Revisiting the MOFYA Winners in the Ilocandia

For the past years, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 1 has been consistently among those regions who wins an award during the National Awarding of the Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA), one of OWWA’s institutional events that aims to recognize the outstanding OFWs and their families who have demonstrated financial stability, steady and enduring family ties, outstanding community service and success in business ventures.

On March 10, 2015, OWWA Region 1 conducted home visitation to 2014 MOFYA National Winner for the Special Award on Best in Community Projects, Engineer Isidro M. Cabantac of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur and 2013 MOFYA National Winner for Sea-Based Category Chief Engineer Alberto L. Balbalan of Burgos, Ilocos Sur.

2014 MOFYA National Winner for Best in Community Projects, Engineer Isidro M. Cabantac (2^nd from Right) with (L-R) Mrs. Milagros Cabantac, OWWA RWO1 OIC Rhoda R. Lee, OFC Leader Elisa Acena and FWO Virna P. Agbayani.

Engr. Isidro M. Cabantac continues to extend his unconditional services to the people in his community particularly in the field of agriculture. Recently, Secretary Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture, visited Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur particularly the agricultural projects being implemented in the municipality. One of the projects visited was the Tramline (Cable Car) project initiated by Engineer Cabantac and funded by DA and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHILMEC). The 3-million project aims to facilitate the easier transport of agricultural products from the mountainous areas of Sta. Maria including the neighboring towns.

OWWA Region 1 has also handed one unit Electrolux Refrigerator to Engr. Cabantac as his additional prize for being a National Winner for the Best in Community Project Award in the 2014 National MOFYA held last January 23, 2015 at the Blue Leaf Filipinas, Parañaque City.

Mayor Riolita R. Balbalan holding the Father Jose Burgos Special Award of her husband Chief Engineer Alberto L. Balbalan, 2013 National MOFYA Winner for Sea-Based Category.

On the other hand, Chief Engr. Alberto L. Balbalan, 2013 MOFYA National Winner for the Sea-Based category, is continually being recognized in their locality. He was recently given the Father Jose Burgos Special Award by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur (PGIS) for being recognized as a Model OFW Family in a national search. PGIS acknowledged Engr. Balbalan’s exemplary performance as a seafarer and his commendable efforts to rise from poverty, provide the needs of his family, share his blessings to the community, and provide livelihood programs to identified recipients which contributed to the socio-economic development of the community.

The said award was received by his better half, Mayor Riolita R. Balbalan of Burgos, Ilocos Sur, last February 1, 2015 during the “Pammadayaw ken Panagbigbig Kadaguiti Annak ti Ilocos Sur” as part of the 8^th “Kannawidan Ylocos Festival” held at Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. Chief Engineer Balbalan was currently on board during the awarding rites.

These recognitions were just few of the many reasons why the families of Chief Engr. Alberto L. Balbalan and Engr. Isidro M. Cabantac were hailed as Model OFW Families. They truly exemplify the ideal OFW family who is successful in the various facets of life. They are indeed an inspiration to fellow OFWs. (OWWA RWO1)

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi

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