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25/08/2025

MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO
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BATAY sa ginawang estimasyon ng mga inhinyero at mga opisyal ng gobyerno probinsyal na may kinalaman tungkol sa mga proyekto laban sa baha umaabot sa mahigit P4 bilyon ang inilaan para sa probinsya ang Camarines Norte. Narito ang mga flood mitigation/control projects sa probinsya ayon sa inilabas na impormasyon ng mga kinaukulan:
1. Basud – paggawa ng flood control structure sa Basud River, Brgy. San Jose. Kontratista – 128 Dragon Construction and Supplies. Halaga ng proyekto -P86,849,923.14 Nakumpleto noong 12/09/2024.
Paggawa ng flood mitigation structure sa ilog ng Calagdo, Brgy. Tuaca. Kontratista – Partido Construction and Supply. Halaga ng proyekto -P154,399,262.80. Nakumpleto noong 11/30/2024.
Konstruksyon ng flood mitigation structure sa Brgy. Mantugawe at Brgy. Pagsangahan. Kontratista – Brentmin Roofing Enterprise. Halaga -P96,499,986.42. Natapos noong 10/31/2024. (May karugtong)

Batay sa impormasyon na nakarating sa BP ang kabuuang pondo mula sa gobyerno nasyunal na dumaloy pababa sa lalawigan ng Camarines Norte ay umabot sa P4,325,604,549.37 (Apat na bilyon, tatlongdaan at dalawampu’t limang milyon, animnaraan at apat na libo, limang daan at apatnapu’t siyam at tatlumpu’t pitong sentimo)
Hinihikayat ang mga residente na malapit sa lugar, o kaya ay yun mga opisyal ng barangay sa mga binanggit sa pook na silipin ang proyekto at magmasid kung maayos ang pagkagawa. Sakaling makakita ng problema ay kaagad na ipagbigay alam sa mga kinaukulan o sa media upang maiparating sa mga imbestigador, magawan ng report para makarating sa Malakanyang.

BIR nagbabala vs pekeng kawani
NAGBABALA ang Revenue District No.64 sa publiko na magmatyag laban sa ilang mga indibidwal na nagkukunwaring kawani ng BIR upang makadenggoy. Ito’y kasunod ng isang pangyayari sa bayan ng Basud, CN kung saan isa di-umanong tauhan ng rentas internas ang lumapit sa isang taxpaayer at nagtangkang mangolekta ng utang sa buwis. Ayon sa pahayag ng taxpayer ay may dalang notice of penalty ang impostor at ipinakita ito noong Biyernes, ngunit sinabi ni RDO Reymarie dela Cruz na walang field work ang mga tauhan ng BIR kapag weekend. Sakaling magkaroon ng trabaho kapag weekend ay dapat may ipakitang mission order ang empleyado, paliwanag ni RDO dela Cruz. Idinagdag pa nya na upang makaiwas na madenggoy ay dapat may identification card at naka-uniporme ang kawani ng BIR. Kung sakali anyang diskumpyado ang taxpayer ay maaaring ireport sa FB page ng kawanihan at kikilos ito nang mabilisan upang masawata ang anumang panlilinlang sa mga taxpayer.

25/08/2025

Pre-termination procedure
to end CNWD-Primewater
JVA underway – GM Villaluz
THE Camarines Norte Water District said it does not have a copy of the Pre-Termination Agreement which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has requested in order to ascertain the reasons and circumstances for ending the 25-year contract between the Villar-controlled firm and the local water district. CNWD Gen. Mgr. Froilindo Villaluz, in response to a letter from the provincial board, said the water district management cannot give a copy of the agreement because it “does not possess the requested document.” Calls for the termination of the JVA from consumers and from Gov. Ricarte Padilla himself intensified after repeated water service interruptions resulted in a ground-swell of complaints expressed in online posts and protest actions. The Local Water Utilities Administration reported recently that it has completed its investigations of Joint Venture Agreements between Primewater and local water districts in different provinces, noting that common complaints range from foul-smelling water, sand, or the total absence of water from faucets in areas where joint service contracts are in effect. No less than Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered the investigation after Sen. Riza Hontiveros exposed the matter.

