The Ilocos Times

The Philippines is becoming increasingly vulnerable to global fuel supply disruptions as crude oil imports become increasingly concentrated in the Middle East , while its power grid continues to face tightening reserves, according to a study presented by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). The findings come as the government moves to strengthen national energy security, including plans to establish a Strategic Petroleum Reserve . Presenting the findings of “How Energy Secure Is the Philippines?” PIDS senior research fellow Adoracion Navarro said the Philippines remains energy insecure despite improvements in energy efficiency. “The short answer to how energy secure is the Philippines—we are insecure,” Navarro said. The study assessed the country’s energy security across six dimensions that go beyond traditional measures: sufficiency, reliability, resilience, affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. It found that fossil fuels still accounted for ...

One of the simplest, cheapest, and most practical solutions to flooding is something we often overlook: retention ponds . These man-made basins hold water permanently and manage stormwater before it wreaks havoc in our communities. And unlike mega- infrastructure projects that take years and billions of pesos, retention ponds are so easy to build that even our barangays can do them. In other words: Why aren’t we building more of them? A retention pond slows down stormwater, traps sediments, improves water quality, and prevents erosion downstream. It functions like a community-level buffer against the increasing intensity of rainfall we experience due to climate change . Unlike detention ponds —which dry out between storms—retention ponds always contain water. They look like real ponds, with vegetation around them, attracting fish, birds, and other wildlife. But what makes retention ponds truly compelling is how multi-purpose they can be. With proper filtration, they can becom...

MODERN society often associates addiction with alcohol or illegal drugs. Yet an increasing number of psychologists, pastoral counselors, and spiritual writers recognize another destructive addiction that has spread quietly through the internet and digital media: pornography. Available at the touch of a screen and often consumed in secrecy, pornography has become what many describe as the "new drug." Its effects reach far beyond the individual, damaging marriages, families, friendships, and one's relationship with God. From a Catholic perspective, pornography is not merely a moral failing but a distortion of God's beautiful plan for human love. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that pornography "does grave injury to the dignity of its participants" because it reduces persons to objects of pleasure instead of recognizing them as children of God created in His image (CCC 2354). Rather than fostering authentic love , pornography trains the mind ...

  Laoag Mayor James Bryan Alcid meets with barangays tanods and barangay officials headed by Laoag ABC President Rbee Ablan, Schools Division Superintendent Joan Corpuz, chief of police Lt. Col. Ryan Retotar and CDRRM officer Dr. Melvin Manuel for a stricter implementation of peace and order both in public and private schools in the city to avoid crimes and other illegal activities that might occur. ( Photo by Mr. Larry Pedralvez) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter Laoag City —To ensure public safety and protect residents from crime, the city government of Laoag has asked Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police, to deploy 106 additional police personnel to meet the ideal 1:500 police-to-population ratio and bolster security across 80 barangays and 64 schools. Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas said Laoag covers 12,747.35 hectares and comprises 80 barangays, 40 public schools and 24 private schools, all of which require ade...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz.  Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved PHP20.2 million for the Laoag City Sports Development and Tourism Promotions Project to host an international triathlon aimed at boosting employment, the local economy and tourism. The council authorized Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid to enter into a multi-year contract with a qualified supplier/consultant for the project. Laoag Councilor Donald Nicolas, chairperson of the appropriations committee, said Republic Act No. 12009 (the New Government Procurement Act) allows multi-year contracts subject to Multi-Year Contractual Authority (MYCA) and Department of Budget and Management conditions. The MYCA’s total project cost will be the basis for the Approved Budget for the Contract. The city plans to fund the project over two years. It allocated PHP6 million through Supplemental Budget Ordinance No. 13-013-2026 (Series of 2026) and will include the remaining PHP14.2 million in the 2027 ann...

  Bureau of Learning Resources (BLR)Director IV Atty. Suzette T. Ganaban-Medina leads the inauguration and blessing of the newly established Schools’ Division of Library Hub with Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas , several members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and DepEd staff. More than just a book-filled building, the Library Hub shows SDOLC ’s dedication in giving learners and teachers better access to a wide-array of learning resources. It's meant to be a facility for reading, research, and life-long learning serving both present and future generations of learners. The blessing and inauguration ceremony marks the culmination of efforts from various partners and stakeholders who shared a common vision of creating a learning environment where curiosity can flourish and opportunities for growth are within reach thru the leadership of Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid, by providing the parcel of land through usufruct agreement. (Photos by Larry Pedralvez )

