The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City In the resolution, which Laoag councilor Juan Conrado A. Respicio sponsored, it states that the request was due to numerous reports that there are local elective officials in the city conducting quarrying operations in their areas of political jurisdictions thus resulting to gross violations of Provincial Ordinance No. 010-2019 and other existing laws, particularly RA 6713 entitled “An act establishing a code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees”. It further states that “conflict of interest” arises when a public official or employee is a member of a board, an officer, or a substantial stockholder of a private corporation, or owner, or has a substantial interest in a business, or his rights and his duties therein may be opposed to, or affected by the faithful performance of official duty. Section 12 Paragraph XVI and XVII of Provincial Ordinance No. 010-2019 states that, “national officials incl...

Laoag City “We proposed to the governor a cash-for-work for jeepney and bus drivers in the province so we can assist them somehow, which was already implemented,” remarked Cipriano Hilarion “Perry” Martinez III, MINC executive director. “The ‘Libre a Pagluganan’ program is more for our frontline workers. The cash-for-work program, which is geared for the cleaning and unclogging of canals in preparation for this rainy season, is a collaboration between the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Office of the Barangay. Beneficiaries rendered five days of work to complete the program and received PHP1225 salary. Moreover, 15 PUJs are deployed at selected pick-up and drop-off points to accommodate the transportation needs of healthcare workers, non-medical frontliners, and medical patients. Driver-beneficiaries receive a daily fuel subsidy and As of writing, a total of 9,105 frontliners and 317 medica...

HEALTH  workers of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center wave to Covid-19 positive survivors following their release at the hospital. (File photo courtesy of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center's official Facebook page). By John Michael Mugas BATAC CITY—When the Philippine government imposed a total lockdown in Luzon island in March, most were mandated to “stay at home” to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 ( Covid -19). During that time, the world was already on a standstill with many countries already waging a war against an unseen enemy. Fear abound from all walks of life as Covid -19’s death toll continues to rise day by day. While some of us had our share of sacrifice by being safe inside our homes, there are those who needed to be outside while carrying the heavy responsibility of building the country’s defenses against Covid-19. Shining through these difficult times, they are our modern-day heroes—our health worke...

By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—The province government of Ilocos Norte is set to install high definition closed-circuit television cameras at the Badoc gateway to monitor the entry and exit of individuals passing through the boundary of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Reynaldo “Ryan” R. Remigio, external affairs consultant of the provincial government, confirmed this in a press conference as the province continue to implement quarantine protocols and ensure all those who are entering the borders adhere to the minimum public health and safety standards. “We plan to set up a CCTV camera along our borders so we can closely check and verify those who are entering our province,” said Mr. Remigio citing the installation process is already on-going. He added that there are around 60-80 locally stranded individuals that pass through the major provincial border in Badoc, Ilocos Norte aside from a growing number of returning overseas workers that undergo screening befor...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —City Mayor Michael M. Keon thanked the Chinese government for donating 10 tons of rice, or 2,000 bags, on June 10 at the City Hall multi-purpose court. The rice was turn over personally by Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Laoag head of post and consul Zhou Youbin personally turned over the rice with Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc also gracing the event. Of the 2,000 bags of rice, he city government will donate 40 bags to the Mariano Marcos Memorial and Medical Center in Batac for the nurses and frontline workers while the rest will be distributed to jeepney and tricycle drivers in the city. The Ilocos Times learned that the Chinese rice donation is the first relief operations of the Chinese government to the city during this pandemic. The distribution coincided with the 45 th anniversary of the China-Philippine diplomatic ties. Mr. Keon hopes that both governments will continue to have a “...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Batac City —Coping with the crisis brought by COVID-19, the city government here went on its fourth tranche of distribution of relief goods with cash assistance to all families in the city. Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua said they distributed 25 kilos of rice, two face masks, two blister packs of vitamins, one dressed chicken and PHP1,000 cash as the city’s local social amelioration to every family in the city. Those who live alone also received 10 kilos of rice, one face mask, one blister pack of vitamins, one dressed chicken and PHP500 cash. Mr. Chua stressed that the city government remains steadfast in their thrust to safeguard and help the Batacqueños recover from this pandemic. The local social amelioration, the mayor said, came from the city’s savings and surplus. Earlier, the city government distributed three kilos of rice, canned goods, noodles and bath soap; six kilos of rice, canned goods, noodles and one tray of egg; and 25 ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporters) LAOAG CITY—There is no stopping the Department of Education (DepEd) in Laoag City to reach out to its learners even in the face of the coronavirus disease. If face-to-face and online instruction is not possible for learners, Laoag City Schools Division Superintendent Vilma Eda said teachers can also explore radio as an alternative mode of learning. In partnership with the Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades located at the heart of the city, the school-based FM Broadcast Station, DWAT-FM 93.9 MHz went live on Monday to test its effectivity to young learners. Once everything is in place following its repair, Ilocos Norte learners will be the first to utilize radio-based instruction in the entire region. The station will also serve as a training venue for campus journalists in radio broadcasting as well as a laboratory for students enrolled in Electronics Products Assembly and Services. “At this point in ...

By Lance Patrick C. Enad For a while now, I have noticed mainstream Filipino media adapting themes popular in liberal American mainstream media. Among these are transgenderist and feminist themes. In the past few days, I noticed much talk of rape, rape culture, and modesty (especially in dress). I would agree that in cases of sexual offences, the offender is to be blamed. Yet on top of this assertion, I also find a denial that modesty in clothing (for it is much broader than that), does not affect these cases. First, this seems to be coming from third wave feminism which views modesty in clothing as a form of misogyny as well as the strong assertion that men are to blame for everything. This movement is a category of postmodernist philosophy which has the feature of not being rational and not in talking terms with the metaphysical principles. Secondly, it seems to be denial of reality. Throughout history, women understood that men have certain tendencies that are more in men t...

