The Ilocos Times

Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos Keon welcomes the officers of the Ilocos Norte United Muslim Association (INUMA) led by Ismael Ali, president; Benhar Depundato, P.I.O. and Johary Guro, adviser. Joining them are several zonal leaders led by Maswara Alim, Halim Pandao Molve, Solaiman Batowa Maulana and Arafat Bacarat. During the meeting, they discussed the preparations for the upcoming Zonal Maswara Ijtima scheduled on February 23-24, 2020 with an estiamted 3,000 Muslim religious leaders and scholars from Luzon and other parts of the country attending. After the meeting, they visited the Laoag City Central Terminal and conducted an ocular inspection. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Police Colonel Christopher Abrahano took over the reins of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) in a formal change-in-command ceremony on February 19, 2020 at the Camp Capt. Valentin S. Juan, this city. He replaces outgoing police provincial director P/Colonel Cesar Pasiwen, who is now chief of staff of in Calabarzon regional police office. The incoming officer-in-charge hails from Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan and has held key posts at the Crime Investigation and Detection Group National Office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 1 and IV offices. He also served as former chief of police in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. He graduated at the Philippine National Police Academy in 1996. Mr. Abrahano’s installation was presided by P/Brigadier General Joel S. Orduña, the incumbent Police Regional Office 1 regional director. In his short message during the turn-over rites, Ilocos Norte Gove

Laoag City —Intensifying its protective measures against COVID-19 spread, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), will purchase additional protective gears through the Quick Recovery Fund. Listed on the purchase to be delivered this weekend or early next week are 500 complete sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), 500 vials of flu vaccines, 300 bottles and 20 gallons of alcohol, 115 bottles of disinfectant, 300 boxes of face mask, and 150 hyposol. According to Task Force Salun-at the province also has ample supply of relief packs and medicines on standby, if needed. It assured that PGIN is closely coordinating with the Bureau of Quarantine by equipping the Laoag International Airport with temperature scanner and competent health personnel. Moreover, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc convened all the city and municipal mayors and health personnel to tackle the necessary actions in preventing the possible entry of COVID-19 in the province o

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Some male employees of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) gave women a few minutes of good vibes on the morning of March 2, 2020 as they joined the first ever “Taray Sapatos de Takong [Running in high heels]” to usher the women’s month celebration this March. Organized by the Gender and Development Office under the PGIN, around 20 male Capitol workers representing the different departments dressed like females and ran wearing high heels in front along Rizal St. all the way to the Provincial Capitol building. “The wearing of high heels by our male colleagues is like putting their shoes in women. It is symbolic as we usher the women’s month celebration,” said Janet London, focal person of the Gender and Development Office in an interview. People who witnessed the event said they are delighted to see the male participants who gamely showed their support to women activities in the province. Ilocos Nor

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Good news to all scholars of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte. Starting the second semester of this school year, the 560 academic and technical and vocational scholars of the provincial government scholars will receive stipend increase of PHP2,500 to PHP3,850 each. This came following the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s approval of the Integrated Provincial Scholarship Ordinance which aims to unify all the six classifications of scholarships offered at the Ilocos Norte government. These scholarship grants include those who excel in academic, youth leaders, technical and vocational students, athletes, medical students and senior high school students Owing to the increasing prices of basic commodities and living allowances, Carolyn Agcaoili, education research assistant I of the Provincial Education Office said that for academic scholars, they will now be entitled to receive a stipend of PHP20,000 each per semes

  Mister Laoag 2020 winners sign their contract with the Mister Laoag Organization after winning the tile for 2020 while Laoag councilor Handy Lao, as the overall organizer looks on. The signing of contract was conducted right after the press conference. Mister Laoag 2020 Cyrax Miguel (center) will join the nationwide search for the Misters of Filipinas 2020 representing the city of Laoag in September while the other winners will compete in their respective national pageants later. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —Mister Laoag 2020 Cyrax Miguel is set to join the nationwide search for Misters of Filipinas on September this year representing this city. Laoag councilor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan ex-officio member Handy Lao made the announcement during the first press conference with the Mister of Laoag 2020 winners held at the Vertext main office. Mr. Lao said the Mister Laoag organization will always support the winners rega