Bangui Mayor Denton Lawrence Garvida delivers his 365 days State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) before the municipal council, municipal hall employees, barangay officials and the people of Bangui. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter Bangui , Ilocos Norte—Mayor Denton Lawrence G. Garvida delivers his first State of the Municipality Address (SOMA), “A Year of Service. A Vision for the Future,” at the Bangui People’s Center during the Sangguniang Bayan ’s second Special Session on June 30, 2026, marking his 365 days as local chief executive. Garvida reviews the municipality’s accomplishments, outlines ongoing projects and sets priorities for 2026–2027, stressing that local governance is a shared task among the municipal, provincial and national governments, barangays, civil society, the private sector and residents. Administrative governance and partnerships drive many projects. The LGU partnered with Mariano Marcos State University on tilapia grow‑out sit...

  Laoag City —Demonstrating its continued dedication to providing equitable and convenient identification services, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Ilocos Norte Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) intensified its national ID (NID) registration operations, recording a total of 1,805 registrants across the province in May 2026. This accomplishment was achieved through the enhanced implementation of field registration activities, particularly through mobile registration efforts conducted in collaboration with various local government units (LGUs), especially in the cities of Laoag and Batac. These outreach initiatives enabled the PSO to bring NID services closer to residents, making registration more accessible to individuals who encounter difficulties traveling to Fixed Registration Centers (FRCs) because of geographical, physical, or economic barriers. As part of the province’s operational strategy, considerable manpower resources were allocated to LGU-led mobile reg...

Violence experienced at home and exclusion encountered in school can have lasting consequences on Filipino adolescents’ education, well-being, and future opportunities, according to studies presented during the second session of the forum “Ugnayan: The Journey of Filipino Adolescents Across Past, Present, and Future”. Organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support from the Australian Government, the session examined how childhood and adolescent experiences shape long-term development outcomes. Drawing from the Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child (LCSFC), PIDS researchers found that children exposed to parental violence were significantly less likely to stay in school, while adolescents with diverse sexual orientations faced higher risks of domestic violence and bullying. The LCSFC, which follows about 5,000 Filipino children from age 10 in 2016 until they reach young adulthood in 2030,...

All ideas in this column come from Dr. Clarita Carlos. I am merely echoing them because I fully agree with her. After I wrote about the job mismatch problem, my former professor at UP—Dr. Clarita R. Carlos—sent me what I can only describe as a clinical, no-nonsense diagnosis of our education crisis. As always, she went straight to the point: skills mismatch is only a symptom. The disease lies much deeper. And because I believe her analysis deserves wider public attention, I am putting her commentary front and center here. This column is merely my humble attempt to amplify her voice.     A system gone awry Professor Carlos begins with a stinging indictment: The mismatch problem is the result of an entire educational system gone awry—from preschool to postgraduate and onward. In her words, we have allowed an entire lifetime of learning to rest on a shaky foundation. Our reforms have been piecemeal — “a patchwork of this and that” — with no real philosophy of le...

THAT part of the Gospel about the ruler whose daughter had died and the woman suffering from a long illness (Mt. 9:18–26) offers us a powerful lesson on faith, hope, and complete trust in Christ. Though their situations were different, both individuals shared one thing in common: they turned to Christ when all human solutions had failed. Their confidence in Him transformed their desperation into deliverance, something that we should learn to do also. The ruler publicly pleaded with Jesus to restore his daughter to life, despite the seemingly impossible situation. The woman, on the other hand, quietly approached Him through the crowd, convinced that simply touching His garment would bring healing. Both acted with unwavering faith, and both received the miracle they sought. Their example reminds us that whenever we encounter trials beyond our strength, our first response should be to seek Christ. Rather than allowing ourselves to be consumed by sadness, self-pity, or discouragemen...

By Carlos V. Cornejo Growth in the intellect is achieved through reading books, studying for a course, attending seminars, etc.   Emotional growth follows our intellectual growth.   Emotion is an internal bodily reaction we would have as a consequence with whatever we perceive in our minds.   If I perceive you as a friend, I will feel comfortable being with you.   Emotionally I am glad to see you.    However, if I perceive you as an enemy, my physical reaction will be one of fight or flight.   My muscles will grow tense and my heartbeat will accelerate.   Perhaps, I feel afraid of you and don’t want to be in your presence.   In short, whatever dominates our thoughts would likewise be the prevailing emotions.   If we think of good thoughts, good feelings will follow.   If we think of bad thoughts, like imagining ourselves having failed, bad feelings would follow.   That’s why many self-help books would recommend to control ...