Rapids Journal Online News

Mga Iskolar ng Laguna mula sa 3 munisipalidad ng lalawigan, natanggap ang kanilang scholarship grants Libu-libong mga Iskolar ng Laguna mula sa Cavinti, Pagsanjan, at Santa Cruz ay natanggap na ang kanilang kanilang scholarship grant ngayon Ikatlong araw ng pamamahagi sa Laguna Sports Complex Gymnasium. Personal ding dumalo sa distribusyon si Assistant Provincial Administrator Carina Macalos, na ibinahagi ang mensahe ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan at ni Gob. Sol Aragones sa mga iskolar. Tiniyak din niya sa mga Iskolar ng Laguna na patuloy ang pagpapalawak at pagpapaunlad ng programa ayon narin sa inisyatibo ni Gob. Aragones.  Nagpasalamat ang mga Iskolar ng Laguna, mula sa tatlong munisipalidad, sa Pamahalaang Panlalawigan at kay Gob. Aragones para sa patuloy na pagpapaunlad ng programa para sa mga iskolar sa lalawigan at suporta sa edukasyon ng Lalawigan ng Laguna. Tuluy-tuloy naman ang pamamahagi ng scholarship grant sa lalawigan hanggang sa ika-16 ng Setyembre.

CHIZ SAYS FREE HOUSING THROUGH USUFRUCT TO BENEFIT MILLIONS OF LOW-INCOME FILIPINOS Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said that millions of low-income Filipinos stand to benefit from a legislation institutionalizing free housing through usufruct, a legal arrangement that grants families the right to occupy and enjoy government land and housing without owning them.   “Through usufruct, this bill seeks to grant Filipino families the right to occupy, use, and enjoy government land and improvements for residential purposes, while ownership remains with the State,” Escudero told colleagues in his sponsorship of Senate Bill No. 2421 or the Free Housing Through Usufruct Act under Committee Report No. 79 on Wednesday. The senator explained that only underprivileged, homeless citizens who do not own real property and have no affiliation with squatting syndicates will qualify. “Nakalatag sa Section 5 kung sinu-sino ang maaaring makinabang sa sapat at disenteng pabahay sa ilali...

*CHIZ’S BILL FIXING TENURE OF BARANGAY, SK OFFICIALS RECEIVES STRONG BACKING* Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s proposal to fix the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years to ensure long-term stability in grassroots governance has received a multi-sectoral support during Monday’s public hearing of the Senate Sub-Committee on Local Government. In a committee hearing presided by Escudero, representatives from the Liga ng mga Barangay, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and the National Youth Commission (NYC) expressed their strong support for the bill aimed at institutionalizing the five-year term and breaking the cycle of frequent postponement of barangay and SK polls. “My bill does not extend. My bill fixes,” Escudero told the public hearing which was also attended by officials of the Commission on Elections and relevant government agencies, and members of civil society gro...

CARD RBI recognized at LANDBANK’s Gawad TANYAG Awards 2026 CARD RBI President/CEO Lyneth Derequito (second from left) receives the Gawad Partner Financial Institution during LANDBANK’s Gawad TANYAG 2026 ceremony.  CARD MRI Rizal Bank, Inc. (CARD RBI) was named one of the outstanding financial institutions at the Gawad TANYAG Awards during LANDBANK’s 63rd Anniversary celebration on August 8, 2026. The bank received the Gawad Partner Financial Institution (PFI) Outstanding Rural Bank Award for its efforts and contributions in expanding financial access to underserved communities and Filipino families. “This award reflects our commitment to strengthening rural communities in the country and using this opportunity to expand their economic opportunities. This is the significant impact of advancing financial inclusion,” said CARD RBI President and CEO Lyneth Derequito.  Derequito also added that the recognition belongs to the bank's staff and trusting clients. “Their dre...

Liliw Horse Owners Association, Nagsagawa ng Ikalawang Horse Show sa Liliw Liliw, Laguna— Muling ipinamalas ng mga horse owner sa bayan ng Liliw ang kanilang pagmamahal at pag-aalaga sa mga kabayo sa isinagawang ikalawang Horse Show ng Liliw Horse Owners Association (LHOA) ngayong araw ika-Agosto 17, 2026. Tampok sa programa ang pagpaparada ng mga kabayong nilagyan ng makukulay at kaakit-akit na palamuti, gayundin ang isang talent show kung saan ipinakita ng mga kalahok ang kanilang husay at kakayahan kasama ang kanilang mga alagang kabayo. May kabuuang 13 kalahok ang lumahok sa horse show, habang nasa 53 miyembro ang LHOA. Bahagi rin ng aktibidad ang libreng deworming at pamamahagi ng vitamins para sa mga kabayo, sa pangunguna ni OIC Municipal Agriculturist Kennard Moñosca, bilang suporta sa kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga alagang hayop. Naging posible ang programa sa pakikipagtulungan ng Liliw Municipal Government sa pangunguna ni Mayor I...

*CHIZ: NATIONWIDE AD BAN ON ONLINE GAMBLING COVERS ALL MEDIA PLATFORMS* Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is pushing for a nationwide ban on gambling advertisements across all media platforms to curb addiction and protect vulnerable Filipinos. In his “Chiz Wiz! Usapang May Laman” podcast aired on Sunday, Escudero discussed his proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 2347, which seeks to set firm, legally enforceable limits on how gambling platforms promote themselves. “Iyan ‘yung logic ng ating proposed legislation, huwag padaliin … Paano ba pahirapan ‘to para hindi basta-basta makapaglaro,” he stressed, noting that online gaming has become pervasive and easily accessible to adults and minors alike. According to Escudero, there is a need to institutionalize the ban on gambling‑related advertising through legislation, to include the Ad Standards Council’s voluntary guidelines requiring members to remove gambling imagery and paraphernalia across all media platforms because they are n...