The Ilocos Times

Dingras Mayor Jeofrey Saguid, Dingras Vice Mayor Erdio Valenzuela and several members of the Sangguniang Bayan lead the Floral/Grand Parade with all the participating barangays, NGOs, NGAs and schools during the celebration of this year's 21 st  Ani Festival 2024. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Another successful fiesta celebration was once again witnessed in the municipality of Dingras, the 21 st Ani Festival 2014 with a multitude of programs and activities with the  theme “Nabuslon Nga Ani, Sarikedked Dagiti Umili’’. The 11-day fiesta celebration that ran from March 14 to 24, 2024 kicked off with Bless Dingras; Opening of the Agro Industrial, Commercial and Trade Fair; and a Worship Celebration. On March 16-18, 2024, the Elementary and Secondary Day was staged wherein a Floral parade was conducted in the morning followed by the coronation of their respective King and Queens for 2024 while the coronation of the Ms. NG...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) City of Batac —As the Christmas season goes into high gear the New Year beckons, four local government units in the province said they will have a reduction of their annual budgets in 2023 compared to this year. Batac Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer Atty. Windell D. Chua said this city will have a decrease of PHP70 million for next year compared to the current budget. From the PHP903,677,575.48 2020 annual budget, the Batac council only approved PHP833,473,836.08 for the 2023   annual budget. Among the major reasons for the decrease, Chua said, was the National Tax Allocation (NTA) share reduction wherein the city government here had PHP 107 million less, or 14.46%, from their last year’s share. Chua promised though that services offered by the city government,   particularly in the agricultural sector, health, social welfare and infrastructure projects will not be affected, adding only the budget for ...

NEWLY  elected League of Mayors of the Philippines (LMP) Vice President for Luzon Dingras Mayor Joefrey Saguid (left) and LMP newly elected national president La Paz, Abra Mayor JB Bernos (right) pose with His Excellency President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during their oath taking at Malacañang Palace. (Photo courtesy by LGU Dingras) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Following closely to the selection of Laoag City councilor Handy T. Lao as national interim president of the Philippine Councilors League, another Ilocos Norte elected official, Dingras Mayor Joefrey Saguid, is elected as the League of Mayors of the Philippines (LMP) vice president for Luzon. “It’s an honor to be one of the vice presidents in the LMP national level representing Luzon because it was unexpected that I will be given the chance to be elected, more so in the national level,” Saguid said.    He thanked the Almighty for another position he now holds as he also acknowl...

Dingras Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Engr. Erdio Valenzuela (seated left) and   SB member Charles Tadena (standing right) discuss the purchase of additional CCTV cameras for the municipality of Dingras while other SB members listen in the discussion. Doms Dela Cruz   By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter) Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Members of the Sangguniang Bayan here approved an urgent resolution authorizing Dingras Mayor Geoffrey Saguid to negotiate with various lot owners for the purchase of lots for the expansion of the public cemetery at Brgy. Bungcag, this town. Dingras Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Engr. Erdio Valenzuela announced that the measure was unanimously approved by all members present. SB member Joey Apostol authored the resolution but it was later manifested that it be sponsored by the committee of the whole. Valenzuela admitted that this has been one of the problems during his time as mayor in Dingras having lack of ...

Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Bureau of Fire Protection officials in this town, led by SFO3 Marlou D. Colobong, gave a more meaningful Christmas to the orphans of Shekinah Home in this town. The Dingras firefighters exchanged their firefighting equipment for a fund-raising project to give the Shekinah Home orphans a brighter Yuletide season. Aside from treating them to sumptuous meals, BFP-Dingras personnel also gave them Christmas gifts with the BFP mascot “Berong Bumbero” leading the gift-giving ceremony at the orphanage’s compound in Brgy. Cali, this town. During the event, Mr. Colobong said, “Christmas should be for the children and as such, we at BFP-Dingras, are doing what we can to give these orphans a brighter Christmas”. Meanwhile, BFP-Dingras also implemented the “Oplan Paalala-Iwas Paputok” in this town. Firefighters distributed flyers to residences and local officials through the “Ugnayan sa Barangay” project. They also posted BFP advocacy tarpaulins...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Batac City —After ordering former Dingras Mayor Marynette Gamboa’s arrest, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17 Presiding Judge Felix C. Salvador has also handed down another order for the immediate release of Mrs. Gamboa on July 23, 2019. The release order stemmed from a pending appeal at the Office of the President. The former Dingras mayor appealed the Ilocos Norte provincial prosecutor’s finding of probable cause against her as a co-conspirator in the killing of the late Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative board president Lorenzo Ruiz on September 4, 2009. Judge Salvador immediately ordered the former mayor’s release on July 23, 2019 pending the appeal. The order further states that proceedings against the accused in this case should be suspended until her appeal in the said office is finally resolved with finality. With the new court order, the warrant of arrest issued against the former mayor was effectively set asi...

