The Ilocos Times

  Laoag City —Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu sees the potential of Ilocos Norte as the first province to establish sanitary landfills in each municipality. “I am looking forward to that day na lahat-lahat ng mga municipalities sa Ilocos Norte ay may sanitary landfills,” he said in a meeting organized by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) headed by Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall on August 8, 2019. Attendees include local government executives, city and municipal environment officers, and different environmental stakeholders. According to Mr. Cimatu, Ilocos Norte would encourage other provinces to establish their own disposal areas if it would set an exemplary action in addressing improper waste management. Out of 21 municipalities, he lauded the officials of Bacarra, Banna, Nueva Era, Paoay, Piddig, San Nicolas, and Vintar for having operational s...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Officials Department of Health in the Ilocos region was in the province recently as it relaunched its school-based immunization program on July 31, 2019 to increase immunization of schoolchildren. Participated in by local government officials, health workers, parents and caregivers and pupils, a community parade was conducted in downtown Laoag to advocate the importance of vaccination to protect children from infectious diseases. In Ilocos region, John Lee Gacusan, DOH Region I senior health program officer said in an interview that they are targeting around 400,000 public school children from Grades 1 to 7 to be vaccinated with measles and rubella vaccine including a booster doses of tetanus-diphtheria vaccines. In addition, some 50,000 female students aged 9 to 14 years old will also get vaccine against cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer in the country. “We want to regain the trust of t...

ONLY ILOCOS NORTE AWARDEE . Dr. Joel Lopez with CSC Commissioner Aileen Lourdes Lizada and CSC regional director Hedy Jose B. Lardizabal. By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor Laoag City — “I’m thankful to God for I was the only awardee from Ilocos Norte in today’s awarding.” So said Dr. Joel B. Lopez, this city’s former schools division superintendent after receiving the Civil Service Commission’s Pagasa Regional Award on September 12, 2019 in San Fernando City, La Union. The CSC award was in line with the government agency’s 119 th anniversary commemorating the enactment of Public Law No. 5, “An Act for the Establishment and Maintenance of an Efficient and Honest Civil Service in the Philippine Islands”. Mr. Lopez is the only awardee from Ilocos Norte. The former Laoag education chief is recognized as one of this year's achiever in public service highlighting the “Talent Development Program cum Universal Backyard Camping”—a school-based activity that...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Health Office reminds all residents in the province to keep their surroundings clean to allow no room for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. From January to July 2019, the Provincial Health Office has recorded a total of 418 cases mostly from Laoag City with 96, Badoc with 63 and Batac City with 34 cases. Of the 21 towns and two cities of the province, only the small town of Adams with less than 2,000 population, according to the PHO has zero dengue-related case so far this year. With the sudden increase of dengue cases this rainy season, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte in close coordination with the city, municipal and village health workers have intensified preventive measures against possible dengue outbreak. Earlier today, personnel of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City continue to conduct dengue awareness campaign at the hospital and in local communiti...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Farmers in Ilocos Norte were all smiles as they received multi-million worth of aid courtesy of the Department of Agriculture. For 75-year-old rice farmer Guillermo Cacal of the Zanjera Tubburan Irrigators Association, Inc. of Brgy. Tubburan in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, he said they are thankful for the one unit of hand tractor worth PHP137,798 which his group received. “This is a great help for us to improve our way of living,” said Cacal in Ilokano language after he got hold of the project certificate along with the brand new hand tractor unit from the DA led by the newly-appointed Agriculture Secretary William Dar at the Mariano Marcos State University covered court in Batac City. After awarding a total of PHP335 million worth of projects to Ilocos Norte, Mr. Dar said the agency has raised their focus on farmers to ensure food security while strengthening partnership and collaboration with local governmen...

  Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon with two senior citizens. (File photo) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —A new mayor; new city government executives. Laoag Michael M. Keon appointed a new city government administrator and legal officer, which the Sangguniang Panlungsod concurred with. They are Atty. Roxanne Lee I. Castro, city administrator; and Atty. Josephus R. Nerez, city legal officer. The duos appointment was effective August 1, 2019. Ms. Castro and Mr. Nerez both attended a regular session of the council where they were given the chance to speak to the city’s councilors. They also answered queries on their qualifications for their respective positions. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Castro worked as a customer service representative in a fast food chain in this city in 1992. From 1997 to 2000, she served also as customer service assistant and teller at a bank also in the city. From 2000-2005, she became a trainer, agent, and assista...

Laoag Liga ng mga Barangay president and council ex-officio member Mikee Fariñas along with her fellow barangay officials pay a courtesy call to Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon. The other Laoag barangay officials are Brgy. 16  chairperson  Rey Carlos Farinas, Bengcag chairperson Cathleen Ubay, Barit chairperson Ruben Ancheta, Brgy. 26 chairperson Romulo Gabriel Jr., Brgy. 1 chairperson Melvin Santos and their barangay council members. The courtesy call was witnessed by Laoag Vice mayor Vicentito Lazo. Mr. Keon asked the help of the ABC President to forge stronger unity of all punong barangay in the city for a better and new Laoag. (Photo courtesy of Laoag CMO)

Laoag City —Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc shared that the Provincial Government is conducting an in-depth study regarding the amendment of the Consignment Ordinance for the proper procurement of medical supplies. However, he shared his sentiments about its improper usage, saying, “We have our general fund that covers our expenses na hindi po na -cover ng PhilHealth. Our general fund is supposed to kick in covering all those expenses sa mga patients natin . But it is not practiced properly, either the consignment or the general fund so we are looking ways to tighten it up.” He further explained that the province has a shortage in pharmacists who will carry out the consignment system, thus, proposing a medical scholarship program to motivate students to enroll in medical-related courses. “For the doctors and pharmacists, I’d like to actually start a scholarship especially for the doctors kasi alam natin na kulang po tayo sa mga doctor. For long term sig...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter INEC managers headed by general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos and members of the Board of Directors headed by board President Enrico Pacifico Ruiz receive numerous awards from NEA and Philreca during the 2019 NEA-EC-MCO's Convention on Rural Electrification held at PICC in Pasay City from August 6-9, 2019. (Photo courtesy of INEC) Dingras , Ilocos Norte—In celebration of the National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) 50 th anniversary and the 2019 NEA-EC-MCO Convention on Rural Electrification held August 6-8 at PICC in Pasay City, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) received numerous major and minor awards from NEA and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) during the awarding ceremony. INEC general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos announced that the awards are results of the cooperative’s continuing service to its member-consumer-owners. INEC was recogni...

Laoag City —More than 100 health workers from the different hospitals in Ilocos Norte and provincial government employees have gathered together on August 5, 2019 to celebrate the opening of the National Hospital Week at the Provincial Capitol grounds. This year’s theme, “Universal Health Isakatuparan… Pagkakaisa’t Pagtutulungan ng Ospital at Komunidad Kailangan,” emphasizes on the importance of unity among the government, community, and health sector in attaining a healthy nation. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc reiterated his commitment to solving pressing problems of the health system in the province, expressing, “Nakalulungkot isipin na kung sino pa ang mas nangangailangan ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan ay sila pa ang nahihirapang makakuha nito. [Thus] we pledge to improve, we pledge to equip, and we pledge to better staff our hospitals.” At present, he is examining the allocation of budget for hazard pay of provincial medical personnel and looks in...

Adda dagiti nangidanun kadakami nga adu dagiti mabul- bully kadagiti pila ti tricycle iti ciudad ti Laoag, pasahero man wenno saan. Inbatadda a narway dagiti driver a mangbasto-bastos kadagiti aglugan ken aglabas. Naari ken naturayda, no kasta. Nagbalin met ngaminen a "little kingdom" dagiti traysikelan dagiti pila isu a maararamidda lattan dagiti kaykayatda. Malaksid iti mangbully , agpilida pay ti pasahero ken agsingirda iti nakangatngato a plete, puera delos buenos.   Ditay ammo no dagitoy ngamin pila ket  intuding ti ciudad wenno bukbukod lattan nga inaramid dagiti driver . Permi a nagadun dagiti "little kingdom" iti Laoag ta sakupenda pay nukuan ti gudua't kalsada. Adda koma ngarud round-the-clock a mangmonitor kadagitoy, kas iti pannakabantay kadagiti pila iti Manila. Adda koma pay dagiti asideg a pagreklamuan iti sentro ti ciudad, ta nakaad-adayo met ngamin ti traffic division ken PNP station . Narway dagiti maaw-awatmi a message ,...

Laoag City —For the sixth consecutive time, Provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay and assistant agriculturist Dr. Luz Tabora of the Provincial Agriculture Office received their Outstanding Agricultural Extension Workers award from the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the 2019 National Rice Achievers Award held at a hotel, this city, on July 25, 2019. Dr. Tabora, one of the awardees and also the Provincial Rice Program Coordinator, expressed her joy on receiving the said award: “ Matagal nang nakilalahok ang probinsiya natin sa patimpalak ng DA— mula 2013 hanggang ngayon. Dito natin ipinakikita ang mga kontribusyon natin sa pagtamasa sa food security and self-sufficiency. Dahil dito, anim na beses na kaming pinaparangalan, kasama si Mrs. Lagmay,” she stated. Also included in the list of this year’s awardees from the Provincial Agriculture Office are Lorna Lubera, Lolita Raposas, and Danilo Arado. Mr. Arado is thankful to the Provincial Government and remarked,...

  Severe tropical storm Ineng damaged and eroded concrete bank  revetment  at Brgys. Cabayo and Isik-Isik in Vintar, Ilocos Norte Total infrastructure damaged in Ilocos Norte reached PHP131 million according to the DPWH. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) first and second engineering districts reported millions of infrastructure damages in Ilocos Norte brought out by severe tropical storm Ineng (Bailu) from August 22-24, 2019. DPWH Ilocos Norte Engineering District (INED) district I Engr. Maria Venus Torio reported estimated damages of PHP117 million for the entire first district of Ilocos Norte as of August 28, 2019. Ms. Torio said majority of the damages are roads/bridge slope protections, revetment, eroded slope protections and scoured shoulders and flood controls. Of the reported damaged amount, the San Marcos Flood Control Bongo River at Brgy. San Marcos ...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Adams, Ilocos Norte —The gastronomic delights in this growing ecotourism destination of the northeastern part of Ilocos Norte got even better in luring tourists as homestay owners, food vendors and wine makers got a taste of a culinary workshop here. Sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT), at least 39 members of the indigenous peoples (IP) in a small community of Adams town composed of only one village graduated from a two-day Kulinarya Workshop held August 1-2, 2019 at the town ’ s gymnasium. Chef Jose Ramlo Villaluna, a tourism advocate and resource speaker of the DOT ’ s pioneering culinary workshop in the province, said the unique food being offered in Adams such as pinikpikan (beaten chicken stew), dinakdakan a susop (banana blossoms with grated coconut), balbalosa (a miniature eggplant only found in Adams), and other exotic edible plants and vegetables are already delectable but it can become even more enticing ...