The Ilocos Times

  By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor   CITY OF Batac—The president of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in this city declared on February 21, 2020 that the University “shall be an English-speaking university to strengthen the use of English as a medium of instruction and official communication in the University system”.   Mmsu President Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, an academician loaded with expertise in instruction and research, said this academic stand will attain its ultimate goal of developing the proficiency of the faculty, staff, and students in the English language.   “This is the university’s response to results of recent surveys and studies which show a decline in the English proficiency of Filipino students,” Dr. Agrupis said, adding that her main purpose is to “enhance the English competencies of our students, which is also one of the primary concerns of the Department of Education (DepEd).   “We encourage the MMSU community to master the English lang

By Leilanie G. Adriano  Staff Reporter  LAOAG CITY—Michael Opiña and six other families composed of 23 members from Bagong Silang, Caloocan City were stranded in a Laoag boarding house when Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc declared a total lockdown in the province on March 30, 2020.  Relying on their daily income from selling promo detergent powder which they sell from house to house in the city, Mr. Opiña said they are thankful for good Samaritans such as members of the Philippine National Police manning the village checkpoint near them who share their food whenever they have extra.  Seeing the plight of the stranded sellers along with their small children whom they brought along with them in the city made the Barangay Pila bypass road border control personnel sad as they are just among those families who are struggling for food in time of the COVID-19 crisis.  Police Staff Sgt. Randy Canonizado of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office and one of those assig

  THE PROPER WAY TO WASH HANDS . P/Lt. Col. Mar Louise Bundoc, force commander of the Ilocos Norte 1 st  PMFC, Nenita Cabella, head teacher III of the Pila Elementary School, P/Master Sgt. Noel R. Abad along with some pupils demonstrate how to do proper hand washing to get rid of germs and avoid infectious diseases. The wash area was made possible with the help of runners and shooters joining fun run and shooting events in the city. (Leilanie G. Adriano)   By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter   LAOAG CITY—Over a hundred teachers and pupils at the Pila Elementary School in this city joined a simultaneous hand washing demonstration at the newly-installed “wash area” facility, which is just a few steps away from the classrooms of learners.   But unlike any other wash area constructed in the school, the Pila school’s hand washing facility was a “labor of love” from the runners and shooters who are joining regular fun run activities and shoot fest competitions in the city, sa

Laoag City— As chairperson of Ilocos Norte’s “Task Force Salun-at,” Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc is personally leading various preventive and curative measures against COVID-19.   Among the duties and responsibilities of the said task force include raising community awareness, promoting preventive and curative measures, perform rapid action and resource mobilization, clinical management and public health response, and planning and periodic reporting.   On March 24, 2020 Mr. Manotoc met with local chief executives of the province’s component cities and municipalities; officers of the Philippines National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Bureau of Fire Protection; and representatives of the Ilocos Norte Medical Society. They declared during the meeting that the province remains “COVID-free.”   Previously, Mr. Manotoc led the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPEs), disinfectants, and medical supplies to all government-managed hosp

  By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter   Piddig , Ilocos Norte—Officials and residents in this historic town found a new purpose for their newly-purchased agricultural drone sprayer as they now use it to disinfect the streets, municipal hall and plaza, public market and other commercial and residential areas to ward off the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has triggered a total lockdown in the entire province.   This is apart from the continuing disinfection operation being conducted by front-liners in border control points as well the interior and exterior parts of public buildings and government offices.   At the public market, the municipal government is implementing stringent measures to ensure market goers follow physical distancing. Market personnel designated one entrance and exit point to regulate movement of people. Each Barangay was also given a market day schedule to buy their essential supplies while a mobile market has started to operate in some rural b

Office of the Civil Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, and Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. at a handover of new cots donated by the United States government. Manila —U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim announced on April 10, 2020 the US government's donation of nearly 1,300 new cots to support the Philippine government's response to COVID-19.  Ambassador Kim stated, "I'm pleased to be able to hand over these new cots, on behalf of the U.S. government, to our Philippine partners.  We stand together with the Philippines, as both of our nations work to save lives and protect our people in the fight against COVID-19."   Joining the Ambassador to receive the cots were Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, Administrator for the Office of Civil Defense.     In partnership with the Philippine government, the United States do

  By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter   LAOAG CITY—A cop and a truck helper from the province tested positive for COVID-19, based on results March 28, 2020, the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) confirmed.   Reports said the 42-year old male from Brgy. Sungadan in Paoay, Ilocos Norte has no travel history and the 49-year old male from Brgy. Magnuang in Batac City travelled to Metro Manila several times. Both were admitted at the MMMH&MC and currently in stable condition.   With this, concerned health authorities are undertaking more stringent measures while urging everyone to stay home and only go out for necessities.   “We have already quarantined those who have been in contact with the two COVID-19 patients and we are in close contact with the Department of Health, mayors, city/municipal health officers, and barangay captains to further contact trace these patients,” said Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc in a