The Ilocos Times

Click photo for the PDF file

Senator Lorna Regina “Loren” B. Legarda urged the government to consider a long-term transition to a low-carbon economy, noting that investments in clean energy and low-carbon infrastructure will determine the future of our nation and the future generations. Ms. Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, stressed that the idea of a low-carbon economy may seem ideal at first but if we look at the worsening effects of conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels to our health and environment, it should not be hard to understand the need to adopt the said concept. Citing a study from the World Health Organization, Ms. Legarda said air pollution has caused seven million premature deaths worldwide in 2012. Moreover, she stressed that the traffic congestion in Metro Manila alone is costing us an equivalent of four percent of our GDP. “We can start with building our cities in a smart way. Better connected, more compact cities based on mass public transport are...

(Speech of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon on the 12 th ASEAN Law Association General Assembly Delegates’ Luncheon in honor of ASEAN Chief Justices and Heads of Delegation at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on February 27, 2015) I am deeply honored to be in the presence of esteemed justices, judges and lawyers in the ASEAN region. Whenever I am in a room full of lawyers, I am reminded of a question that was asked of me some time ago. The question goes, “What do you call one thousand lawyers tied together in the middle of an ocean?” The answer, “A good start.” Levity aside, I am convinced that being in this room, in the presence of lawyers who are united in the ideal of ASEAN integration is, just like that old lawyer joke, a good start. In the Philippines, the legal profession plays an important role in our nation’s growth. Lawyers are at the forefront of governance and business. It is not surprising that many Filipinos dream of becoming a lawyer. There are about 66 Thous...

IFAD, WFP and FAO celebrate women’s contribution to food and nutrition security   Research suggests increasing women's access to agricultural resources would significantly improve food security worldwide. Rome —Marking International Women’s Day 2015 on March 8 th , leaders from the United Nations’ three Rome-based food agencies gathered to remind the world that women farmers play a central role in achieving food and nutrition security. At the Rome event, leaders from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) shared testimonials of their innovative interventions that have empowered rural women, and in doing so have contributed to food security and nutrition. They also highlighted that promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment can significantly strengthen efforts to reduce rural poverty. This year’s event also marks the 20 th  anniversary of the landmar...

  EMPOWERED WOMEN: Senators Pia Cayetano (sixth from left) and Cynthia Villar (fifth from left) lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony of an exhibit entitled  'Empowered Women: Raising the Bar,' at the Philippine Senate, Monday afternoon. The exhibit featured outstanding women known in the fields of sports, arts, entertainment, among others. Also in photo are (from left to right)  Ann and Camille Meloto, Rachelle Gerodias, Olivia Bong Coo, Daphne Oseña Paez, Liza Macuja Elizalde and Senate Secretary Oscar Yabes.  (PRIB Photo by Albert Calvelo) The Senate adopted a resolution on March 16 recognizing women for their valuable contributions to society in celebration of Women’s month this March and cited 14 women achievers and an all-woman mountaineering team. Voting Resolution 1237, introduced by Senator Pia S. Cayetano, seeks to honor the economic, political and social achievements of Filipina women while calling for greater gender equality in the society. ...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City —A 4.9 megawatt solar project of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) in Burgos town, about 49 kilometers from Laoag City is ready for testing and commissioning anytime but members of the Ilocos Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan refused to endorse it after EDC failed to seek the provincial government’s endorsement prior to its construction. Under   Provincial   Ordinance   No. 010-2014, project proponents and investors in Ilocos Norte are now required to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Ilocos Norte government, incorporating their specific plans and projects pertaining to corporate social responsibility (CSR). This came out following the investment boom in the province yet there has been minimal returns felt by its host communities. In accordance with Republic Act No. 9513, also known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, it states that all energy explorations, development, utilization and renewable ener...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City —The Ilocos Norte National High School (INNHS) can now keep pace with the increasing number of enrollees each year as two classrooms were added to their school building. The said classrooms were formally inaugurated on March 10 by local officials and students led by Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba and Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas. The new classrooms are the INNHS’ extension building along the Sirib Mile. The construction of the classrooms was made possible through the counter-parting scheme between the Ilocos Norte government and the Dept. of Education (DepEd). The same scheme is also being used to build more classrooms in the province to ease the shortage of classrooms. With about P50 million allocated for classroom construction, at least 44 new classrooms in Paoay Lake National High School and in Paoay Central Elementary School will be c...

