The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources awarded the municipal government here the 2015 Regional Award for Best Practices in the implementation of Republic Act 9003, or the Solid Waste Management law. The awarding was held during the Regional Solid Waste Summit and LGU Awarding of Best Practices in line with the yearly celebration of Philippine Environment Month Day on June 5, 2016. The program had the theme “Fostering Shared Responsibilities in Integrated Solid Waste Management”.    The summit showcases the best practices of LGUs in Region I on solid waste management programs and a venue to meet with the local government units and see how they can give more help on the other issues and concerns towards SWM implementation. An exhibit or booth was showcased by the awardees for SWM programs worthy of sharing. The award was handed over by EMB regional ...

The Government’s acquisition of historical cell-site location information (CSLI) from two criminal defendants’ cell phone provider without a warrant did not violate the Fourth Amendment, because it did not constitute a Fourth Amendment search, ruled the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in a split decision (12-3) published May 31, 2016.  CSLI are the records of a phone company that identify which cell tower – usually the one closest to the cell phone – transmitted a signal when the defendants used their cell phones to make and receive calls and texts. To obtain the CSLI from Sprint/Nextel, the Defendants’ cell phone provider, the Government had to apply to a federal court for an order directing the company to disclose the records pursuant to the Stored Communications Act. 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c), (d). Why is this case significant? The government used the historical CSLI obtained from Sprint/Nextel at the defendants’ trial to place them in the vicinity of the armed robb...

IN  Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, elements of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group arrested the municipal assessor, identified as Engr. Reynaldo Galat. Mr. Galat is suspected to be one of Pagudpud’s top drug personalities. A total of 21.2 grams of suspected shabu was confiscated from Mr. Galat during the search warrant operations. He has been a public official for almost 20 years until his arrest. Imee reacts ILOCOS  Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, meanwhile, expressed her dismay over the Pagudpud official’s involvement in illegal drugs despite holding a government post. The governor said officials guilty to drug charges should face heavier penalties, adding that they do not have the right to hold positions as they destroy the honor and integrity of government service. Ms. Marcos also conveyed her full support to the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) in apprehending other big-time drug users and pushers in the ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —In an apparent bid to implement incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s call for an all-out war against illegal drugs, the police here nabbed a 62-year old notorious drug personality. The Laoag police arrested Emelinda Lao aka Linda, 62 years old, single and unemployed following a search warrant implementation on June 2, 2016 at 11 AM. The operation was a joint intel-operation and investigation sections under the guidance of P/Supt. Edwin C. Balles, Laoag police chief; and supervision of P/Sr. Supt. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr, Ilocos Norte police director. Ms. Lao was reportedly a repeat violator of the anti-illegal drugs act. She was nabbed 15 years ago and remained one of the most notorious drug personalities in the city’s drug watch list. She was arrested at Brgy. 23 in this city. The search warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Brach 13. Confiscated from the suspect were 12 small heat-sealed transparent...

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HONOLULU, Hawaii—Maangay ti kombension ti Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) into Hunio 25, 2016 idiay Philippine Consulate General Pali Highway. Mapakaamuan dagiti amin a unit member organization iti panagbaroda iti panagkamengda. Pannakaited dagiti nagan dagiti delegado a mangibagi iti gungloda. Nagan dagiti nominee para kadagiti masnop a puesto manipud iti president, umuna a bise, maikadua a bise, sekretario/iria, katulongan a sekretaria., tesorero/ra; katulongan a tesorera/ro. auditor, director. Maudi nga aldaw a panagisubmitar kadagitoy a dokumento/aplikasion para iti kombension iti Mayo 30, 2016. Maibuson amin a dokumento/aplikasion iti OFCC PO Bocx 17531, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817. Mangrugi nga agtakem dagiti mabotosan iti Hulio 1, 2016, ket agserbida iti uneg ti maysa a tawen. Dagiti director, dadduma a director ti agtakem iti dua a tawen.

