The Ilocos Times

(From left) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 6 Regional Director and Lead Convenor for Fisheries Management Area 11 Remia Aparri, Acting USAID Environment Office Director Paul Seong, USAID Fish Right Program Chief of Party Nygiel Armada, RMN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Erika Sanchez, and RMN Chairman and President Eric Canoy formally launch the USAID-RMN partnership on marine conservation. Manila —The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Foundation formalized a media partnership to promote marine conservation in the Philippines.   The partnership will target coastal communities that rely on radio as a source of information and entertainment in the Visayan region, the country’s seafood capital and home to more than 140,000 small-scale fishers.   USAID, through its Fish Right project, and RMN, will produce and distribute messages on biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisher...

EDC-Burgos Wind Power Corporation together with its employees celebrated BINHI Day and environment month by planting critically endangered native trees at the Nagsurot Tree Park in EBWPC Wind Farm.  Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Even a company as “green” as the country’s biggest wind power facility can still become “greener”.   The EDC-Burgos Wind Power Corporation (EBWPC) proved this as its employees celebrated BINHI Day and environment month in June through various activities. BINHI is EDC’s greening legacy program that focuses on the rescue of 96 threatened Philippine native trees.    A total of 88 critically endangered native trees were planted, adding to the 51 seedlings that were planted last year in Nagsurot Tree Park at the EBWPC Wind Farm in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. This environmental stewardship project has been supported by EBWPC employees who took care of the trees that they planted last year. In addition, the company launched the “Basura Excha...

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 LAOAG CITY —The Lopez-led Energy Development Corporation (EDC) based in Burgos, Ilocos Norte donated at least 15 brand new units of laptop computer to several schools in the province hardly hit typhoon Mangkhut [Ompong]. Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Mariano “Nonong” V. Marcos II, who received the donation from the wind power company said it is a good start for several schools in the province with damaged computers. Over a hundred students at the Bingao National High School are attending their classes at the covered court while there is an on-going repair at the newly-constructed Senior High School Building 2. Marilou Pasalo, BNHS officer-in-charge reported, that the second floor of the building which was just constructed last year was affected with 42 computer units destroyed at the height of typhoon Mangkhut when strong winds blew away its roofing and smashed its glass windows. Earlier, provincial officials here led by G...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Batac CITY—To keep abreast with the educational changes and student needs, a business processing outsourcing (BPO) company at least 10 advanced computer units to learners of the Baay-Bungon National High School in this city on August 22, 2018. The Batac public school is the latest beneficiary of the continuing distribution of computers to schools in the province courtesy of Alorica Teleservices Inc., a BPO company based in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. The computer distribution program is in support of Ilocos Norte’s full-swing implementation of its provincewide information and communication technology project, enabling more learners to have ultimate access to various learning materials available in the world wide web. Of the four provinces in Region 1, Ilocos Norte boasts of its high literate rate of 98.2 based on the latest statistical record of the Department of Education. Public schools in the province are now starting to ...