Laoag mayor delivers first State of the City Address

By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY—Mayor James Bryan Q. Acid delivered his first State of the City Address (SOCA) on September 7, 2026 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, highlighting the administration’s accomplishments during its first year in office and outlining projects and programs planned for the coming years.

Dubbed “Makatkatwen ti Alisto a Serbisyo,” the address was delivered during a special session of the 13^th Sangguniang Panlungsod presided over by Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas. The council unanimously approved the suspension of its rules to accommodate the mayor’s SOCA.

Among the administration’s priorities during its first year were disaster preparedness, public safety, digitalization, social services, health, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure.

 

Public safety and disaster response

The city government strengthened its disaster and emergency response capabilities through the installation of additional AI-powered CCTV cameras at strategic entry and exit points, including intersections, business districts and school zones.

It also introduced crisis and disaster-response drills for schools and emergency teams, while crime records showed a 31.25 percent decrease from January to March 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, followed by a 16.67 percent decrease from April to June.

Authorities also arrested 18 wanted persons and responded to 12 vehicular traffic incidents during the first two quarters of the year.

In response to climate-related risks, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Department of Public Safety were merged to strengthen coordination. A centralized early warning system was established in coastal areas, including automatic alarms and an electronic public-address system, with a reported cost of PHP7 million.

A 24-hour operations center was also established in Barangay Cabungaan to monitor disasters and emergencies. Eight water-level monitoring systems donated by the Korean government through K-Water and DOST were installed along the Padsan River.

The city also acquired four rescue boats, two ambulances, two advanced life-support vehicles and a drone. Laoag now has seven ambulances, two advanced life-support vehicles and eight rescue boats.

 

Digital and frontline services

The Barangay Information Management and Monitoring System (BIMMS) was established to speed up verification and improve transparency in barangay services.

The City Civil Registrar’s Office also began implementing digitized civil registry documents, which the mayor described as the first of its kind in Region I.

Through the expanded “Alisto Serbisyo” program, the city brought medical, dental, health, business licensing, employment, engineering, agriculture, veterinary, environmental, civil registry, scholarship and social services directly to barangays.

During its first year, the program reached 16 barangays, provided 8,609 families with five kilograms of rice each, distributed 2,900 food packs and 205 assistive devices for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and provided medical and dental consultations to 2,680 individuals. It also helped employ 422 people.

 

Employment and social services

The city government began allocating funds through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), resulting in 120 hired-on-the-spot applicants from January to July 2026.

The LGU also established partnerships with 56 companies to expand employment opportunities for Laoagueños. These efforts earned Laoag several recognitions, including the Region One Kabuhayan Excellence Award, a special citation for the institutionalization of the Barangay Employment Services Office, and the Rookie PESO Manager of the Year award.

For social services, the city allocated PHP34.5 million in 2026, a 12.56 percent increase over the previous allocation.

Laoag was also rated “Highly Functional” in three categories in the regional assessment of Child-Friendly Local Governance, with all its Child Development Centers and workers successfully accredited.

The city distributed 2,500 school kits through its Child Development Centers, while three children in conflict with the law at the Bahay Pag-asa Rehabilitation Center completed the Alternative Learning System and passed their equivalency examinations.

Funding for the “Raniag Asenso Agtutubo Scholarship Program” was doubled from PHP6 million in 2025 to PHP12 million in 2026. The city also launched its first Laoag City Youth Parliament involving students, youth organizations and barangays.

Laoag likewise implemented the DSWD’s Project ARUGA for 100 children with disabilities.

Four senior citizens received PHP100,000 each under the centenarian incentive program, while about PHP6.8 million was distributed to 3,683 senior citizens aged 70 to 99 under the milestone award program.

Thirty couples also benefited from the Alisto I Do mass wedding and expo.

 

Assistance to transport and barangay workers

To help cushion the impact of rising fuel prices, the city allocated PHP11.409 million for 3,803 tricycle operators and drivers and PHP363,000 for 121 jeepney drivers.

The city also allocated PHP9.696 million in incentives for barangay tanods.

 

Tourism, culture and heritage

The mayor described Laoag as the gateway to Northern Luzon and said the city is positioning itself as a destination for tourism, hospitality, gastronomy and cultural experiences.

The kalesa community was revitalized through various programs, including the lighting of kalesas during the Pamulinawen Festival and a PHP152,000 subsidy for free tours for domestic and foreign tourists during Holy Week.

Laoag also won the 2026 Tan-Ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals championship.

During the city’s 61^st Charter Day celebration, new activities were introduced to promote Laoag’s cultural identity and heritage.

The city recorded 8,810 domestic and foreign visitors in December 2025, including 8,610 local visitors and balikbayans. Visitor arrivals reached their highest level during the February festival period, when the city recorded 9,694 visitors, including a 154.9 percent increase in foreign arrivals compared with January.