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos announced that power rates continue to decrease starting in November last year up to the present. INEC records show that electricity rates for residential consumers decreased by PHP 0.65 from PHP9.07 to P8.42 from October to November billing last year.   Likewise, INEC reported another decrease from PHP 8.42 to PHP 7.84, or a decrease of 58 centavos from November to December billing.    INEC also recorded another decrease of 49 centavos for the December to January billing from PHP 7.84 to PHP 7.34. “ Makagapu ket nababa iti presyo iti kuryente nga agdama iti Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) ken iti kinababa latta tay kontrata tayo iti AES Philippines ket sapay la kuma ta agtultuloy a bumaba kasi naawat in tay preliminary bills iti daytoy a bulanen, ” Mr. Agdigos explained. As the power rates decreas

  MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis (seated, right) and Ilocos Norte BFAR chief Arthur Valente (seated in red shirt) inspect the tilapia fingerlings as initial stocks for the newly-established Biodiversity Park Pond. (Photo by Perry B. Dafun Jr) By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor CITY OF Batac—The Mariano Marcos State University-College of Arts and Sciences (MMSU-CAS) in this city launched on January 8, 2020 the Biodiversity Park Pond as one of the components of the MMSU’s Coordinated Agribusiness, Research, and Extension Strategies (CARES) program. CARES is a newly established program of the University that involves technology promotions, utilization, and transfer of modern farm technologies to farmers and various stakeholders for increased productivity. The launching began with the stocking of 1,000 GET-EXCEL tilapia fingerlings provided by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG). G

Laoag City —Ilocos Norte is now officially one of five tactical pilot provinces in the country to lead collaborative extension services in agriculture and fisheries after component institutions signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, Laoag City on February 28, 2020. Officially known as the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (INAFES), it will strengthen and synergize the provincial and municipal extension systems of the province by engaging a pool of professionals who will provide technical and business advisory services to farming and fishing communities and related sectors. Department of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew J. Marcos-Manotoc led the MOA signing. Other signatories include Mariano Marcos State University President Shirley C. Agrupis, DA-Regional Field Unit I Regional Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources- Regional Field Office I Re

Tapno mapasayaat pay dagiti agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations ti pannakamaneher dagiti gungloda, nangiwayat ti DAR Ilocos Norte ti training maipanggep ti strategic planning ken management. (Photo courtesy of Ms. Gina Ruiz) Nangiwayat ti Department of Agrarian Reform-Ilocos Norte ti maysa a training maipanggep ti Strategic Planning and Management idiay Barangay Nagrebcan, Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Dagiti timmabuno iti daytoy a panagsanay ket dagiti opisyal ti Nagrebcan-Paruyan Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Association (RWSA). Ti Nagrebcan-Paruyan RWSA ket maysa kadagiti agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations wenno ARBOs nga adda iti aywan ti DAR Ilocos Norte. Dagiti dadduma pay nga ARBOs a dimmalan iti nasao a training ket ti Tribal Agrarian Reform Cooperative ti Nueva Era, SWISA ti Nagsurot iti Burgos ken Camguidan Multipurpose Cooperative iti Batac City. Kuna ni Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Vic M. Ines, babaen iti nasao a trainin

Amidst the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Luis V. Singson expressed through the Chinese Consulate in Laoag to Hubei Province that, they are with Hubei Province in this difficult time. Earlier, the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Hubei entered into a sisterhood agreement where they promised to promote mutual understanding and friendship with each other and to actively carry out exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Now that Hubei Province is facing the challenge of the novel coronavirus, the province of Ilocos Sur headed by Governor Singson, quickly showed their support and sympathy for their sister province. As sisters, the governor stated they are standing together with Hubei Province in this battle of combating the outbreak of novel coronavirus. He emphasized that they fully support all the means being employed by the government of Hubei Province in assuring that all affected are being provided proper care as well as their

Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon and Laoag Vice Mayor Vicentito Lazo, Laoag councilors Rbee Ablan, and Jaybee Baquiran, Dr. Eliezer Asuncion, LCGH chief of hospital and Dr. Mary Ann Luis, LCGH chief of clinics witness the delivery of new medical equipment for the Laoag City General Hospital: three units of hemodialysis and (2) units of chemical analyzer. The mayor hopes that the new equipment will further improve the delivery of services at LCGH and boost the income of the hospital, and ultimately benefit the people of Laoag. (Doms dela Cruz)

