas, mabigat o mayaman, hindi sila mangingibabaw sa batas. Ipaparamdam natin sa kanila ang parusa,” he said. 

As he continued on anti-criminality works of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the police will respond to ongoing crime in just about 5 minutes. 

He said today, guerilla  does not sxist anymore in the country and that 13 million Filipinos are safe and secure from conflicts. “Nagbabalik-loob na ang mga nag-alsa.” 

According to the President, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the PNP and the rebels are now united for peace in Mindanao. 

He also reported to the Filipino people that he had tasked the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to make sure that what it had promised release within 3 days of the registration plates will be fulfilled. 

He also said that government services are available through online and that Filipinos should now download the internet app on this to benefit and avail. 

Several other topics were discussed including about flooding, Overseas Filipino Worlkers, youth education, healfh concerns of the youth, zero bills in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals, expanded services of PhilHealth, success in combating illegal drugs, agrarian reform and benefits fo farmers.