The Ilocos Times

Laoag  mayor Michael Keon along with several members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod headed by Laoag vice mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas lead the distribution of the PHP12 million worth of agricultural inputs to all the 1,500 combined farmers and fisher folks associations in the city. (Doms Dela Cruz ) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —The city government here, by mayor Michael M. Keon, distributed   PHP12 million worth of agricultural inputs to farmers and fishermen in the city. According to Keon, he said he considers the agricultural sector as the most important sector in the city considering that it “provides food on the table”. This is the reason, he said he strongly supports the agricultural sector to ensure the constant food supply here in the city. The mayor believes that food will be one of the main issues in the future and he wanted Laoag to be a self-sufficient and the people to buy local and not imported food products. The mayor cong...

National policy changes, coupled with training, advocacy, and incentives, can empower women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (WMSMEs) in Metro Manila to adopt circular economy principles. This shift can unlock significant economic opportunities, driving sustainable growth and environmental progress. These were highlighted at a webinar conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in support of the celebration of National Women’s Month. The webinar featured the study “Assessing the Adoption of Circular Economy among Women-Led MSMEs in Metro Manila: A Pilot Study” by Foreign Service Institute of the Philippines-Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies former chief research officer Jovito Jose P. Katigbak and senior foreign affairs research specialist Jemimah Joanne C. Villaruel. Despite the increasing prominence of circular economy or CE as a strategy for achieving sustainable development, the study reveals a concerning knowledge gap am...

THEY often go together and we are very much prone to them. Thus, we have to be properly guarded, training ourselves to practice restraint and to be quick to rectify once we fall into them. We are reminded of this phenomenon in that gospel episode where the usual critics of Christ were observing closely whether Christ would cure a man with a withered hand. (cfr. Mk 6,6-11) They really did not know who Christ really was, and thus branded Christ as a violator of their man-made beliefs, laws and traditions. Rash judgment is when one assumes as true without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of another person. Detraction is the unjust violation of the good reputation of another person by revealing something true but confidential about him. While calumny or slander is when what is imputed about a person is not true. These moral anomalies usually come about when people indulge in what may be considered as a popular pastime, which is gossiping. To gossip is at least bad manners. If ...

Does anyone know what the term "food poor" means? As far as I know, a person is considered poor if he or she is part of a household whose income falls below the poverty line. And if he or she is considered poor, then he is most likely not to have enough money to buy food, meaning that he or she is most likely to experience hunger. Not just him or her, but his or her entire household. In reality, the government measures only the "poverty rate", and not the "hunger rate", because there is really no such thing as a "hunger rate". Perhaps the closest data that is closest data sets that are closest to the concept of a "hunger rate" are the results of a "perceived hunger" survey, a survey that does not really collect statistical data about who actually experience hunger, but instead, it measures who believe that they have experienced hunger within a given period. In a manner of speaking, I am familiar with quantitative measures...

LMB-IN Chapter President and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ryan John Pascua ex-officio member (top left) leads the Ilocos Norte delegation in the 2024 National Congress held at SMX Convention in Pasay City with the LGU San Nicolas delegates (bottom). Special guest Senator Imee Marcos (top right) discussed and personally presented her proposed Senate Bill 2629 extending the term of barangay and SK Officials from 3 years to 6 years. (Photo by Jenalyn Bumanglag) By Dominic B. dela Cruz.,  Staff Reporter Pasay City—A total of 492 members of the Liga Ng Mga Barangay (LMB) Ilocos Norte Chapter headed by Brgy.   Badio, Pinili punong barangay (PB)   and Sangguniang Panlalawigan   Ryan John Pascua attended the 2024 National Congress held in SMX Convention Center, Pasay City from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, 2024. The national congress with the theme “Liga ng Mga Barangay: Powering up in our service for others”, focused on crucial topics which aim to eradicate gender-based violence un...

Paolo Bediones By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—A member of the Marcos clan and a television personality has announced his intention to run for this town’s mayoralty post. Paolo Barba Bediones, a popular television host face the local media in this town saying he returned to San Nicolas to reactive his voter’s registration at the local Commission on Elections office as he has failed to vote the past two elections due to his work and to announce his plan to enter politics. The Ilocos Times learned that there was a time when the name “Bediones” was floated to run for office but it did not push through because, according to him he was not yet ready then. ‘ ’Kailangan po handa tayo hindi lamang po sa mental kundi ang buong pagkatao at kinailangan ko din ayusin at iyong mga puwedeng tapusin sa showbusiness dahil more than two decades din iyun at sa pagka broadcast journalist din. Nag aral din ako ng Masteral on Entrepreneurship at Asian Institu...

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc speaks during the “INvest: Ilocos Norte Investment Conference” at Ascott Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila. Taguig City —"Consider me your partner and your advocate, I will be here personally to make sure that your business is also our business, and we take care of our investors in Ilocos Norte. Make it happen in the Philippines, make it happen in Ilocos Norte,” remarked Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc as he delivered his welcome message at an investment conference hosted by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) on Aug. 27, 2024 Government officials, foreign ambassadors, and representa tives from private businesses participated in a one-day event titled “INvest: Ilocos Norte Investment Conference” at Ascott Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila. Organized by the Ilocos Norte Trade and Investment Center, the event featured experts in the field of investment promotions who shared experiences and valuable guidan...

