Ilocos Norte retains insurgency-free status

Briefing about the current peace and order situation of Ilocos Norte. (Lei Adriano)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—Officials and residents here enjoy a generally peaceful community with no monitored threat from the insurgent New Peoples’ Army (NPA).

Lt. Col. Charles Castillo, the newly-installed commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion confirmed this during a joint Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council Meeting held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, this city.

Since January up to present, Mr. Castillo reported they have not encountered or monitored any enemy activities in the province amidst threats from Ilocos Norte’s neighboring provinces such as in Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Sur and Cagayan.

Effective January this year, Mr. Castillo replaced Lt. Col. Eugene Osias. The army assigned Mr. Osias to the 7th Infantry Division of Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

While strengthening military and combat operations in the 24th Infantry battalion of the Philippine Army based in Abra, Mr. Castillo said their watch now includes Ilocos Norte.

The 81st IB will now also cover the provinces of Ilocos Sur and La Union.

Earlier, President Rodrigo R. Duterte re-declared war against members of the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines, including anybody who is coddling or protecting these terrorists.

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...

2020 Laoag City Traffic Code

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte CITY OF LAOAG SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 58 TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE 11 TH SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF LAOAG HELD AT THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD SESSION HALL, LAOAG CITY ON OCTOBER 14, 2020. PRESENT: 1. Hon. Vicentito M. Lazo City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer Hon. Juan Conrado A. Respicio II S.P....

Marcos town celebrates 3rd Pinakbet Festival

MARCOS, Ilocos Norte—Taking pride of this town ’s favorite Ilo cano dish, locally known as pinakbet, a mix of indigenous vegetables steamed in fish sauce, residents here ushered the opening of the third Pinakbet festival. “Pinakbet” came from the contracted Ilokano word ‘pinakebbet ’ which means “ shrunk ” or “shriveled.” As a way of thanksgiving, the Pinakbet festival is a repository of the town ’ s “ani” [harvest] festival being celebrated every month of March but this was later moved to December to accommodate more balikbayans wanting to join the festivity. Residents in this agricultural town derived most of their income from the harvest of high value crops, including rice, tobacco and corn as staple crops. This year, the week-long festivity highlighted a grand parade around the town plaza and a pinakbet cook fest at the municipal gymnasium to showcase the best pinakbet in town. A boodle fight followed suit. Earlier, a fun run was participated by various groups ...

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog