The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—It pays to be a volunteer. More than the special award conferred on December 16, 2019 to Brgy. Poblacion, Burgos volunteer workers at the South Wing Lobby of the House of Representatives at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City, barangay officials and other volunteers of the said Ilocos Norte barangay are elated for the unexpected recognition. Barangay Poblacion in Burgos, Ilocos Norte is one of the three national awardees for the special citation for local government unity category for its existing volunteer programs. The other LGUs include the municipality of La Trinidad in Benguet Province and Mandaluyong City. Fresh from visiting family members and friends in the United States, Brgy. Poblacion chairperson Joegie Jimenez said the small piece of recognition in the search for the outstanding volunteers in the country has further inspired them to continue what they have started at their barangay. “We are very mu

Here’s a 21 st  century classroom models now open to learners of the Burgos Agro Industrial School, the only secondary school in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and the Burgos Central Elementary School. These classrooms are equipped with high-tech gadgets fitted for digital natives. ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter     Burgos , Ilocos Norte—At least two state-of-the-art classrooms equipped with high-tech learning gadgets for digital learners are now in place in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, a fifth-class municipality which hosts the largest wind farm in Southeast Asia. Funded through the municipality’s Special Education Fund tax, a 1% levy on the assessed value of real properties, the Burgos government led by the town’s longest-serving mayor, Rodolfo Garcia decided to pour in the funds for its young learners. “Our children [are] our future. Our investment in education is our way of expressing our love to them so that they will grow and develop their maximum potent

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Fire volunteers from Brgy. Poblacion in this town will represent the province in the National Fire Olympics as they emerged as champion under the Barangay Category in the recently concluded Regional Fire Olympics in La Union on April 30, 2019. Composed of 14 participants including their coach and team leader, the Poblacion fire brigade also won in major awards such as Best in Bucket Relay and Best in Fire Extinguishment. Participated in by the four provinces of La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, it is the first time an Ilocos Norte barangay representative won the overall championship. The 6 th Regional Fire Olympics aims to build camaraderie among fire brigade and volunteers and to select representatives in the National Fire Olympics on March 2020. “We are so much grateful to God for this award. Thank you to all of you who gave us inspiration, support, trust and prayers,” said B

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Paper flowers, necklace and bracelets made of recycled papers are helping out a community of parolees and probationers earn a living by selling it to interested buyers. Priced at PHP50 to PHP150 depending on its size and design, these products are usually direct orders from customers, mostly composed of balikbayans, resort owners, and friends. To further enhance their skills, a model barangay on solid waste management, Brgy. Poblacion, in this town facilitated a hands-on training on waste diversion. “Not all wastes are trash, they can be cash[ed-in] if you add some love and wit to it,” said Brgy. Poblacion punong barangay Joegie Jimenez before some 150 parolees and probationers , who attended a skills training on waste diversion at the Burgos municipal auditorium. After a short program, the participants were taught how to make leis, bracelets, flowers, vases, trash cans and eco-bricks, among ot

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Several public elementary schools in this town have put up their own rainwater harvesting tanks courtesy of the Energy Development Corporation which operates the largest wind power farm in the country here. In time for the summer season, some schools in drought-stricken Ilocos Norte experience water scarcity hence the need to install low-cost water, sanitation and hygiene facilities particularly among school children. Using a simple technology, the water is filtered through a facility that removes sediments like iron, harmful bacteria and odor that may be detrimental to the consumer ’ s health. Recognizing this, EDC ’ s corporate social responsibility program head Deborah Melchor said they are happy to see pupils enjoying the rainwater harvesting system , providing them adequate source of water for toilet flushing and for washing their hands and feet while in school. “For 2019, we have already installed

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Host communities of the largest wind power farm in this town starting to make use of their garbage wisely with proper management and constant practice. Through the Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) corporate social responsibility program, some barangays here, particularly Brgys, Poblacion, Nagsurot and Saoit are actively engaged in the implementation of a 10-year integrated solid waste management plan which turns solid wastes into something beneficial to the community. In an interview last weekend, EDC’s CSR program head Deborah Melchor said an ecobricks workshop was conducted on February 22, 2019 here through the ECO brick Philippines which the Burgos wind farm has partnered to empower local communities on waste management. The hands-on training taught villagers how to make bricks out of recycled plastic wastes. Like in most parts of the country, Ms. Melchor said garbage problem has become a

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Local models in their creative attire sashayed along the runway before a crowd of spectators on the afternoon of June 22, 2018 in this town. Organized by the Ecological Solid Waste Management Committee in collaboration with the Barangay Council of Poblacion here the eco fashion show presented the creativity and resourcefulness of young talents in designing dresses made of recyclable materials. Instead of discarding them, the participants used their imagination to design artsy pieces without breaking the budget. As agreed upon before the event, all participants did not spend money on this project, so designers collected scraps of fabric and other materials. Initiated by Brgy. Poblacion chairperson Joegie Jimenez, he said the event is one of the highlights of the Philippine Environment Month celebration to instill public awareness about the impact of fashion on economic, social, and envir

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—In time for the April 22 celebration of Earth Day, officials and residents of Barangay Poblacion in this town launched a campaign to save Pusuak Spring, located about 300 meters from the town proper. “Pusuak" is an Ilokano word which means a natural water fountain. Over the years, the Pusuak Spring has served as the lifeline for its residents, supplying clean and potable water to local residents. Amidst prolonged drought caused by climate change in this northern part of Luzon, locals said the natural spring never runs out of water. During the summer season, a number of residents gather in the area to wash clothes, swim or have a family picnic. In fact, the spring is the main source of an on-going Department of Public Works and Highways water system project worth PHP14 million. With a swimming area measuring 25 meters by 12 meters, Brgy. Poblacion chairperson Joegie Jimenez said the

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte— Gamet , a pricey seasonal seaweed that grows on sharp and slippery coral stones in the coastline of this town continues to sustain the livelihood of residents here. From November to March, seaweed pickers brave the cold breeze and strong waves to collect gamet akin to a Japanese nori. Ilocano salad, soups and omelet dishes often feature gamet . For Burgos town residents, they consider this a “black gold” as it commands a high price in the market. A square foot size when dried costs an average of PHP500. Because of its nutritious content and light weight, mostly balikbayans and tourists buy this for take-home or pasalubong to friends and relatives. For 58-year-old Natividad Parica of Brgy. Bayog, she said gamet picking has already been a way of life for her family. Mrs. Parica recalled that at the age of 10, she already started joining elders to pick gamet to help earn a living. During the

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—A dragon fruit producer and processor in the province went on a technological mission in Bangkok, Thailand to share its best practices and learn from others. Bringing in the latest innovations from the REFMAD Farm’s dragon fruit processed products such as energy tea, coffee, powdered dragon fruit juice, wine, cookies and pastries among others, Edita Dacuycuy, owner of the largest dragon fruit plantation at Brgy. Paayas in Burgos, Ilocos Norte joined the Department of Trade and Industry’s processed fruits and nuts cluster to represent the Philippines in the said mission to Thailand on December 11-16, 2017. Ms. Dacuycuy said REFMAD Farms is grateful to join the techno mission as it gives micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) the opportunity to further improve their products particularly on the latest technologies and packaging trends as well as the best practices of other countries in fruit post-harvest handling and