Top photo: (third from left) Ernesto S. Tamayo, president; back elevated right, Avelina N. Alipio, vice-president; center front row, Dolores C. Pedro, secretary; and (third from right, partly hidden), Romana S. Fernandez, treasurer. Lower photo: Senior citizens of Brgy. 15 together with their appokos enjoying the cool and blue water. The barometer shows 38 degrees Celsius and the summer heat brought discomfort to elderlies. On April 9, members of Brgy. 15 Senior Citizens Association went on a picnic-swim in the blue water of Bacarra river resort, headed by their president Ernesto S. Tamayo, to relieve them of the high temperature. He said: “Activities such as this, brings joy in our hearts. Joy has given us consolation and comfort. Joy has encouraged us to go on in spite of our age and lonely moments.”

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter DINGRAS, Ilocos Norte—Around 200 beneficiaries of the government’s “cash-for-work” (CFW) program lauded the provincial government for its continuing effort to provide employment to the less fortunate who is in need of additional source of income. Pegged at P190 per day, Danilo Agustin, a resident of the flood-prone Brgy. Baresbes here, said the program has helped him provide for the needs of his growing family. For at least 10 days, qualified beneficiaries helped in the clean and green program of their barangay; planting tree saplings while paving some typhoon-damaged roads. Funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office, Ilocos Norte received at least P5 million for the cash-for-work program to generate local employment covering 76 barangays in the province which were hit hard by typhoon in previous years. “We hope the government will continue this program which is very helpful to us,” said the bene...

R.A. Form No. 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Ilocos Norte Municipality of Sarrat NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION           In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that CLARINA CALARO MANIBOG has filed with this Office a petition for change of first name from CORINA to CLARINA in the birth certificate of CORINA GARCIA CALARO who was born on 13 January 1959 at Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are ALFREDO CALANTOC CALARO and MARIA CALANTOC GARCIA.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than June 20, 2016. (SGD) JOAN A. DUQUE Municipal Civil Registrar June 6-12, 13-19, 2016*IT _______________________________________________ R.A. Form No. 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry O...

Despite the significant gains in primary education participation rates, learning gaps remain high among primary and secondary level students. Increased government spending in education, as well as the implementation of the K to 12 program are important education sector reforms that set the stage for improved access and better education outcomes for the Filipino youth. However, while these reforms are significant, much is still needed to be done in improving learning outcomes for primary and secondary learners in the Philippines.   On May 24, 2016, the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Philippines hosted a policy forum on "Evidence in the Education Sector" at the PIDS Conference Room in Centris, Quezon City, to disseminate among key decision-makers how impact evaluation and evidence can be useful in achieving improved learning outcomes.   Around 60 participants attended the f...

PresidenT - elect Rodrigo R. Duterte just declared open season on journalists. Or did he? Just a short while after he said “Just because you're a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if you're a son of a bitch…. Freedom of expression cannot help you if you have done something wrong”; his political allies and appointed officials immediately went on explanation spree. They mostly said he was misquoted and the issue was blown out of proportion by, well, the national and international media. Mr. Duterte’s comment was in response to a question on how he would protect press freedom after another Filipino journalist was gunned down in Manila on May 27. Whether he really was misquoted as insisted by his mouthpieces or it was more than a veiled threat against the fourth estate; it simply comes down to his only solution to all and any problem—kill. When he made a Davao journalist an example of why he deserved to be gunned down, it did not even make him re...

WE are already familiar with the problem of secularization. That’s when God is set aside not only in society—as in business and politics—but also in one’s personal life. This is the anomaly besetting many developed Western countries that are entering what is known as post-Christian or post-religion era.   That means religion is already considered as passé and obsolete. Any mention of God is likely met with a laugh, a derision if not an open hostility. In these places, men are convinced there’s no other source of light, wisdom and guidance than their own selves, their own ideas and devices. Under this category, we can cite isms like atheism, agnosticism, relativism, skepticism, deism, etc. But another anomaly can also be found in the other end, precisely happening in places known for religious zeal. Our country falls largely under this classification. Here, religion tends to be abused and exploited. In the end, religion is used to deform, emasculate and even kill relig...