Imee personally thanks OFWs for Ilocos Norte’s progress

Joining the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) community at the 6^th Year Anniversary of the New Marcoseños of Hong Kong Worldwide (NewMAHK) on February 25, 2018, Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos took the opportunity to personally thank them for their contributions to the progress and development of Ilocos Norte.

With 61% of families in Ilocos Norte partially or fully dependent on foreign remittances from loved ones working abroad, the province has grown to be one of the richest, most well-developed, and most educated in the country, marked by a high human development index (HDI).

“Dahil sa hirap ng mga OFW, lahat nakakapag-aral; walang sinasabing mga squatter—may sariling mga bahay; at higit sa lahat, nakikita natin na umuunlad sa maliliit na hotel, restaurant, at iba pa dahil sa turismo. Iyan ay dahil lahat sa tinatawag na hirap at pasakit ng ating mga OFW,” said Ms. Marcos.

She also shared recent developments in tourism, including the yearly average of two million visitors in Ilocos Norte and the regular docking of a luxury ship at the Port of Currimao, saying that OFWs made these possible by contributing to the local economy for decades.

Furthermore, Ms. Marcos highlighted the rapid creation of local jobs, in particular those brought by business process-outsourcing (BPO) companies.

“Alam natin na ang pag-migrate, ang pag-alis… ay hindi dapat ‘kapit sa patalim’ kundi choice talaga ng isang pamilya,” she said, empathizing with the difficulty of being away from family and having to work from home just to provide more for loved ones.

“Dapat magbigay din nga trabaho sa sariling probinsiya. Iyan talaga ang gusto naming mangyari.” She added as she told potential investors repeatedly, “Help us generate secure, well-paying jobs so that soon, leaving home will simply be another choice.”

For years, Ms. Marcos’ said her desire is for stable and well-providing employment to be available in Ilocos Norte as she recognized the social cost of families getting split apart by time and distance as many parents, out of desperation, need to work for higher incomes abroad. (PGIN-CMO)

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