The Ilocos Times

LAOAG CITY—Public schools here are slowly adopting to change. Out with manila papers, old dilapidated books and in with computers, power point projectors and other state-of-the-art learning materials. Newly-installed Ilocos Norte schools division superintendent Vilma Eda is embarking on massive reforms and transformation in the teaching-learning process, urging all schools to think global and pursue 21st century skills development for all school learners.  As an initial step, Ms. Eda initiated the improvement of the physical make up of offices and benchmarking activities for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the continuing conduct of whole brain literacy self-mastery capability building for personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd). The new DepEd Ilocos Norte head, who is an awardee of the “very innovative person” (VIP) said it is high time that old-time school innovate itself to the rapid changing technology in response to the needs of millenni...

LAOAG CITY—To further promote Ilocos Norte’s cinematic landscape as a film destination, the Philippine Film Export Services Office (PFESO), under the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), is eyeing the establishment of a cinematheque, a media hub to bring in local films to residents here.  According to Rogerio Bismonte Jr. of the Ilocos Norte government’s media incentives desk, PFESO representatives are on exploratory visit in the provinces’ various tourism sites here while looking for a possible site to establish a local film center. There are at least five cinematheques in the Philippines, and the nearest to Laoag is in Baguio City. Once established in the province, the PFESO said the cinematheque would make it easier for them to promote Ilocos Norte as a film tourism destination here and abroad.  To do that, the PFESO has recommended the passing of an ordinance in the municipal, city or provincial level for the creation of a film commission to...

With the implementation of the “Yakap Bayan” program, the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) can now fully assist drug personalities who surrendered to the government. DSWD Sec. Judy M. Taguiwalo explained during the recently held forum for those surrendered dubbed "Rehabinasyon" that Yakap Bayan is a rehabilitation and reintegration program for drug users and pushers who surrendered to the government which it will implement within the framework of the Department’s mandate as the head of the disaster response cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). With DSWD as the lead, it implements Yakap Bayan in partnership with different government agencies. The program consisting of graduated interventions, primarily aim to create community leaders out of the former drug dependents. Under the program, the persons concerned will undergo rehabilitation, empowerment and reintegration within the communities. The program will...

LAOAG CITY—A Special Investigation Task Group investigating the June 3 killing of Marcos mayor Arsenio Agustin is a step closer to identifying the suspect. The Ilocos Norte police crime laboratory released its DNA examination result which showed that DNA samples extracted from a toothbrush matched those collected from cigarette butts, drinking water and energy drink bottles found at the crime scene. The police stressed that whoever owned the toothbrush “probably had a hand in the killing”. The police, however, requested not to divulge the suspect’s identity. A report from the police community relations office led by P/Chief Insp. Dexter Diovic Corpuz also states that at least 14 witnesses who saw the assassination had already filed their sworn statements. ( Leilanie G. Adriano )

LAOAG CITY—A home care facility for the aged will soon rise in San Juan, La Union courtesy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office. The facility’s initial construction phase budget of PHP12 million and will be located Sta. Rosa de Lima St. Ili Norte. It will cater to the needs of abandoned, ailing senior citizens and those neglected by relatives due to financial difficulties. DSWD asst. regional director for administration Nora D. Dela Paz said the proposed home for the elderly in Region 1 is “a long-awaited dream now being turned into a reality with the help of the national government”. After its completion, the regional office said they will prioritize abandoned, neglected, unattached, homeless and abused senior citizens. Meanwhile, DSWSD Region I operations and programs division chief Benjamin Baldo disclosed that the lot was located and identified more than 20 years ago but it is only this year that the national government approved its funding. ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City— The elections officer in this city expects the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to push through this year. Atty. Julius Balbas made the statement in view of rumors that a postponement of the said elections will happen again. “As far as Comelec is concerned, matuloy ti election gapu ta addan appo iti calendar of activities a sursurotentayo ken awan met pay inbaba iti Kongreso or from the Office of the President a saan a matuloy ti election,” Mr. Balbas said. He stressed that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is continuing with the preparations for the October 23, 2017 elections. He said the Comelec calendar of activities, through Comelec Resolution No. 10177, has already came up with prohibition periods leading up to the elections. In this city, Mr. Balbas said they have conducted applications for registration from November 7, 2016 to April 29, 2017. He disclosed that their offic...

PAOAY, Ilocos Norte—Residents in the flood-prone villages of this town may no longer need to seek refuge in public schools in times of typhoons and other calamities following the start of construction for a 2-storey evacuation center at Brgy. Callaguip here. With the project pegged at Php 3.4 million, the center sits on a 3,000-square meter public lot can house about 1,000 evacuees. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) funds the project while the local government here owns the lot. In response to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order to avoid using public schools as evacuation centers during natural calamities so as not to disrupt classes, DPWH regional firector Ronnel Tan during his recent visit to Paoay on said the President tasked them to construct more evacuation facilities around the country. The planned evacuation center will feature modern house amenities, including kitchen, restrooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and a social hall and a functional Civil Defe...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—In a bid to hasten its resolution, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Ilocos Norte (LMP-IN) chapter is offering PHP100,000 as reward for any information that may solve Marcos mayor Arsenio Agustin’s killing. To implement this, the group passed five resolutions. In an emergency meeting held in this town, Dingras mayor Erdio Valenzuela chaired the meeting as he presented the resolutions. One resolution condemned Mr. Agustin’s killing as “dastardly and barbaric”; the second resolution extended the league’s “deepest sympathy” to Mr. Agustin’s family; two resolutions requested Ilocos Norte police director P/Sr. Supt. Jose Melecio Nartates Jr. to from a special task force for the case and to beef up security for mayors in the province. The last resolution called for the PHP100,000 cash reward for “vital information” that could help solve the case. Mr. Valenzuela disclosed that PHP50,000 of the reward...

Batac mayor Albert D. Chua leads the distribution of farm equipment and machineries including 40 shallow tube well units, 40 electric pump units, 160 pcs irrigation hose, 40 pcs threshers and 40 units of kuliglig (hand tractors) to all registered zanjera associations. The Batac government used their RA 7171 share to purchase them. The distribution was part of Batac’s 10 th charter day celebration. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —“Siudad a Nalatak, Umili a Maragsak”. This is this city’s theme as it celebrated its 10 th charter anniversary on June 21-28, 2017. First term Batac mayor Albert D. Chua thanked the “Almighty for giving another year with lots of blessings to the city and its residents.” The charter celebration, which had become “Empanada Festival” shortly after its conversion into a city officially began on June 23, 2017. Though the weather was “raining on Batac’s parade”, participants gamely went through with th...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Eight Sangguniang Panlalawigan members declared on June 27, 2017 Rep. Rodolfo C. Fariñas (Ilocos Norte, 1 st district) as “persona non-grata.” Officially known Draft Provincial Resolution No. 2017-06-080, its first reading was on June 27, 2017. At least 10 board members sponsored the measure namely: Mariano Marcos II, Juan Conrado Respicio, Ramon Gaoat, Vicentito Lazo, Da Vinci Crisostomo, James Paul Nalupta, Donald Nicolas, Rogelio Balbag, Domingo Ambrocio Jr. and Paulino Baltazar. Senior board member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, son of Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos; and SP member Ria Christina Fariñas, daughter of the House majority floor leader, was both absent during the 45 th regular session of the 10 th Sangguniang Panlalawigan. When it was time to deliberate on the proposed resolution on Tuesday afternoon, June 27, 2017 Mr. Crisostomo moved to defer it citing they still need to include othe...