The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) City of Batac —Mayor Albert D. Chua recently confirmed that a developer has approached the city government to put up a large-scale solar power plant at Brgys. Camandingan, San Pedro and Biningan in this city. In view of this, Chua endorsed the letter of intent submitted by Apolaki One, Inc. to the Sangguniang Panlungsod here for evaluation and deliberation. He added that the city council will also verify whether the mentioned barangays are incorporated in the city’s 10-year development plan of the city as some areas of those barangays can be water sources and tourist destinations. Chua added that the proposed power plant is a lengthy project that needs thorough study as well as the approval of the Dept. of Energy, Dept. Environment and Natural Resources and other national agencies. The mayor also said that it will also require resolutions from the identified barangays and the Sangguniang Panlungsod. The mayor disclosed that the deve...

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Residents eager to come home received good news from the Ilocos Norte government. Following the easing of border and quarantine protocols, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc announced that the cost of antigen tests for inbound residents will be reduced from PHP800 to PHP500. Antigen tests for non-residents will remain at PHP800. “This is to lighten the economic load of our residents who are coming home, now that travel requirements have been eased,” Manotoc said. Antigen tests detect the presence of a specific viral antigen, which implies viral infection. Pending the issuance of an executive order for the implementation of the new guidelines, he said getting to Ilocos Norte has been made easier with fewer travel requirements. Ilocos Norte has opened its borders to leisure travelers all over the country. Visitors from enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine (GCQ) areas must submit...

BACK INTO THE SEA. Sea turtles find their way home after their accidental capture by a fishing gear on Feb. 25, 2021. The female Olive Ridley turtles weighed approximately eight to 10.5 kilos each. ( Photo courtesy of Raymond Sesuca) By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—Three more female green sea turtles, weighing approximately eight to 10.5 kilos each, were found and rescued at Ayoyo Cove along Brgy. Caparispisan, this town on Feb. 25, 2021. The village hosts an 81-megawatt wind farm covering a 625-hectare forest reserve. At around 6:30 am, local fishermen said their fishing gear accidentally captured the reptiles, prompting them to call the attention of barangay officials and volunteers of the Pagudpud Pawikan Conservation Group patrolling the shoreline for possible nesting and hatching events during this time of turtle migration period. Raymond Sesuca, a volunteer of the said group and corporate social responsibility (CSR) ...

Inauguration of 2 more infra projects follow By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte—The municipality of Marcos will soon have its own three-storey new multi-purpose/municipal hall building after a ground breaking ceremony held Feb. 8, 2021, signaling the start of construction. Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc, who served as guest of honor in the groundbreaking, said in his speech that he “strongly expresses his full support with this monumental undertaking of Marcos as their stepping stone of going to a more progressive municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte”. Manotoc added that the people of Marcos deserve a new municipal building as a “representation and a symbol in the entire municipality and the people itself”. He applauded the leadership of the Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano and the whole Sangguniang Bayan headed by Marcos Vice Mayor Hilario Lorenzo for this initiative believing that this town hall will be one of the “nicest...

Members of the U.S. Civilian Military Support Element – Philippines conduct Tactical Combat Casualty Care Training for 21 Philippine Coast Guard District-Palawan personnel and crew of PCG vessels across Palawan from Jan. 28 to 31. 2021. Manila —From Jan. 28 to 31, 2021, members of the U.S. Civilian Military Support Element-Philippines (CMSE PHL) conducted tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) Training for Philippine Coast Guard District Palawan (CGDPAL) personnel and the crews of PCG vessels across Palawan as part of the Coast Guard’s Surface Support Force (CGSSF) Boarding Officer Course. Through training scenarios designed to simulate emergencies during maritime law enforcement, maritime security, and maritime search and rescue operations, 21 students were trained on skills to address and manage an injury on the spot.   Progressing through the three phases of TCCC and integrated into CGSSF’s Boarding Officer’s Course, this training strengthened the medical capabilities of the p...

The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) has recently included plywood under the list of products required to undergo its “Product Certification Schemes” through the issuance of DTI Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 20-06, series of 2020 on 15 October 2020. With the issuance of DAO No. 20-06, the new technical regulation concerning the mandatory product certification of locally manufactured or imported plywood, manufacturers of plywood are now required to secure the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality Certification Mark License before they can sell or distribute their products to the market. Importers, on the other hand, are now required to acquire their products from foreign manufacturers holding valid PS Licenses only. This technical regulation aims to strictly ensure compliance to specified quality requirements for plywood being sold in the Philippine market. Plywood is one of the most commonly used construction materials in the country...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Dingras , Ilocos Norte—The Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) is set to share its blessings to all the member-consumer-owners (MCOs) on its 50 years foundation anniversary with the theme “ 50 Years of Rural electrification, Sparking Rural Development and Progress for Member-Consumer-Owners (MCOs)”. INEC institutional service department (ISD) manager Clemencia Cariaga announced that they will celebrate their foundation anniversary in the whole of CY 2021 thru gifts. Cariaga said all MCOs have the chance to win daily, monthly prizes as well as the grand draw on July 7, 2021 via electronic draw upon payment of their electric bills. Starting this February, there will be two winners of two electric fans daily per area and they will still have the chance to win one refrigerator, one washing machine, one water dispenser, two tablets and one sack of rice as prizes.in the monthly draws On July 7, 2021, the grand prize-gift is a tricy...

Solsona Mayor Joseph De Lara opens the 14 th  Gameng Festival in Solsona with the torch lighting in front of the municipal hall held in the early morning of Jan. 29, 2021. Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the municipal government celebrated the one-day festival via digital connectivity thru virtual as a “new normal” setting. With a very limited time in terms of preparation, the municipal government only conducted ecumenical service attended by the different church leaders, some Sangguniang Bayan members, punong barangays and selected DepEd officials to observe health protocols and the singing of Solsona Hymn “Adda Biag Iti Leleggakan”. Additional highlights of the fiesta included a video contest for “TikTok Competition”, “Promotional Video” contest and a photography contest. (Photo courtesy of LGU-Solsona)