The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter BATAC CITY—Ilocanos need not to go far from their families to study medicine or for treatment as the state-run Mariano Marcos State University announced the opening of its College of Medicine this June, expected to provide quality medical and healthcare education to aspiring Ilocano doctors. Living to its long-time tradition of producing topnotchers in the fields of nursing, pharmacy and education among others, MMSU President Miriam E. Pascua said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has officially approved the operation of the medical college with limited 25 slots to compose the first batch of enrollees. “First, it would address the need for medical practitioners in our province because at present, we lack doctors who will attend to the needs of our patients. Imagine transporting our patients to Manila or Baguio for treatment which would be too expensive on the part of our provincemates,” Ms. Pascua said. In 1996, MMSU prop...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG City —Ilocanos in this northern part of Luzon has voluntarily submitted themselves to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing, the Department of Health continue to spearhead. In support of the DOH declaration as National HIV Testing Week on May 11 to 15, acting Provincial Health Officer Josephin Ruedas said medical technologists are conducting free testing in three government hospitals in the province such as the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, Laoag City General Hospital and the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital also in Laoag City. Ms. Ruedas hopes more at-risk individuals such as those working in videoke bars or any interested individual will have themselves tested as it is a means of protection not only for their own selves but also for their loved ones. According to health practitioners, anyone who practices unsafe sex can get infected regardless of age, sex, race, income or...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Motorists and commuters in the province urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its contractor working on a P14.6 million road widening project along the national highway at Brgy. Nangalisan here in Laoag City to work double time to ease traffic woes particularly during rush hours.  Dept. of Public Works and Highways’ Ilocos Norte first district engineer Nestor Pasion said the 520-meter long project commenced on February 12 and the contractor is given at least 155 days or until July 15 to finish the project. According to Mr. Pasion, a local contractor, DJMC Construction is working overtime to complete the project ahead of schedule. As of press time, the progress of work is now at 80 percent complete. For his part, Engr. Danilo Tuledanes has appealed to motorists and commuters to bear with the temporary inconvenience as his men are working double time to finish the project in thre...

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By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Except for the temporary suspension of on-going road widening projects due to typhoon “Dodong” that hit Northern Luzon, Ilocos Norte residents are grateful for the rain brought by ‘Dodong’ as it came just in time when farm lands are drying up. “We are thankful for the rain. The trees, the grass and our crops were revived,” said Rogelio Ceredon, president of the Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Dingras town. Amidst early warnings putting Ilocos Norte up to Typhoon Warning Signal No. 2, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Resiliency Council has no recorded damages so far, bringing light to moderate rains in this northern part of Luzon. As early as May 9, the PDRRMRC has activated the Operations Center and provincial resiliency clusters as well as preparation of relief goods and equipment for rescue and relief operations. With light to moderate rains and some thunder early May 11, I...

  By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters LAOAG CITY—Under the scorching heat of the sun, firefighters from Laoag City and nearby towns help contain a razing fire traced inside a warehouse along the Gen. Segundo Ave., this city. Fortunately, nobody was reported hurt. Witnesses said the fire broke out Wednesday morning [May 6] at about 9:15 am in a warehouse of Motion Hardware. Firefighters immediately issued a third alarm as it took firefighters more than two hours to beat the raging fire as the warehouse contains highly combustible materials including paints and acetylene. Estimated costs of damages based on the assessment of the owner reached P500,000. The origin of the fire was traced from a welding activity. F/Senior inspector Bonifacio Sacatrapos said the 1st to 3rd fire alarm was raised. This alarm prompts fire truck from nearby municipalities to respond. The hardware warehouse is owned by Edwa...

Honolulu-Candon ties. (From left) Honolulu Council Chairman Ernie Martin, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Candon City Mayor Ericson Singson, and Candon City Council Chairwoman Rhodana Cortez Abrero sign the agreement. In witness of this significant and historical event in the life and history of both cities, the signing of the Sister City Agreement was held at the Mission Memorial Auditorium in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 7 at 2:30 in the afternoon. The program was emceed by Executive Director Nicole A. Velasco of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. The signing ceremony was well-attended—attendees included the Honolulu City Council, Caldwell Administration cabinet, Congressman Mark Takai and representatives of the Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation, members of the State Legislature, and officials from the Philippines Consulate  They were joined by members of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i, Filipino Business Women’s Association, Candonians of Hawa...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos was impressed by the recently conducted earthquake drill in this municipality held May 8, 2015. The earthquake drill was initiated by the governor in all the 21 municipalities and two cities in the province in case of earthquakes and other calamities. In this municipality, Barangays 10, 11, 12 and 2, including a big supermarket participated in the drill. A series of practice drill was held prior to the official drill on May 8. Ms. Marcos thanked the participation of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the police, Laoag City’s search and rescue team, Philippine Red Cross (PRC), residents of the 4 barangays and the business establishment, and the local government unit headed by San Nicolas Mayor Melanie Grace Valdez for a good preparation and an overall job well done. Ms. Marcos said the award winning San Nicolas is the best of all the municipalities...