THE season of Lent is a season of conversion. It is asking us for another conversion in an endless series of conversions which our life here on earth is meant for. Let ’ s never forget that we are on a journey toward our heavenly and eternal destination. We can only make progress and approach our goal every time we have a conversion. Conversion is a necessity for us, since no matter how good we feel we are or how good we have been doing so far, we cannot deny the fact that deep in our heart there is always a fundamental choice we have to make every step of our life between good and evil, between God and us. It is a choice, nay, a battle that can only be resolved and won if with God’s grace, we decide on another conversion, a change of heart, or at least a renewal, a purification, a strengthening of the heart that is constantly assailed by threats and dangers. We should never take this fact of life for granted, even if we have to regard it also with a lot of naturaln...

WE need to build and strengthen our sense of continuity, now that we are in a world of multi-tasking, diverse concerns, disparate events, competing and even conflicting interests. We need to know how to put them together as in a synergy, integrating them into one meaningful and somehow consistent and organic whole. It’s like weaving a fabric of different threads and producing a beautiful piece of cloth, or a seamless garment like that worn by Christ himself.   We also need to know how to move from thing to another, without getting stuck at a certain point, the previous phase, no matter how different from the succeeding one, actually preparing and launching us to the next. This again is another challenge of our modern times. We cannot deny that many people today, especially the young, are floundering in this particular aspect of the today’s challenge. They can appear to be doing and achieving many things, and yet they don’t get the corresponding reward of satisfact...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City —In preparation for the influx of tourist this summer, the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC) was organized to cater to night commuters in at least four key destinations in the province. The improvement of the public transport system was an offshoot of Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R.  Marcos’ State of the Province Address (SOPA) 2014 as she launched the Ilocos Norte 2020 vision to make the province the best little province in the country five years from now. Part of this vision is to address the travel woes faced mostly by tourists including students who want to travel at night but without available public utility jeepneys and buses after 8 pm. In a three-page memorandum of agreement signed by Ms. Marcos, Laoag City government administrator Cipriano Hilarion “Perry” Martinez III and the different transport organizations in the province, they agreed to introduce new routes or the provision of nigh exp...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter DINGRAS, Ilocos Norte—With a thankful heart, local residents here gathered in front of the heritage church of Saint Joseph, the town’s patron saint to celebrate his day of feast on March 19. St. Joseph Church, known as one of the biggest in the country with a length of 90 feet and a width of 20 feet underwent a major facelift through a fundraising initiative initiated by Dingras’ local residents and other balikbayans [Ilocano immigrants] now based in Hawaii and mainland United States of America. Seeing the transformation of the church, Dingras Mayor Erdio Valenzuela said the municipality is blessed to have its people helping transform the community into a peaceful and more progressive municipality in Ilocos Norte’s second district. The feast day of St. Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary, every 19 th  day of March coincides with the town’s weeklong Ani [Harvest] festival, which is now on its 14 th  year. Mr. Vale...

RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Ilocos Norte Municipality of Sarrat NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION           In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that PACENCIA AGNI MIGUEL has filed with this Office a petition for change of first name from “OPILIA” to “OFELIA” in the birth certificate of OPILIA AGNI MIGUEL who was born on 18 January 1954 at Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are Gil Miguel and Pacencia Agni.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than April 6, 2015. (SGD) JOAN A. DUQUE Municipal Civil Registrar March 23-29, March 30-April 5, 2015*IT _________________________________________________________ Publication Notice RA 10172 Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Regis...