Imee highlights Ilocos Norte's improved maternal health, VAWC awareness, equal opportunity on Int'l Women's Day

WOMEN of Ilocos Norte clad in pink, the signature color for International Women's Month, doing their best "kinni-kinni" during the parade on March 8. (Reu A. Flores)

Mizpah Grace G. Castro

PGIN-CMO

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through its Gender and Development (GAD) office highlighted the province-wide celebration of International Women's Month on March 8, through the fifth annual Kinni-Kinni parade in Laoag City.

With the theme "Pagsayaatan ni Juana, Karaman ti Panagdur-as" ("Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda"), GAD Ilocos Norte conducted a series of activities including a Women's Trade Fair, health and domestic violence symposia, and self-defense trainings from March 7 to 10.

On March 8, International Women's Day, women representing the different city and municipal halls, the Ilocos Norte Electric Corporation (INEC), Ilocos Norte Water District (INWAD), Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office (INPPO), the Zonta Club of Ilocos Norte, as well as the different academic institutions of the province gathered and paraded through Laoag City.

The parade culminated with a mini-pageant of pregnant women, crowning Kathlyn R. Acupan of Adams as Buntis Queen 2016, as well as the Kinni-Kinni Queen (Rampang Ganda) hailing from Marcos. There was also an awards ceremony recognizing Pasuquin as having the Most Attractive Delegation; Batac City as having the Best Booth during the Trade Fair; the National Statistics Office having come up with the Best Slogan, and the San Nicolas National High School as the Choral Singing Champions.

In her speech, Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos highlighted three reasons for celebration as proofs of women empowerment in Ilocos Norte.

Referring to the United Nations initiative, the millennium development goals (MDGs) that include advocacies for women's health, she said, "Dito sa Ilocos, bumagsak na sa loob ng anim na taon itong mga istatistika ng mga nanay, ng mga buntis, at kanilang mga sanggol, na hindi kumakain nang sapat, hindi nabibigyan ng prenatal care at nauuwi sa mga home birth at iba pang high-risk behavior… It is a great boon and testament to our care for families and for our own health that women and children are finally the getting the attention that they deserve.”

In relation to violence against women and children (VAWC), she revealed that the number of reports reaching the Philippine National Police (PNP) Women's Desks have risen, reflecting women's growing awareness of their rights, but that "we need to move forward into the millennium so that these practices, customs, and wrongfully accepted behaviors are finally put to an end."

She added, "Our program for women's livelihood is finally getting its fair share… In Ilocos Norte, we are fully aware that livelihood and employment programs for women are not merely additional income. More importantly and more frequently, they are sadly the main and single source for family income," pertaining to PGIN programs geared towards assisting women in establishing sustainable livelihoods, such as the Lacasa Loan and period livelihood trainings.

International Women's Day was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) in 1977 primarily as the UN Day for Women's Rights and World Peace.

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

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog