The Ilocos Times

Batac rescue . The search, rescue and retrieval (SRR) team composed of the City Risk Disaster and Management Office, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection-Batac retrieve the body of the drowned victim identified as Brian Rabanal, 29 years old, single, and resident of Brgy. Quiling Norte last October 16 at 1:00 pm. The victim, along with his family were on a picnic at the Garasgas River bank in the morning of October 15 where he got drunk. By noontime, they decided to go home but he took a shortcut by swimming across the Garasgas River where authorities believed he drowned. The SRR Team went on a full search and rescue operations right after the family reported the incident but they had to halt at 6 pm. The barangay tanods of Quiling Norte were on guard at the area until the resumption of the search and retrieval operations on the morning of October 16 when they retrieved the victim. ( Photos courtesy of Arvin Francis Lumang)

Youth leaders from AMA Laoag and Sirib Ilocano Kabataan Association (SIKA) actively participated in the Seminar on Leadership and Parliamentary Procedure (SLPP) of the Graduate School Supreme Student Council (GSSSC) of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Graduate School . The Graduate School Supreme Student Council (GSSSC) recently held its first Seminar on Leadership and Parliamentary Procedure (SLPP) at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Graduate School. The GSSSC organized the activity with the following objectives: to give an orientation for those who are new in the field of community and student leadership; to deliver a refresher lecture for experienced community and campus leaders; and to provide a venue for planning programs and projects. In his message to the participants, Dr. Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., dean of MMSU Graduate School, underscored that proper, careful and detailed planning is so important when starting a project. “Proper ...

NLREC officials and the people of Pagudpud led by mayor Marlon Sales join the ceremonial planting of the 205,000 th  seedling which marks the three-year implementation of the Pagudpud windfarm's reforestation program. ( Photo courtesy of Joey Quiaoi t) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—Over the past three years, the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation (NLREC), which operates an 81-megawatt wind farm at Brgy. Caparispisan in this town, has been growing forest trees as part of its greening program. On October 26, 2017, local officials and residents here witnessed the ceremonial planting of the 205,000 th seedling within the 625-hectare windfarm. In 2014, the NLREC started to plant indigenous trees in a once barren area where they installed the towering windmills. “The first major goal of this effort was to produce 350,000 seedlings and plant 205,000 within three years,” said Maria Meliza Tuba-Principe, senior manager for stakeho...

Results of a PDEA Ilocos Norte drug raid. ( Alaric A. Yanos) By Edison Justin Deus PGIN-CMO Laoag City —The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Ilocos Norte declared the towns of Carasi and Marcos, and 80 other barangays in Ilocos Norte as “completely drug-free.” The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) considers a local community as “drug-free” if supply of illegal drugs, transit and trade, drug laboratories and warehouses, drug dens, marijuana cultivation sites, users and pushers, protectors, and financiers are absent. Lanibel Ancheta, PDEA Ilocos Norte provincial officer, said the most effective method to eradicate illegal drugs in the province is through the implementation of barangay clearings and community-based rehabilitation programs. Earlier this month, President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued a memorandum directing PDEA to lead anti-drug operations after initially mandating the Philippine National Police (PNP) to spearhead the said campaign at the beginnin...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter English: Map of Ilocos Norte showing the location of Piddig (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—Every month, members of the senior citizens association of Piddig, Ilocos Norte queue at a mall’s movie house in this town. They receive free movie passes by presenting their senior citizen’s identification card. Republic Act 9994 or, the “Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act of 2010,” gives elders aged 60 and above additional recreational benefits such as free movie passes in cinemas. In recognition of the important contribution of senior citizens in nation-building, Piddig mayor Georgina S. Guillen accompanied 150 seniors to the movie cinema this month; after the movie the mayor treated them to a fast food restaurant. Mrs. Guillen said this is just one way of expressing their gratitude to Piddig senior citizens for their great contribution to the development of the community. In 1994, then President Fidel V. Ramos ...

English: Map of Ilocos Norte showing the location of Sarrat (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Sarrat, Ilocos Norte—Town mayor Remigio Medrano guaranteed the distribution of loyalty cash award (LCA) for all municipal government employees here. Mr. Medrano said all Sarrat government employees will receive the cash award before the end of October. The municipal government allocated at least PHP 400,000 for the said award. This is based on Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 2013-003. As per the circular order the cash award is dependent on the years of service rendered in a local government unit (LGU) and detailed as follows: 10th year from P5,000.00 to P10,000.00; 15th year from P2,500.00 to P5,000.00; 20th year - from P2,500.00 to P5,000.00; 25th year - from P2,500.00 to P5,000.00; 30th year - from P2,500.00 to P5,000.00; 35th year - from P2,500.00 to P5,000.00; 40th year - from P2,500.00to P5,000.00 “This is good enough in acknowledging their [government employ...

