Leonardo Vicente B. Corrales, known by the pen name "Cong," is the Editor-in-Chief of Mindanao Gold Star Daily. A journalist since 2008, he previously served as Deputy Director for the PCIJ Multimedia Desk. His investigative work on climate justice and peace initiatives has appeared in global outlets including Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and The Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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Veteran Mindanao journalist Editha Caduaya earns international acclaim, winning the Outstanding Excellence Award for her documentary exploring the human story behind Col. Hansel Marantan’s badge.
Northern Mindanao prosecutors leverage landmark convictions and one-stop facilities to shield OSAEC survivors from trauma, using videotaped interviews as critical evidence in the fight against exploitation.
Authorities leverage Republic Act 11930 and international partnerships to crush online child exploitation dens in Davao Oriental, securing convictions through advanced digital forensics and community vigilance.
In Barangay Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro, extreme housing density strips urban poor residents of privacy, forcing households into an intimate, often difficult, shared daily existence.
The House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 8220, rescheduling the first BARMM parliamentary elections to September 2026. The measure, awaiting President Marcos’ signature, extends the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) term to prevent a leadership vacuum, ensuring a stable democratic transition and the use of automated voting systems for regional integrity.
Only when we manufacture what we need and grow what we consume can we finally harvest a future that belongs to us.
CAGAYAN DE ORO — Stakeholders across the city are raising concerns as Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy implements a four-day government workweek under Executive Order No. 103-26. While intended to curb energy consumption amid rising fuel prices, the shift threatens the daily earnings of habal-habal and motorela drivers, as well as ambulant vendors who rely on City Hall foot traffic. Legal and banking experts also warn of a "double whammy": significant backlogs in government transactions and delayed property documentation due to Friday closures. As the city adjusts to extended Monday-to-Thursday hours, the informal sector fears that the loss of a fifth working day will permanently slash weekly revenues, while professionals worry about the efficiency of late-evening operations.
CAGAYAN DE ORO — Veteran businessman George Goking is calling for immediate fuel rationing and price monitoring in the city to prevent hoarding and economic instability as Middle East tensions escalate. Drawing parallels to the logistics management of the COVID-19 pandemic, Goking warned that local businesses might exploit the crisis by raising prices on old stocks. While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently assured the public of a 50-to-60-day national fuel stockpile—including 50.5 days of diesel and 51.5 days of gasoline—Goking insists the city should "play it safe" by planning for a 30-day window. Under DOE Circular No. DC2003-01-001, refiners must maintain a 30-day supply, but Goking urges City Hall to be proactive rather than relying on national estimates to protect the local economy from panic buying.
CAGAYAN DE ORO — Malacañang and military leaders have issued a firm assurance that the historic peace agreement between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) remains fully operational. Despite recent armed skirmishes in the Bangsamoro region, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr. reaffirmed the Marcos administration's commitment to the peace process and human rights. Major General Vladimir Cagara, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, clarified that recent violence stems from "horizontal conflicts" or personal clan disputes (rido) rather than a breakdown of the overarching peace framework. Military officials emphasized that the established peace mechanisms continue to function, serving as vital tools for stability as the region works toward long-term peace and the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Motorists using Bajas Road as a shortcut between JR Borja Extension and Lapasan Highway are facing a growing environmental eyesore. An abandoned lot in Sitio Cronin, Barangay Camaman-an, has evolved into an illegal dumping ground, with piles of unregulated waste accumulating right in the heart of downtown CDO.
Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan is set to launch the Dr. Magdalena Canag Cabaraban (MCC) Memorial Fund on March 5, honoring the 54-year legacy of a Mindanao research pioneer. The fund, which supports rising social scientists, will be unveiled during the closing of the 2026 PPA International Scientific Conference focused on population and climate resilience.