Laoag City —Adapting to the growing developmental needs of its people while safeguarding the province’s heritage, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte unveiled the architectural plans of the “Big 3” infrastructure projects, particularly the “sustainable” Capitol building and new Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) Stadium, on February 3, 2020. One of the highlights of the 202 nd founding anniversary celebration of the province is the commencement of the “2020 Ilocos Norte Development Masterplan,” and in-depth discussion of the “Big 3” infrastructure projects. The “Big 3” are the Provincial Capitol expansion building, the Ferdinand E. Marcos Stadium rehabilitation, and the Dap-ayan Center redevelopment. According to architect Rex Hofilena, the new Capitol design is based on the “heritage-inspired new Ilocos Norte architecture.” “The final design has to be anchored on heritage, Ilocano culture and tradition, and green architecture. The proposed Capitol now has an i

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter CITY of batac —Micro, small and medium enterprises in the province are excited to explore the services of a sophisticated one-stop techno hub now made available closer to their homes. A former overseas Filipino worker-turned-entrepreneur Agnes Asuncion from Currimao, Ilocos Norte said “you do not need to travel by far or go out of the country to find a better fortune when there are opportunities waiting for you back home.” As a member of the Philippine Export Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), Ms. Asuncion is just one among the hundreds and thousands of beneficiaries of various government programs and initiatives to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and maximize their potential. “We thank MMSU and DTI for being behind us —from skills training, product development and marketing of our products. Through them, we are more confident now to export our products,” said Asuncion who is into dragon fruit soap-ma

  Jail Sr. Insp. Cremencio Alones Jr. pays a courtesy call to Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua as the newly designated Batac District Jail warden while outgoing Jail Senior Inspector Antonio Sapaden (second from right) was detailed at the BJMP regional office. Also in the photo is newly designated Laoag City Jail warden J/Sr. Insp. Rodel Cadpino (first from left). ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter City of Batac --The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in this Batac and the Laoag City district jails have new wardens. Jail Senior Inspector Cremencio Alones previously from Bantay Municipal Jail in Ilocos Sur was detailed as city jail warden at the Batac City District Jail. Erstwhile Batac jail warden J/Sr. Insp. Antonio Sapaden was transferred to the Investigation and Prosecution Division of the BJMP Regional Office. Mr. Alones welcomed his new assignment as part of the BJMPs reshuffling program every two years. The formal turnover

  BJMP Batac District Jail Senior Inspector Antonio Sapaden presents to the members of the media the Bolinao Chicken Project with MMSU, ILARDEC and DOST. BJMP-Batac is the pilot area of the project. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter City of Batac —After the oyster mushroom production, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Batac District Jail is now the pilot area for the Bolinao chicken project in Region I. The project is a joint venture between Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Ilocos Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARDEC) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) exclusively for Region I. Jail Senior Inspector Antonio Sapaden announced that BJMP Batac is “very lucky” as the DOST chose it as the project’s pilot area.   Mr. Sapaden explained that DOST funded the chicken coop construction in coordination with MMSU. The chicken coop has a cost of PHP100,000. The B

Coronation of Brgy. 11 Day Care Center Mr. & Miss Valentines 2020 King Mark Jacob Gonzales & Queen Erich Angel Bonador (seated center) along with parents King Bryan Dela Cruz and Claire Diego with day care worker Miriam Currimao.

Staff of the College of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, and the University Infirmary conduct free medical services as part of the farm festivity held at MMSU on January 31, 2020. (Reynaldo E. Andres) By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor City of BATAC—More than 500 farmers and their families, including representatives of various stakeholders have received free medical and other social services on January 31, 2020 during a lively farm festivity held in the main campus of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in this city. Dubbed “Parambak Iti MMSU 2020” [Festivity in MMSU 2020], the activity provided free medical consultations, technology promotions, and served as a venue where everyone can buy cheap organically-grown agricultural commodities produced by the University. “This festivity has several components where various colleges of MMSU delivered their mandates to the community through the expert services of their staff,” said Dr. Aris Reynold Cajigal,