Primewater summarize performance
in response SP pre-termination move
PRIMEWATER GM Jonson Chan refused to give a copy of the Pre-termination Agreement requested by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan which, he said, contain confidential information. Instead, he told acting Vice Gov. Dennis Riel that the request for documents may be coursed through the Camarines Norte Water District.
Engr. Chan said the confidential information contained in the Pre-termination Agreement pertains to operational data, technical assessment, and financial figures which are protected in provisions of the Joint Venture Agreement. Nevertheless, he offered a brief summary of the performance of Primewater from the time it acquired control of water delivery system in Camarines Norte, among them were 1. Increased active service connections reaching 37% and the launching of new promotional programs to further expand coverage, 2. On-going infrastructure upgrades including a booster pump in the municipality of Mercedes and the Dagotdotan filtration facility upgrade, and 3. the Pimental spring rehabilitation to improve water pressure and supply. He also said the quality of water in Camarines Norte remains compliant with national standards through regular testing, and had strengthened customer service by deploying additional technical teams.
“Also, while non-revenue water reductions and market growth remain ongoing efforts, we continue to meet key benchmarks in collection efficiency, water quality, and productivity,” Chan said. He said the summary presents a fair overview of the points raised in their official correspondence on the matter.

11/08/2025

Mayor Pajarillo ng Mercedes
at Hanabana may pag-uusap
tungkol sa tubig-inumin
Primewater hindi kasali
Nakatakdang makipagpulong si Mayor Alex Pajarillo ng Mercedes sa mga kinatawan ng Hanabana Construction and Equipment Corp. sa Agosto 11, 2025 upang talakayin ang mga isasagawang hakbang upang malutas ang malalang problema sa tubig inumin sa naturang bayan. Ayon sa isang pahayag mula sa tanggapan ng alkalde ay tatalakayin ang binabalangkas na plano na kumuha ang munisipalidad ng tubig mula sa Lidong, Basud na bubuksan ng Hanabana. Ang tubig mula dito ay padadaanin sa mga lugar ng Brgy. Cayucyucan, Gaboc, Manguisoc patungo sa pusod ng bayan ng Mercedes. Naniniwala umano ang alkalde na may kakayahan ang Hanabana na tustusan ang proyekto tulad ng ginawa nito sa filtration facility ng Primewater sa Brgy. Dagotdotan, SLR. “Matagal na kaming nag-uusap ng Hanabana ngunit naantala lamang dahil sa tinapos nila ang sedimentation basin kasunod ng kahilingan ni Gob. D**g Padilla upang masolusyunan ang problema sa tubig inumin ng probinsya,” pahayag ni Pajarillo.
Sa kasalukuyan ay mabigat pa rin ang problema sa tubig-inumin sa bayan ng Mercedes dahil sa mahinang serbisyo ng Primewater Infrastructures, Inc. Malakas ang panawagan ng mga konsumidores ng tubig na wakasan na ang kontrata ng Camarines Norte Water District at Primewater na kung tawagin ay Joint Venture Agreement, at ang ginaganap na pag-uusap sa pagitan ng mayor ng Mercedes at Hanabana ay isang indikasyon na maaaring mapatalsik ang Primewater mula sa Camarines Norte. Ang Hanabana ay isang kompanya na nagsusuplay ng dagdag na tubig sa Primewater.

