Hello, everyone! Here's your #CaviteNews for today, from photo journalist Dennis Abrina.

INDANG VISITORS ASKED TO CLEAN AS THEY GO

Residents of Barangay Alulod in Indang, Cavite, urge local tourists who come to Timbugan Falls and Palsahingin Falls to clean up after they are done enjoying the place. 

Most visitors, who come from neighboring areas, leave alcohol bottles, plastic cups, plastic bottles, and other kinds of trash when they come swimming here, the residents say. 

The rivers are where residents do their laundry and get their water for household use. 

Hello! I'm covering the Department of Transportation's press conference regarding the service contracting program, which will be rolled out next week, Apirl 15. @here

Public utility vehicle drivers who want to be part of the program is required to have a GPS. This will allow the government to track the distance travelled by PUVs and computation of the amount to be paid by the government to PUVs. 

Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said the program will cover 823 routes across the country.

The Department of Transportation is reviving the service contracting program. How will this program benefit commuters and drivers? Here are the things you should know about this program @here : https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/things-to-know-puv-service-contracting-middle-east-conflict/ 

Transport group Manibela will hold another nationwide transport strike from Wednesday, April 15, to Friday, April 17. This marks the third nationwide strike since the Middle East conflict, which has driven up fuel prices.

Here’s your #BatangasNews for today: 

LIPA HAS A NEW CITY HALL

The local government of Lipa in Batangas inaugurated on April 8 its new city hall, located in Ayala Land’s masterplanned estate, Areza, which is envisioned to be a central business and civic district.

A press release by Areza said the new city hall, which is designed by Royal Pineda, “features open spaces, landscaped grounds, and pedestrian-friendly areas that foster community interaction and accessibility.”

The building’s 23,000 square-meter floor area will house key administrative departments and a performance hall. It also has a 2,160 square-meter plaza and an annex building.

Photos courtesy of Areza

A group of employees at ECE Contact Centers, a BPO company, gave free lunch meals to PUV drivers and delivery riders in Dumaguete City on Monday, April 13.

The team distributed at least 320 packs to drivers and riders passing along the Rizal Boulevard.

According to a staff, they are fortunate to receive free meals every day at work and wanted to share what they can with the sector affected by rising fuel prices. | via Kean Bagaipo/Mover

A kilometre long line of tricyle and scooter ride-share drivers is snaking up West Capital Drive, Kapitoloyo on the morning of April 14, 2026, while they wait to receive the P5000 fuel subsidy.

One driver said they would likely be waiting five or more hours, likely “until night time,” he said with a laugh. “The amount is still not enough to help,” said another driver. Cold water was handed along the line as the drivers sat under what shade they could find as temperatures hit 32 degrees and rising at 11am.

A community of writers, students, and local officials in Dumaguete City gathered to kick-off the third edition of Dumaguete Literary Festival on Friday, April 17

The opening day featured music and poetry performances, panel discussion, and a talk on the case of literature in Negros Island Region.

Divine Caraecle of National Book Development Board expressed their support to the organizers, noting that the event will further expand access to books and support readership in the region.

The three-day festival spans from April 17 to 19 and also marks the declaration of Dumaguete as UNESCO Creative City of Literature. via Kean Bagaipo/Mover @here

DUMAGUETE NAMED UNESCO CITY OF LITERATURE

Dumaguete City officially claimed the UNESCO Creative City of Literature title following a formal declaration by the UN National Commission of the Philippines at the Presidencia Grounds on Friday, April 17.

City Mayor Manuel Chiquiting Sagarbarria and Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Chaco Sagarbarria received the plaque of designation from UNACOM Secretary-General Ivan Henares.

“This honor is built from both told and untold stories from decades ago, picking at the establishment of the first and oldest writing workshop of its kind in Asia,” Henares cited.

Dumaguete is the second city to receive the said designation in Southeast Asia following Jakarta, Indonesia.