US-supported scholars graduate with new skills to address future calamities

Manila — President Benigno Aquino III and Ambassador Philip Goldberg led the commencement exercises on March 29 for the 148 scholars supported by the U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development at Malacañang Palace. Also present were Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Department of Interior and Local Government, representatives from the Development Academy of the Philippines, headed by President Antonio Kalaw, and Senior Vice President Gloria Mercado.

The ceremony marked the end of the 14-month academic program given by the Development Academy of the Philippines. This multifaceted course allows students to progress between vocational training and academic lessons, and focuses on public management, local governance, development planning, and disaster risk reduction and management.

The program is part of the U.S. government’s assistance to build the planning and disaster preparedness capacity of local governments in Typhoon Yolanda-affected areas. The scholars, most of whom are employed as municipal and provincial planners, earned the title Master in Public Management, Major in Local Governance and Development.

In his commencement address, President Aquino said, “You can make a difference in the lives of Filipinos. Armed with your new knowledge, we must continue to build back better, so we can avoid similar tragedies down the line.”

Ambassador Goldberg acknowledged the hard work of the graduates in taking steps to improve the social development planning and effective disaster management in their communities. “Collectively, you are building resilience throughout the region, and this resilience contributes to a more stable Philippines,” the Ambassador said.

To date, the U.S. government has provided approximately $143 million to help the Philippines respond to, and recover from, the devastating effects of Typhoon Yolanda.(US Embassy news)

Comments

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

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City. (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog