The Ilocos Times

RESOURCE  persons from the Benguet State University give hands-on demonstrations and lectures on ginger processing to the members of Saguigui Multipurpose Cooperative in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.  (Jopo Guerrero) The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently conducted a training on ginger processing for the members of the Saguigui Multipurpose Cooperative in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Provincial agrarian reform program officer (PARPO) II Vic M. Ines said the Saguigui MPC has the largest production of ginger among the local producers in the province, hence the officers thought of ginger tea or salabat production as their value-addition enterprise. “Food processing also helps farmers manage their yields and get better returns since processed foods fetch comparatively higher rates than the raw produce itself,” said Ines. Resource persons from the Benguet State University gave hands-on demonstrations and lectures on basic production skills, packaging, labeling, prod...

Staff of the INTO along with city and municipal provincial officers celebrate the award given to Ilocos Norte. Ilocos Norte Tourism Office) By Mizpah Grace G. Castro PGIN-CMO Laoag City —For the second year in a row, the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) won first runner-honors up for Best Tourism-Oriented LGU (local government unit) at the 18th Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines and Department of Tourism (ATOP-DOT) Pearl Awards held in Iloilo City on October 4-7, 2017. The Pearl Awards was part of the ATOP National Convention, an event that celebrates the best of Philippine tourism through bringing together tourism officers and showcasing premier tourism practices, products, and service from all over the country. Ilocos Norte tied with the Province of Samar for first runner-up, while Davao del Norte took first place. Ilocos Norte is not new to hosting sports and athletic events, rewarding participants with breathtaking views and...

Many aliens (including a number of immigration lawyers) believe that marrying a U.S. citizen while they are under removal proceedings will automatically save them from removal. In immigration, there is no such thing as “automatic”. A Filipina in Hawaii was advised by the lawyer (not Filipino) of a Filipino under removal proceedings to marry the Filipino in order to save him from removal. She did. The Filipino was deported anyway. The Filipina was crying and blaming the lawyer for misleading them. If you wish to try and save an alien from being deported using the marriage route, here is the strategy: 1. Determine the ground for removal. If it is for an aggravated felony as defined in INA § 101(a)(43) (such as, murder, sexual abuse of a minor, illicit trafficking in a controlled substance, or a crime of violence for which the term of imprisonment is at least one year), stop here. Committing an aggravated felony is a mandatory ground for removal.  Marrying the alien will...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government expects more sister cities from Regions I, II, III and the National Capital Region (NCR). Laoag vice mayor Michael V, Fariñas made this announcement following the approval of several unnumbered resolutions that express the city government’s intent to forge sister city ties with at least 18 more cities. Laoag Liga ng mga Barangay president and ex-officio councilor Mary Michelle Louise “Mikee” V. Fariñas, daughter of the vice mayor, sponsored the measures. The measure authorizes Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas to represent the city in seeking the sisterhood agreements. Ms. Fariñas identified the cities as Tabuk in Kalinga; Tuguegarao in Cagayan; Iligan, Cauayan, and Santiago in Isabela; San Jose and Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija; Balanga in Bataan; Olongapo City in Zambales; Mabalacat in Pampanga; Malolos, San Jose Del Monte, and Meycauayan in Bulacan; Tarlac in Tarlac Province; Urdaneta and Dagupan...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter PAOAY, Ilocos Norte—The next time you buy your “Abel Iloko” (handwoven cloth) product, chances are these may have become more intricate and stylish that goes with modern style. Leading the way in reinventing the modern fashionista style of unique abel products in Paoay town are some 10 highly-skilled women from the Nagbacalan Loomweavers Mutlipurpose Cooperative (NLMC) who learned the new designs courtesy of the state-run Mariano Marcos State University. In partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its implementer, the Research Triangle Institute, MMSU professor Ciriaco Ragual said they produced the new patterns and designs transferred to the Paoay loom-weavers by employing mathematical procedures. They showcased the new designs and patterns at the University Guest House in Batac City on August 10, 2017. Under a memorandum of agreement between MMSU representatives and the NLMC, both ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —The city government here came up with a PHP508 million proposed budget for 2018. The 2018 budget proposal is at least PHP34 million more than this year’s PHP474 million annual budget. Batac mayor Albert D. Chua personally made the announcement after they collated all budget proposals from all the city government’s concerned offices. Mr. Chua explained that the proposed budget is based on the estimated income for next year. He added that the budgetary increase is due mainly to the city’s increased revenues as well as its internal revenue allotment (IRA) share. The mayor also disclosed that he and his staff worked closely with the local finance committee to study the budget proposals. In their deliberation, Mr. Chua said all department heads presented and then justified their respective budget proposals. Mr. Chua, however, revealed that the budget proposal total did not include the city’s RA 7171 share, or ...

LAOAG CITY—The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is offering scholarship grants to budding Ilocano film makers in Region 1. As part of their program to promote the local film making industry, Wilma Isleta, FDCP education and cultural engagement officer, said the scholarship is open to all schools in the region which had earlier participated in the basic workshop on film making held at the Teatro Ilocandia, Batac City on October 7-8, 2017. With a theme: Planting Seeds: The Future of Philippine Cinema, over 200 students and teachers from the different schools of Ilocos Norte and its neighboring provinces in Region 1 attended the two-day activity. Backed by the Ilocos Norte government and the Mariano Marcos State University, the FDCP is reaching out to the young Ilocanos to promote film education and to help local students develop their knowledge and skills on film making industry. Due to limited slots, Ms. Isleta said the FDCP may accept at least two sch...

LAOAG CITY—Personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)here conducted a simultaneous operation called “Oplan Galugad” to all prison cells in the province. Based on a memo from the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office led by provincial police director Jose Melencio Nartatez, the surprise search operation aims to search for guns, drugs or any other prohibited items inside the jail. Authorities deployed law enforcers along with K-9 dogs at the Ilocos Norte and Laoag City Bureau of Jail and Management Penology to search for these items. But before the actual search operation, they subjected inmates individual body searches. At the BJMP-Laoag, P/Chief Insp. Rommel Ramos of the Laoag City police said they searched 226 male and 28 female inmates; the police later then sent out of their prison cells to accommodate the entry of the operation team. Aside from a pointed object like a scissor and a cigarette butt, the sea...

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) encourages its member-overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) or their qualified dependents in Ilocos Region to take advantage of its scholarship program on technical-vocational skills development. The OWWA Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) aims to provide training assistance to OFWs or their qualified dependents who desire to enroll in any tech-voc courses in any training institute accredited by the TESDA. The SESP provides Php 14,500 educational assistance to scholars as they complete their TESDA-accredited tech-voc courses leading to their acquisition of a National Certificate (NC) II or NC III related to their skill. Qualified to apply are OFWs who are active OWWA members, or their qualified dependents namely spouse or child below 24 years of age for married OFWs; or sibling below 24 years of age for single OFWs. The scholarship applicant must have at least finished high school. In Region 1, among the ...

Piddig , Ilocos Norte—Town mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen announced that a new portable water system will soon be operational. The project is part of the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (Salintubig) program. Mrs. Guillen said her husband, former Piddig mayor Eduardo “Eddie” G. Guillen launched the program during his term. The current Piddig administration has continued the progress. Mr. Guillen now serves as “consultant” for the Piddig government. The mayor added that the project is a “fulfillment of Piddigeños’ desire to have a water system”. “These projects aim not just to drip-off households in town, but, a continuous process to fight global warming, too in the near future,” Mrs. Guillen added. As per a report, Engr. Cris Jacinto told the mayor’s office that the on-going potable water system (PWS) project at Brgy. Tonoton in this town is 47% completed. The water dam that will serve Brgys. Maruaya, Tangaoan, Dupitac and Estancia, on the ha...

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FIRST JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 12, LAOAG CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR THE CANCELLATION/CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE BIRTH RECORD/ CERTIFICATE OF MARK JEEEV UBA GURUNG IN THE OFFICE OF THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF BACARRA ILOCOS NORTE ON THE ENTRY OF THE DATE OF MARRIAGE OF HIS PARENTS FROM JANUARY 28, 2006 TO NONE OR N/A OR NO ENTRY; AND THE PLACE OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS FROM PASUQUIN, ILOCOS NORTE TO NONE OR N/A OR NO ENTRY. MARILYN UBA and BISHNU PRASAD GURUNG, represented by JUNELYN BARUT, FOR AND/OR IN BEHALF OF THE MINOR MARK JEEV UBA GURUNG, Petitioner, -versus- THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE, THE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL, MANILA, Respondents. SP. PROC. NO. 17089-12 FOR CANCELLATION/ CORRECTION OF ENTRIES x-----------------x O R D E R           This is a verified amended petition filed with this Court for the cancellation/corr...

LAOAG CITY—A Japanese car manufacturer prefers hiring Ilocano graduates of automotive technology servicing. Amelito J. Cardenas, Marcos Agro-Industrial School administrator this as the manufacturer based in Sta. Rosa, Laguna had been accommodating on-the-job trainees from Ilocos Norte for over two years now. For this year, Mr. Cardenas said they sent about 10 trainees to Laguna to render their services for a period of five months.  Each trainee, according to Mr. Cardenas also enjoy the opportunity to earn by at least 75 percent of a regular worker’s salary during the training period plus an employment opportunity after graduation. “Since 2015, we have already dispatched three batches and they keep on coming back to us for more. The Ilocano workers distinct characteristics are very diligent and industrious. Perhaps, it is the reason why they are highly preferred by employers,” Mr. Cardenas opined. Aside from this manufacturer, a South Korean conglomerate also hires ...

Piddig , Ilocos Norte—The Piddig municipal government in cooperation with the Ilocos Norte provincial agriculture office introduced consolidated farming at Brgy. Estancia, this town in a forum. Piddig overall consultant and former Piddig mayor Eduardo “Eddie” G. Guillen along with provincial agriculture officer Norma B. Lagmay discussed several ways to maintain the economic growth from farm to table. One of the main agenda of the said program is to engage the members of different zanjeras of the town to enable them to decide on farm plans from sowing to harvest season. Herein, they will also agree as one on the price of their crops. Mr. Guillen said that, “This is the solution of the farmers’ difficulties on agricultural strategies and to insure their daily needs.” Piddig town currently has 273% rice sufficiency that expresses “value chain” for economic development and total change in agri-business in the province of Ilocos Norte and the entire archipelago. ( Bernard ...

RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Ilocos Norte Municipality of Badoc NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION           In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that DANILO SILVA ROSARO has filed with this Office a petition for change of first name from DANY to DANILO in the birth certificate of DANY ROSARO who was born on August 31, 1974 at Badoc, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are ANGEL ROSARO and LOLITA SILVA.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than Oct. 2, 2017. (SGD) PABLO M. REYES Municipal Civil Registrar Sept. 18-24, Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2017*IT ____________________________________________________ RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of I...