Publication Notice R.A. 10172 NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC October 19, 2017 CFN-0223-2017 CCE-0074-2017 R.A. 10172           In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that JUANITA I. UDAUNDO has filed with this Office, a petition for change of First Name from AQUILENIA to JUANITA and a petition for Correction of Entry in the child’s date of birth from JUNE 25, 1957 to JUNE 24, 1957 and the mother’s first name from ALICIA to ELICIA in the Certificate of Live Birth of AQUILENIA I. UDAUNDO at Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are LOPE UDAUNDO and ALICIA IBALE.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this Office not later than November...

English: Map of Ilocos Norte showing the location of Batac (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —City mayor Albert D. Chua announced the impending rehabilitation of the road connecting this city and Sarrat town. The project forms part of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) dubbed “Rehabilitation of Billoca-San Juan Farm-To-Market Road and 8 Bridges”. The PRDP under the Department of Agriculture aims to establish a modern, value-chain oriented and climate resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. Mr. Chua said the Batac government has allocated PHP7,036,607.00 from the city’s 2017 annual budget as i’s counterpart to augment the share of the Ilocos Norte provincial government, a requirement for f the project. The Sangguniang Panlungsod here also earlier approved a resolution authorizing Mr. Chua, as mayor, and for and in behalf of the city government to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the p...

THE DEPARTMENT  of Agriculture (DA) thru regional director Lucrecio Alviar assists Rep. Rodolfo “Rudy” C. Fariñas (Ilocos Norte, 1 st  district) in the distribution of farm machineries/equipment worth PHP27 million to Zanjeras of all towns of the 1st district of Ilocos Norte including Laoag City. Funding of said equipment comes from the DA in coordination with the Congressman. The equipment distributed are four-wheel tractor, combine harvester, rice/corn transplanter, water pumps, and hand tractors among others. Doms dela Cruz 

SAN NICOLAS  Mayor Alfredo Valdez Jr. (5 th  from right) poses with the other LGU chief executives as one of the top ten Galing Pook Awardee ( Photo Courtesy of SN Municipality.) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here barged into the top 10 local government units recognized as Galing Pook awardee in the entire country. In the awarding ceremony held October 12, 2017 in Manila, San Nicolas mayor Alfredo “Boying” P. Valdez Jr. thanked all the people behind the prestigious award in their contributions to innovate practices in local governance of the municipality. The San Nicolas entry “Catching Rain” seeks to adopt viable and responsive measures to shifting weather patterns brought about by climate change through safe, indigenous and environment friendly means. Mr. Valdez said that without a natural body of water to irrigate its agricultural lands, this municipality found its solution in an indigenous tec...

Piddig , Ilocos Norte—The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Region 1 of the Department of Agriculture (DA) inaugurated the community-based food factory school and agro-tourism farm on October 2, 2017 held at Brgy. Cabaroan in this town. ATI Region I director Rogelio C. Evangelista served as the launching guest. He told Piddig officials and residents the importance of transforming old methodology of farming from sowing to crop season. “We need to teach them modern techniques to improve their products and at the same time, certified to handle farm machineries,” Mr. Evangelista emphasized. The school will be a learning site assisted and funded by ATI and DA, guided by the Piddig municipal agriculture office. The project offers farming courses especially rice-machine operators with National Certificate-level II (NC-II). Gracing the occasion is former Piddig mayor, now Piddig consultant Engr. Eduardo “Eddie” G. Guillen who represented Piddig mayor Georgina Salazar-Guill...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here passed two ordinances that will help the environment. In support of Republic Act 9003, the solid waste management law, the council approved ordinances regulating the sale and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and styrofoam food packaging. Batac councilor Mary Coleen Columbia Cajigal said the ordinances promote and protect the health, safety and the general welfare of the public through the reduction of litter and wastes. Ms. Cajigal, who authored the said ordinances, added that this measure will regulate the sale and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags as carry out bags in all commercial establishments in this. Another ordinance will also regulate the use and sale of Styrofoam food packaging in all food establishments here. Since Batac is now a center of education, trade and industry in the province’s second district, Ms. Cajigal said this creates large volume of food pac...

LAOAG CITY—The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is rolling out free skills training for former drug dependents in Ilocos Norte as part of the government’s community-based rehabilitation program. In partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units, TESDA provincial director Charito Santos said the skills training aims to help drug surrenders cope up from their bad habits and reform themselves for the better. Based on the needs of the community and the capacity of learners, former drug users in various parts of the province may avail of the free courses offered by TESDA. Some of the most in demand skills training they availed include carpentry, motorcycle and small engine servicing for men and cookery and bread and pastry for women. Some chose mushroom production. In Batac City for example, they rained drug users who surrendered on large and small ruminants raising. They later gave successful trainees three goats ea...

Ilocos Norte governor Imee R. Marcos By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—After 15 years of being insurgency-free, provincial officials are warning Ilocos Norte residents of possible extremist infiltration with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s declaration of war against members of the New People’s Army (NPA). In a joint Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council meeting held at the Capitol auditorium, Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos who presided over the meeting urged concerned local authorities and residents here to report any suspicious activity happening in their respective area of jurisdiction. Citing the on-going war in Mindanao where the military sent a great number of soldiers in this northern part of Luzon to augment government troops there, Ms. Marcos cautioned that the NPA may take this opportunity to expand in the province. “We should never take this too lightly and let us not be ...