11/08/2025

Mga bastardo sa probinsya dumadami
Tumaas ng pitumpong porsyento (70%) ang bilang ng mga bata sa Camarines Norte na ipinanganak na hindi kasal ang mga magulang. Ito ang malungkot na impormasyon na ibinahagi ng Philippine Statistics Authority sa ginanap na Kasalang Bayan sa Mercedes kamakailan. Ayon kay Janice Espiritu, supervising statistical specialist sa PSA, ang datos ay batay sa kanilang pagsasaliksik noong taon 2023. Si Espiritu ay nagsalita sa ginanap na Kasalang Bayan sa Mercedes, Camarines Norte kung saan 30 magkapareha na matagal nang nagsasama ang ikinasal nang libre sa proyektong pinangunahan ni Mayor Alex Pajarillo. Sinabi pa ni Espiritu na nakakatulong ang Kasalang Bayan upang mabawasan ang mga batang isinilang sa labas ng kasal o non-marital children, bukod pa sa ibinibigay na insentibo ng pamahalaang lokal sa mga nagpapakasal sa ilalim ng proyekto. Gayundin, idinagdag nya na malaking bagay ang pagkakaroon ng legal na dokumento sa kasal para sa pag-aaral ng mga bata at sa pagkuha ng mga benepisyo mula sa gobyerno. Pinuri ng PSA ang hakbang ng lokal na gobyerno ng Mercedes sa pagiging child and women friendly nito.

11/08/2025

Move to return CNPH to DOH timely
Camarines Norte residents will benefit immensely if the move to return to the national government the control and operation of the Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital gains traction.
The impetus came after Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. revealed in his State of the Nation Address last July 28, 2025 that all services in Department of Health hospitals will not cost anything to patients. Reacting to the president’s statement, Gov. Ricarte Padilla said reverting the provincial hospital to the cDOH will greatly improve health services and better medical services to local residents.
The provincial hospital was under the Health Department until the late 70s and was placed under management, including its funding, to the provincial government when the devolution went into effect following the approval of the Local Government Code.
Presently there are three hospitals being operated by the DOH in Bicol – the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, the Bicol Region General Hospital and Geriatric Medical Hospital in Cabusao, Camarines Sur, and the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Legaspi City.
Funding for the provincial hospital in case it reverts to the national government will be handled by Cong. Rosemarie Panotes (2nd Dist.CN) at the Batasan through House Bill No. 6936 titled An Act Upgrading the Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital into a Tertiary Level 3 Hospital to be known as Camarines Norte General Hospital under the direct control, supervision, and management of the Department of Health and appropriating funds therefor.”
Gov. Padilla, in an interview months earlier, said the funds allocated for the operation of the provincial hospital, once reverted, will be used for the operation of the Labo District Hospital, the Community Medicare Hospital in Capalonga, and the Sta. Elena Community Hospital.

27/06/2025

State of the Province Report
WHAT goes on now at the provincial capitol? The unexpected suspension of Gov. D**g Padilla placed the capitol workforce in a state of disarray. Padilla won by a landslide on the May 12, 2025 elections over opponent Edgardo Tallado, but now merely six weeks after he won handily a pall of gloom descended on the capitol. Rumors say the governor will be under suspension for 18 months or one and a half years, effectively halving his three year term if no legal remedy is found. Unverified reports say chiefs of offices in the provincial capitol have gone into leaves of absence. If true, what will Concon Panotes and Artemio Serdon, acting governor and vice governor respectively, do in the short time that they occupy the two highest positions in the province? Answer: nothing. Whoever is behind the machinations against the incumbent top officials of Camarines Norte have done a huge disservice to its people.
Read BICOL POST

24/01/2025

Basud SB joins water fray

Acting belatedly on an issue that directly affects its constituents, the Sangguniang Bayan of Basud issued an invitation to Engr. Jonson Chan, branch manager of Primewater Infrastructures - Camarines Norte, Inc. to appear in its next regular session to discuss the exacerbating water distribution problems plaguing consumers in the Daet South-Basud-Mercedes area. The Basud town board is the latest local government body to require Engr. Chan’s presence in its meeting after he was grilled at previous sessions of the provincial board and the Daet Sangguniang Bayan. It has been explained before that water interruptions were caused by turbidity at the Mampurog river where water is sourced to supply homes in Basud as well as in Mercedes town and the southern part of Daet. Engr. Chan said the turbidity problem is expected to be remedied in 2026 with the construction of sedimentation basins at the filtration facility in Brgy. Dagotdotan in Daet. Primewater Infrastructures is a water firm identified with tycoon Manny Villar and currently has a joint venture agreement with the Camarines Norte Water District which owns the concession to supply water in seven towns of the province.

