The Ilocos Times

INSURED. Farmers register for agricultural and life insurance at the Municipal Agricultural Office of Currimao, Ilocos Norte on Aug. 11, 2026. The municipal government has allocated funds for the protection and safety of the agriculture sector which is a key driver of the local economy. ( Photo courtesy of Currimao LGU) By Leilanie Adriano CURRIMAO, Ilocos Norte —The municipal government of Currimao is targeting all 1,800 farmers and fisherfolk in the municipality for coverage under life and agricultural insurance , providing them with financial protection against accidents, death, natural calamities, crop losses and other risks that could disrupt their livelihoods. Municipal agriculturist Erickson Biag said the initiative, being undertaken in partnership with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), is intended to strengthen the social safety net for local agricultural and fishing communities, whose incomes are particularly vulnerable to weather-related disasters an...

Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid , representing the Laoag City government, and Sunrise Event President and General Manager Princess Galura sign the contract for the international triathlon to be hosted by Laoag City in March 2027 . ( Photo by Larry Pedralvez) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Laoag City is set to host its first international triathlon in March 2027 following the signing of a contract between the city government and the Sunrise Event and Ironman Group on August 18, 2026. The contract signing was held at the Laoag City Conference Room, with Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid representing the city government and Sunrise Event President and General Manager Princess Galura signing for the event organizer. The city government has approved PHP20.2 million for the Laoag City Sports Development and Tourism Promotions Project to support the staging of the international triathlon. Galura said Sunrise Events has been organizing Ironman and inter...

Arlington , VA—The US Trade and Development Agency announced that the governments of the United States of America, the Republic of the Philippines and Japan will co-host the inaugural Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Investment Forum from September 10-11, 2026, in Manila, Philippines . Sponsored by USTDA, the Forum will bring together 600 international investors, industry leaders, project developers, and government officials to showcase opportunities in the LEC and connect investors with infrastructure projects ready for financing. “America’s leadership in the Indo-Pacific is built on trusted partnerships and a shared commitment to secure, high-quality infrastructure,” said Thomas R. Hardy , USTDA’s Deputy Director. “The LEC Investment Forum brings together the United States, Japan, the Philippines and partner nations from across the world around one goal: turning priority projects into commercial reality, while advancing our collective vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.” The ...

Many older Filipinos who are not officially classified as poor remain economically vulnerable. This suggests that poverty rates alone may fail to identify many seniors who could benefit from social protection programs, according to studies presented during the recent ‘Inclusive Social Protection Services in the Philippines’ Policy and Research Forum. The forum was organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and Australia’s flagship Social Protection, Inclusion, and Gender Equality (SPRING) program in the Philippines. Presenting a study on household vulnerability to income poverty, PIDS supervising research specialist Deanne Lorraine Cabalfin said poverty statistics alone are insufficient for identifying older persons at economic risk. The study found that while only 7.8% of senior citizens were classified as poor in 2023, 24% were vulnerable to falling into poverty. The official poverty threshold measures whether households can afford a minimum basket of...

“At the crossroads , hunger meets hope. The hand that takes from the river must also plant for tomorrow. Poverty and sustainability are not two roads, but one path we must learn to walk together." (UNKNOWN) Can there really be a crossroads between poverty and circularity ? It sounds poetic—but in Germany, it’s becoming architectural, even political. Repurposing used shipping containers into social housing seems, on its face, like a simple act of reuse. Yet it sits squarely at that very intersection: poverty alleviated, and sustainability advanced at once. The question is: why should the government even care? And what kind of society are we if we don’t?   Why recycled containers matter It’s not a brand-new dream. German companies like Containerwerk have long converted used freight containers into affordable micro-apartments, using high-efficiency insulation and modular design. In Bremen, entire “container villages” have been built for refugees—two to three stories hig...

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often sold to us as the greener, more efficient alternative to traditional gasoline and diesel cars. But beneath that glossy promise lies a critical question: what is the real cost—and the real emissions—if our electricity still comes from fossil fuels? Let’s start with a cold, practical truth: in the Philippines , more than 60 percent of our electricity is generated by coal . The International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that in 2024, coal made up around 62 percent of the country’s power mix—and projections suggest it will barely dip to 60 percent by 2027. Department of Energy data confirm this: fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, oil) still dominate, while renewables contribute a much smaller share.   Globe Telecom ’s shift: Good, but not enough? Globe Telecom recently announced a plan to roll out 20 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in its fleet, aiming to save at least ₱ 100 million in fuel costs in the long run. This is part of a larger plan: by ...