The city also established the Alisto Sarabo Pasalubong Center at Aurora Park to showcase local products.

 

Revenue and economic growth

The city reported a significant increase in business tax collections after the Business Permits and Licensing Office became a separate office.

From January to June 2025, business tax collections amounted to PHP168.396 million, compared with PHP195.566 million during the same period in 2026, an increase of about PHP27.17 million.

Collections from the city’s slaughterhouse also increased from PHP7.023 million in July 2024 to June 2025 to PHP7.205 million in July 2025 to June 2026, or an increase of 2.53 percent.

Total city revenues likewise increased from PHP1.260 billion in July 2024 to June 2025 to PHP1.440 billion during the corresponding period in 2025-2026.

 

Environment, agriculture and health

The mayor reported zero cases of illegal kaingin, illegal forest activities and illegal poaching, along with high survival rates for planted trees.

Laoag also recorded what the mayor described as the country’s first city achievement of more than 90 percent HPV vaccination coverage among girls aged 9 to 14, reaching 4,443 recipients.

The Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) likewise recorded higher collections, increasing from PHP84.328 million in July 2024-June 2025 to PHP106.557 million in July 2025-June 2026, a 20.86 percent increase.

The hospital received several recognitions, including the Green and Safe Health Facility award, Bannuar ti Salun-At Premier Achiever Award and the Gawad Kalusugan 2025 award from the Department of Health Ilocos Center for

Health Development.

The Laoag Public Market was also selected among the top three markets in the Philippines for the Department of Tourism Region I’s market tour program and was reported to have passed the necessary criteria for the Seal of Good Local Governance.

The city allocated an additional PHP10 million for agriculture, while around PHP9.5 million worth of agricultural inputs were distributed to 3,000 members of farmers’ and fisherfolk organizations and rural improvement clubs.

Laoag was also recognized as the 2026 Outstanding Local Government Unit-city level in the Gawad Saka Awards and received a PHP2 million cash prize.

 

Infrastructure and equipment

The administration installed solar lights along Rizal Street, Bacarra Road, Bonifacio Street and near the Laoag City General Hospital.

City Hall was also refurbished and reinforced to preserve its century-old structure.

The city distributed 80 e-bikes to the barangays and 41 bio-shredders and five pulverizers to schools worth about PHP3.1 million.

Additional solid waste management equipment, including a shredder with conveyor, biomass shredder, glass pulverizer and coconut decorticator, was acquired for the sanitary landfill.

The city also distributed 83 tents to tricycle operators and drivers and acquired equipment including a wheel backhoe with concrete breaker, bulldozer, declogger, ton-bomb, road grader and manlift truck.

Metal detectors were also distributed to public and private establishments for security purposes.

At the LCGH, rehabilitation and improvement works are ongoing at the Dialysis Center and Intensive Care Unit, while an autoclave machine is now available. The laboratory is also being upgraded from a secondary to a tertiary general clinical laboratory.

The hospital has also acquired an MRI machine, seven dialysis machines and an anesthesia machine.

 

Vision for the coming years

Looking ahead, the mayor identified the Laoag City Public Market, General Hospital and Phase II of the Slaughterhouse as among the major projects to be pursued after decades of waiting.

He also plans to introduce solar hybrid systems in major city facilities, particularly the market, slaughterhouse and hospital.

Among the proposed infrastructure projects are the Laoag-Lovelock Bridge at the old bridge in Barangay La Paz and improvements to Gabu Bridge overlooking the Padsan River. A city eco-park is also being developed.

The city also plans to expand solar street lighting along major roads, including the bypass bridge, airport road, J.P. Rizal Street, Gilbert Bridge, Nolasco Street, the Public Market, Llanes Street, Paco Roman Street, Laoag City Square and Ablan Avenue.

The mayor also highlighted Laoag’s hosting of the IRONMAN 70.3 on March 14, 2027, describing it as an opportunity to introduce Laoag to a global audience and generate greater tourism and hospitality opportunities.

Another initiative is the distribution of 80 multipurpose vehicles to barangays, equipped with items such as stretchers, oxygen, first-aid kits, blood-pressure apparatus, ladders and chainsaws.

Alcid credited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senator Imee Marcos, Representatives Sandro Marcos and Angelo Marcos Barba, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos and Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, as well as the 13^th Sangguniang Panlungsod, department heads and city employees, for supporting the administration’s programs.

He also thanked his family for providing strength and inspiration.

“I love Laoag City and I would like to ensure that what we do today will make her shine even brighter tomorrow,” the mayor said.

He ended his address by reaffirming his commitment to a government that listens, acts, delivers and cares for its constituents.

“I love Laoag! We are Laoag! Panawen tayo ita—nangnangruna tattan!” he said.