By Shawn W. Crispin (CPJ Senior Southeast Asia Representative) Regina Reyes says she had a “journalist’s premonition” that something bad would happen the day before Philippine authorities ordered her ABS-CBN news station to cease and desist operations on May 5. That evening, ABS-CBN, the nation’s largest news organization, said goodbye to its viewing audience and signed off the air. “Up to now, that screen is black,” Reyes, ABS-CBN’s head of news, told CPJ in an interview. ABS-CBN was ordered closed while its 25-year franchise renewal application is still pending in Congress. The popular broadcaster’s at least temporary closure came after President Rodrigo Duterte vowed on several occasions to knock the award-winning news organization off the air. Duterte has taken frequent aim at the broadcaster’s coverage, including several hard-hitting reports on his government’s war on drugs campaign, which human rights group allege has resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings. Mr. ...

Laoag City —In the time for the Environment Month Celebration, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte's (PGIN) Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) held the groundbreaking of paminta (black pepper) and moringa Plantation at Brgy. Davila, Pasuquin on June 18, 2020. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc led the groundbreaking ceremony, saying: “We are all healing this calamity in many different ways but I am heart-warm that on this sunny day under many trees, we come together and celebrate our Environment Month.” Nineteen hectares of public land at Brgy. Davila is being used for the planting of paminta seedlings and moringa stem cuttings. Through a memorandum of agreement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources allowed the Provincial Government to develop the area. “We commit and revitalize our dedication to our environment. Kilala tayo bilang ‘Renewable Energy Capital’ [of Southeast Asia]. We are known as the very ‘Green Province’ and I k...

Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Small-Medium Enterprises (SME) Office is in preparation for the immediate provision of recovery assistance for small businesses in the province, specifically sari-sari -store owners. This “COVID-19 Recovery Assistance to Affected Sari-Sari Store Owners Through KADIWA Program” is an initiative of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc which aims to assist distressed small and micro store owners who are affected by the pandemic, by providing them 2,000 pesos worth of grocery items to replenish their goods. “ Sa pinagdaanan nating krisis, may mga sari-sari store owners na maaaring nagamit nila for personal consumption yung mga paninda nila kaya nawalan sila ng stock. Maaari ring wala na silang ibang pagbilihan ng ibebenta, at kung mayroon man , limited lang. Ito ang dahilan kaya we are giving these store owners a grant for free, to assist them in the form of grocery items,” SME officer Elma Gabriel stressed. “They...

Manila —Officials from the US Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., Department of Justice in the Philippines, and a Philippine judge participated in a virtual workshop on counterterrorism hosted by the US Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (DOJ-OPDAT) in the Philippines on May 11, 2020.  The workshop, which included 65 participants, focused on ways to enhance U.S.-Philippine collaboration and coordination on terrorist investigations and prosecutions, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, who delivered the opening remarks, “ No country can fight the battle against terrorism alone because terrorists recognize no borders, and they honor no laws .”  He continued, “ Terrorists view a global crisis as an opportunity.  So public officials must be vigilant against this threat, even in the midst of a public health crisis.  We are thrilled to be able to bui...

THE  Laoag International Airport implements strict monitoring on the entry of visitors on Saturday as a member of the Philippine Air Force assigned here tested positive of Covid-19 infection. The LIA is preparing for the resumption of commercial flights on July 20. ( Photo courtesy of Denis Alipio) By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Ilocos Norte recorded four new confirmed cases of COVID-19, all of whom had a travel history and exposure to the disease in Metro Manila. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc confirmed this on Sunday evening, July 19, 2020, in a public statement posted in the official social media page of the provincial government as he noted all the new cases, tagged as IN-C6, IN-C7, IN-C8 and IN-C9 are asymptomatic but tested positive while they are in quarantine facilities. According to Mr. Manotoc, IN-C6 is a 44-year old utility worker from Brgy. Saud, Pagudpud town and who was assigned at a quarantine facility. IN-C7 is a 20-ye...

By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Boxes of medical supplies meant to protect health frontline workers in the province arrived on April 6, 2020 at the Ilocos Norte Capitol courtesy of the Chinese government. In his public statement, Zhou Youbin, head of post and Consul of the Consulate of the Peoples Republic of China in Laoag City said, “China will always remember the support from Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and Filipino friends during China’s fight against Covid-19.” The Chinese Consul is referring to a video shot of the Ilocos Norte governor last month encouraging the people of Shandong which they claimed as “very impactful.” As the province is dealing with similar health crisis, its sister province of Shandong donated a total of 25,000 pieces of medical surgical masks, 2,000 pieces of KN95 medical masks, 2,000 pieces of googles and 2,000 sets of medical protective suits just in time when local health front-liners need it most. “I wish all patients infec...

By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Vitamin-packed “nutribun”, which was introduced in the 1970s, is making a comeback in Ilocos Norte to boost the immune system of children while the country is under a state a national health emergency due to COVID-19. In partnership with an Ilocos Norte bakery, the Ilocos Norte government, led by Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc launched a 120-day feeding program dubbed as “Covid-19 Pandemic” at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium on April 27, 2020. Targeting the undernourished children of the province who are at home to keep them safe, the Ilocos Norte government will distribute the government-funded nutribun, along with pasteurized choco-milk drink to children around the province for a period of 120 days. The feeding program started April 27, 2020 and it will last until August 25, 2020. For Ilocos Norte resident like Ruby Cuanang, she said she is excited to let her children have a taste of the nutritious nutribun with choc...