Task force ‘Operation Baklas’ to candidates: Save trees

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—Over the past three election periods, Ilocos Norte’s major thoroughfares and highways remained free from eye sores of election paraphernalia illegally posted everywhere, some are even nailed on trees.

This year, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways, Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police are bent on strictly monitoring illegal posters while protecting the trees from campaign posters and materials through its intensified implementation of “Operation Baklas”.

According to DENR, “Operation Baklas” is pursuant to Presidential Decree 953, a law that prohibits and punishes the cutting, destroying or injuring of planted or growing trees, flowering plants and shrubs or plants of scenic values.

The decree also provides that a punishment of imprisonment for not less than six months and not more than two years, or a fine of not less than P500 and not more than P5,000, or with both, will be imposed for violation of said prohibitions.

“During our previous campaign, Ilocos Norte is the cleanest among all parts of Luzon as we were very successful in encouraging our political candidates to avoid unnecessary posting of campaign materials especially on trees and other election-related violations. We hope to have the same result this year,” said PENR officer Juan De los Reyes Jr.

With the reactivation of the “Operation Baklas: Sagip Puno Tanggal Pako” project, Mr. De los Reyes said a motorcade will be set again to drum beat awareness and start cleaning the highways should there be any.

“This will be an opportunity for us to forewarn the candidates and their supporters of the election-related laws and regulations, as well as an opportunity to call the voting public’s attentions to be vigilant for a clean and honest election,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Comelec also reiterated that major thoroughfares, pedestrian walkways and lampposts should be spared from campaign materials.

Candidates are also called out for “excessive use of plastic materials” in a bid to hold “clean and green” polls in May.

According to the Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act, candidates can post their campaign materials in common poster areas, in private places provided they secure the owner’s consent, and in public places “allocated equitably and impartially among the candidates.”

Comments

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