District hospital opens
A new 25-bed capacity hospital was inaugurated on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in Brgy. San Pedro, Sta. Elena town, this province. Gov. Ricarte Padilla led provincial and municipal officials in the blessing ceremonies with the acting officer-in-charge Dr. Rachel Diezmo and representatives of Galeo Mining Corp. which donated the hospital beds. Padilla said the new hospital is part of his program to attend to the health needs of his constituents, while Dr. Diezmo said the new facility will be a huge help to residents of the first district needing immediate medical attention. Other notable personalities during the event were Vice Gov. Joseph Ascutia and Dr. Catherine Barcelona Reyes.

03/01/2025

CHALLENGES FACE PRIMEWATER, CNWD
The sole service provider of drinking water in Camarines Norte together with its partner Primewater Infrastructure Inc. are facing serious challenges this year which may result to movements at the Camarines Norte Water District’s management and the abrogation of their Joint Venture Agreement.
Gov. Ricarte Padilla last Dec. 27, 2024 had sent letters to the CNWD board and the branch manager of Primewater in Camarines Norte for them to submit to him documents related to the JVA signed in 2016 not later than January 22, 2025 or 15 days after his letters were received by the concerned parties last Dec. 27, 2024. The governor demanded from the CNWD copies of the JVA, plans for addressing water distribution issues, handling of consumer complaints, analysis of the financial benefits and risks resulting from the agreement, and its sustainability and responsibilities under the JVA. Padilla, on the other hand, asked Primewater to submit contingency plans to remedy water service disruptions, a comprehensive strategy to ensure reliable and consistent water supply to the Daet South-Basud-Mercedes area, investment infrastructure upgrades, advance water treatment technologies, and alternative water sources. He also asked for transparency and accountability measures and consumer feedback mechanisms, and compensation plans for water users inconvenienced who suffered difficulties due to water shortage.
The governor’s action followed weeks of water service interruption during downpours which led to protect actions chiefly directed to the Villar-linked firm. Water district officials led by GM B**g Villaluz and the board president also got caught in the protest actions for allegedly failing to act against Primewater for its inefficiency as it is empowered to do under the JVA. The number of protesters were noticeably increasing, from only a few individuals at first and more participating in the second. Protest leaders hope for a groundswell of support as they gain momentum, aiming ultimately for the termination of the JVA and firing of the responsible CNWD offcials.
Padilla vowed to resolve the problem, saying he will exercise transparency in all matters related to the problem to keep his constituents informed.

03/01/2025

Ex-board members rang alarm bells in 2017
Former Sangguniang Panlalawigan board members Michael Canlas and Atty. Godfrey Parale as early as 2017 wrote a letter addressed to the members of the provincial board seeking a review of the Joint Venture Agreement between the Camarines Norte Water District and Primewater Infrastructure Corp. The letter, a copy of which was furnished Bicol Post, was submitted to the provincial board 20 months after Primewater started to manage the day to day operations of the water district. It sought the review and thorough investigation of the agreement due to the prevaling poor water distribution service in the province at the time.
The letter alleged that the CNWD lost its GOCC classification resulting to the imposition of the 12% value added tax, which is passed on to consumers, when it entered into a partnership with Primewater. Canlas and Parale, in their seven year old letter, also asked the provincial board to conduct the following: to determine whether there was a loophole built into the contract as alleged by a local consumers group; whether there was a possibility that the agreement may be nullified; to seek remedy for exemption to the value added tax; and to look for a solution to the labor dispute resulting from the displacement of employees caused by the JVA.
The letter apparently did not get enough attention from the other board members as evidenced by the body’s inaction. Meanwhile, the joint venture inked by CNWD and Primewater might be invalid because there was no public hearing before the contract finalized. Protesters who picketed the CNWD-PW offices last month said water consumers were not consulted nor informed of the JVA’s contents and the CNWD merely conducted a press conference to refer the matter to the public before it was signed.

03/01/2025

Talisay Mayor Dondon Mancenido pinarangalan
ng Bureau of Fire Prevention regional office
Photo courtesy of Mayor Mancenido
Malugod na tinanggap ni Mayor Dondon Mancenido ang isang plake ng pagpapahalaga mula sa Bureau of Fire Protection bilang pagkilala sa kanyang mahalagang ambag tungo sa kaligtasan at pag-asenso ng pamayanan sa pamamagitan ng donasyon ng 1,000 metro kwadradong lote para pagtayuan ng himpilan ng pamatay sunog sa bayan ng Talisay. Ang plake ay personal na iniabot sa alkalde ni BFP Bicol regional director FSSupt. Achilles M. Santiago noong Dis. 17, 2024.
Matagal nang inaasam ng mga residente ng Talisay na magkaroon ng mga bumbero sa kanilang bayan sa halip na umasa sa saklolo mula sa karatig bayan tulad ng Daet at Vinzons sa tuwing magkakaroon ng emergency. Ang mga bumbero ay hindi lamang sumusugpo ng sunog bagkus may pagsasanay sila sa pagresponde sa mga sakuna at kalamidad. Ang fire station sa Talisay ay itatayo sa tinaguriang Carlos Ascutia Complex sa Brgy. San Francisco kung saan nandoon din ang mga gusali ng Superhealth Center, Senior Citizens Center, at Early Child Learners. Inaasahan na magiging sentro ng administrasyon ng lokal na pamamahala ang lugar sa darating na mga taon.

03/01/2025

Gov. Padilla issues ultimatum to PrimeWater management, CNWD board
Apparently nearing the end of his patience, Camarines Norte Gov. Ricarte Padilla issued what may be construed as a veiled ultimatum to PrimeWater-Camarines Norte branch officers and CNWD management. The governor asked the water board to submit to him a copy of the Joint Venture Agreement signed in 2016 together with its recommendations on how to remedy the problem besieging water consumers in the Daet South-Basud-Mercedes area.

In a letter to the CNWD board dated Dec. 27, 2024 and stamped received on the same date by the water district office, Gov. Padilla gave it 15 days to reply to his request for a detailed and comprehensive presentation outlining, among others, the roles and responsibilities of both parties in the JVA, proposed improvements in water service delivery, the plan for addressing consumer complaints, a thorough analysis of the financial benefits and risks associated with the JVA, and environment impact assessment to ensure the sustainability and responsibility of the project.
Gov. Padilla also sent a letter to PrimeWater Branch Mgr. Jonson Chan demanding the immediate submission of a comprehensive Water Security Plan within 15 days from receipt of the letter. The recent water supply affecting thousands of households in Daet South, Mercedes, and Basud is unacceptable and demands a swift and decisive response, the governor said, describing as atrocious and abysmal the current state of water service delivery. Padilla painted PrimeWater as inefficient and incompetent in providing adequate water services to his constituents.
Both letters closed ominously with the governor saying that failure of CNWD and PrimeWater to submit the documents he wants within the stated timeframe will result to more drastic action from the provincial capitol.

03/01/2025

Van driver falls asleep at the wheel, crashes into dump truck (foto)
A commuter van driver said he unintentionally fell asleep while driving causing a head-on collision with a loaded dump truck along the highway in Brgy. Bautista, Labo last Dec. 11. Only the engines of both vehicles ‘died’ while the two drivers sustained minor injuries from the mishap. A few months ago a BJMP van fell on its side after colliding with a tricycle causing the death of a BJMP employee, while several other accidents were recorded occurring there this year. Both drivers were rushed to hospitals and are now recovering from their injuries. Police identified them as van driver------and -------at the wheel of the dump truck. Video posted on facebook showed the white van tried to overtake a slow moving SUV as the truck was approaching from the opposite lane leading to the collision. It was viewed as very careless move by the driver who later told police that he fell asleep for a microsecond and regained his senses already trapped between the steering wheel and floorboard of his vehicle. The incident was one of the several incidents that occurred in the same general area leading residents to comment that it is a ‘delinquent place.’

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Daet, Camarines Norte
Naga City
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