NEW PATTERNS. An Abel exhibit is at the Laoag International Airport arrival area on Friday (Aug. 29, 2024). The use of these new patterns and designs for Abel Iloko is meant to attract a wider market, particularly among fashion designers and the younger generation to appreciate inabel products. ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—A homegrown start-up, Ilocandia Unliweave Patterns, is promoting new patterns and designs for the Ilokano handwoven cloth to attract more customers and designers, particularly the younger generation. In an exhibit at the Laoag International Airport arrival area recently, some of the intricate symmetrical patterns that were digitally generated based on a mathematical algorithm were showcased to stir curiosity. “The exhibit is held at the Laoag airport to promote these new patterns in a place where it is not exposed yet to expand its market reach,” said Bernard Guerrero, a cultural researcher, and consultant of the Bannuar Technology Business Inc...

From left: DOT Dir. Paulo Benito S. Tugbang, Department of Tourism; DICT Dir. Emmy Lou Delfin, DepEd Dir. Marilyn B. Siao; DICT Usec. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue; DTI Asec. Dominic Tolentino; Congressman Christopher De Venecia; DTI Acting Sec. Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque; Anti Red Tape Authority Director General Ernesto V. Perez; IPOPHL Director- General Rowel S. Barba; NEDA Usec. Rosemarie G. Edillon; Mr. Pablo Gabriel Malvar, PCIDC Private Sector Representative; DTI Usec. Rafaelita M. Aldaba; DTI Asec. Leonila T. Baluyut; DTI Dir. Lilian G. Salonga. Manila —Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) acting Secretary Ma. Christina A. Roque built anticipation for the nationwide Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM) celebration in September 2024. The trade chief made the announcement during a press conference, August 23. Themed “#WeAreACreativeNation,” this year’s PCIM highlights the essential role of creativity and innovation in shaping the Philippines’ socio-cultural and economic landsca...

Considering the number of island barangays in our country, I have no doubt in my mind that we should already introduce a system of sea ambulances all over the country, wherever these are needed. I am saying that it should be a "system", because these sea ambulances would be practically useless, not unless it will be supported by an emergency dispatching system, and an "army" of emergency medical technicians (EMTs). I will never subscribe to the argument that some LGUs do not have ambulances because they have no money to buy these. I think that is a rotten reasoning, and it is just proof to show that the LGU officials who say that do not have their priorities in order. I understand that the LGUs may have other priorities, but who can say that saving lives is not a priority? When I was a director at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), I was happy to be part of the board of directors that approved the request of LGUs for ambulance units. I was however ...

What is the difference between GDP and GNP? What economic indicator measures economic growth? What is below poverty line level relative to GDP and GNP? How would you determine if our economic well-being is above the poverty line? Can we discuss various economic terms that describe the economic life of the Filipino people? Are we satisfied with our economic managers in dealing with our poverty problems and corruption? What other alternative measures can we interject to correct our low economic life? Certainly! Let's break down questions one by one.   Difference between GDP and GNP GDP (Gross Domestic Product): Measures the total value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders over a specific time period. It focuses on location. GNP (Gross National Product): Measures the total value of goods and services produced by the residents of a country, regardless of where the production takes place. It includes income earned by residents from investments abr...

WE are reminded of this duty in the second reading of the Mass of the 23 rd   Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. It’s from the Letter of St. James (2,1-5) There, St. James talks about the discrimination one practices when he treats a rich man with a lot of favor and privilege while asking the poor man to sit by the footstool. Of course, to fulfill this duty is not easy, given our wounded human condition. But we can always do something about it. And the first thing to remember is that irrespective of our differences and conflicts, we are all brothers and sisters, all children of God. We are meant to love and care for one another. This does not mean that we have to treat everybody in the same way. That we are all equal in the eyes of God does not mean that we have to treat everyone in the same way. What is meant is that we should love everyone, but according to how one is. Like, the way you deal with an elderly person would be different from the way we deal with a youngster, or...

I think that so far, It is only the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that is successfully operating a purely online electronic commerce platform in the Philippines to "sell" a physical product in the form of paper documents. Right now, anyone can order birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates and certificates of no marriage records (CENOMAR) from the PSA, without the need for a personal appearance. Perhaps wanting to provide the next best thing, DFA, PNP and LTO are offering online applications, but they would still require personal appearances. Apparently, some Local Government Units (LGUs) are offering the purely online issuance of products in the form of paper documents, but it is difficult to find out which of them are doing so, and there appears to be no national standards that govern the conduct of these processes. Ideally, any citizen of any LGU should be able to "order" a physical product that could come in paper form, usually in t...

  Coconut week in Pagudpud . In celebration of the Coconut Week, the municipal government of Pagudpud, headed by mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito together with the CPA, PNP, the Army, different cooperatives, employees of the municipal government and farmers planted an initial 200 coconut seedlings of the total 18,000 seedlings at Brgy. Kaparispisan in this town.  (Photo courtesy of LGU-Pagudpud)

WASTE MANAGEMENT. Residents of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte trade in their wastes for household and school essentials in this undated photo. The waste diversion project has reduced the volume of discarded materials in sanitary landfills. (Photo courtesy of PBMES) By Leilanie Adriano San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—Residents of this town have shown overwhelming support for the local government's waste management efforts by participating in the “Palit-Basura” program that allows them to swap discarded materials for school and household essentials. Orlando Pascua, principal of the Pasion-Barangay Memorial Elementary School, said that the program encourages responsible waste management. Teachers, students and parents gather discarded materials such as plastic wrappers, shampoo sachets and other packaging materials and traded them at the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) for corresponding points every Tuesday and Thursday. Through the program, Pascua said educat...