Daniw Idiay Tapao Kayarigak ti Maysa a Mula a Nagallatiw iti Sabali a Similia [ Kabayatan iti Kaaddak iti Nakayanakak a Brgy Tapao, Sinait, IS ] Amado I. Yoro Arigko iti mula a nayallatiw iti similia Ti panagdakkel; ti pannakaitukit manen Barukong daga a nagpuonan ti amin. Ditoyak a nayanak, a nagubing iti kinaagtutubok Subliak kadi manen nga iladawan dagiti garaw Ti kinasiak iti nasurok uppat a dekada a naipusingak? Birokek kadi pay laeng ti daan a salamagi wenno duog a Mangga a nagbitinan ti kadkaduak iti diak ammo no karatay Wenno damili tapno baliwak ti maipasngay manen? Duogen ti singin nga algarroba ti pagilasinak duog a dadapilan Dagiti nasapa a parbangon a panagdakiwas ni sawak Iti nakedkedngan a dalan ti panagbaniaga sidiran ti anawang. Panaglupos kunak man ta awanen ti daan a pinan-aw  a kalapaw Ngem dagiti irik a nayaplag iti daga kasda balitok iti kainaran Iti sidiran daydi bunton ken pinullo a burnay-basi a lemma ti na...

“Mayweather must love me very much, he kept hugging me,” joked Manny Pacquiao after their “Fight of the Century”. There is an ancient adage that “the best defense is a good offense” which means that "if you attack your opponents, they will be so busy fighting off your attack that they will not be able to attack you.” See The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Mayweather’s defense was dance a boxing “cha cha cha” (one step forward, two steps backward) to evade Pacquiao’s punches and when Pacquiao managed to get close to Mayweather, he would hug Pacquiao, thereby preventing Pacquiao from hitting him. It was a winning strategy, although unimpressive. A disgusted spectator twitted that this was not a boxing bout but “Dancing with the Stars”. Mayweather’s tactic differs from Muhammad Ali’s winning rope-a-dope strategy against George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle. Ali would back against the ropes and protect his head while Foreman kept punching at Ali’s body until Foreman go...

Worldwide campaign aims for complete eradication of Peste de Petits Ruminants by 2030 Abidjan , Cote d'Ivoire — High-level authorities from 15 countries pledged on Thursday to collaborate on a global plan to wipe out forever the devastating animal disease known as “Peste des petits ruminants” by 2030, a lethal plague for goats and sheep and the scourge of rural households in vast swathes of the developing world. Ministerial delegations, along with more than 300 participants from across the continents, representatives of regional bodies and international organizations, agreed to a plan to control and eradicate PPR drawn up by FAO and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and presented at a meeting organized by the two institutions with the Government of Cote d'Ivoire. The campaign will make PPR only the second animal disease ever to be eradicated, after rinderpest in 2011. PPR is estimated to cause over $2 billion in losses each year, mostly in Africa, Asia...

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) cited the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for filing the most number of patents and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications.  The award, called the “Anak ni Juan,” is given to PhilRice Intellectual Property Office for submitting six patents and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications under the office’s Patent Protection Incentive Package (PPIP), also coined as “Juan’s Thousand Inventions.”  More than 80 Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) host institutions including research institutions and state universities and colleges participated in filling patent applications under the PPIP in 2014. Among entries recognized by IPOPHIL eligible for PCT application was the action research titled Cogeneration of Biochar and Heat from Rice Hull: Its Application in the Poultry Industry . The research, through the lead of Dr. Ricardo F. Orge and John Eric O. Abon, developed the continuo...

By Justin Paul D. Marbella OWWA RWO1 San Fernando , La Union—The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) has extended help to families of late Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) by providing them assistance in the form of livelihood. Through the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), the OWWA RWO I has released a total of P645,000 worth of livelihood assistance to 43 beneficiaries all over Region I for the period of January-April 2015.  29 beneficiaries come from Pangasinan, six from La Union, five from Ilocos Sur, and three from Ilocos Norte. The ELAP is an OWWA program for survivors of deceased OFWs. It has two components: the Livelihood Component and Education Component. Under the Livelihood Component, qualified dependents receive livelihood assistance amounting to P15,000. Most of the new ELAP beneficiaries in Region I have existing livelihoods, such as sari-sari store, livestock raising, and transportatio...