Dingras Mayor Erdio Valenzuela and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Saguid—set to swap positions on June 30,2019—lead the blessing and inauguration of their town’s Double "A" type slaughterhouse located at Brgy. Cali. The said project is worth PHP7.5 million with the municipal government providing the backfilling, fencing, water system and the lot. The municipal government has since complied with all the requirements the National Meat Inspection Council set forth in their earlier visited the project. This said project is ready for its full operation after the local government installed the required electric power. The only other Double “A” slaughterhouse in the Ilocos Region is in Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur. (Doms dela Cruz)

Under the leadership of Area Head Jeffrey C. Querubin, PNB Northern Luzon Area 2 conducted school cleanup and beautification activities in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra. The Northern Luzon Area 2 of Philippine National Bank (PNB NOL 2) showed its support to the Brigada Eskwela 2019 of the Department of Education which kicked off on May 20, 2019 with the theme: “Matatag na Bayan Para sa Maunlad na Paaralan”. Under the leadership of Area Head Jeffrey C. Querubin, PNB NOL 2 conducted school cleanup and beautification activities in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra. The different PNB branches under NOL 2 also donated chairs, appliances, and construction materials to the schools. In the spirit of Bayanihan, PNB Northern Luzon Area 2 made a commitment to fully support the annual Brigada Eskwela of the Department of Education. The PNB NOL 2 Area Office, PNB Narvacan, PNB Vigan Florentino and PNB Vigan Quezon Avenue donated 200 pieces of hollow blocks, ...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—At least 10 Japanese officials from the garlic capital of Takko in Aomori Prefecture, Japan joined farm festivities at Brgy. Madamba in Dingras, Ilocos Norte as one of the highlights of the month-long celebration of the state-run Mariano Marcos State University’s (MMSU) 41 st founding anniversary. Attended by hundreds of multi-sectoral stakeholders from public, private and non-government entities, the “Parambak Diay Talon”, an Ilokano term which means farm festivities is meant to celebrate good harvest and offer thanksgiving for all the blessings MMSU have reaped throughout the year. “In Asia, festivities have become part of our culture. We celebrate for so many occasions and these farm festivities express our heartfelt gratitude for all our partners who helped us achieved our goals,” said Dr. Shirley Agrupis, president of the premiere university in northern Philippines. With invited guests from J...

  DINGRAS  Mayor Erdio Valenzuela poses with representatives from the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) pose during the dry run operation of the first ever municipal government-owned Double A Type Slaughterhouse in Ilocos Norte . (Dingras LGU photo) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here has established a new AA type slaughterhouse. Dingras Mayor Erdio Valenzuela announced this after representatives from the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) witnessed the conduct of dry run of said high-tech slaughterhouse recently. Mr. Valenzuela said that the municipal government has complied with all the requirements set forth by the NMIC in the operation of this latest type of slaughterhouse. However, Mr. Valenzuela admitted that the required electricity power for the said slaughterhouse has not been completely installed yet because of the high voltage needed due to its three phases in butch...

By Bernard Ver Contributor Dingras , Ilocos Norte--The League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Ilocos Norte President and Dingras Mayor Erdio Valenzuela his political line-up is ready for next year’s elections. Mr. Valenzuela in an interview said that they’ve submitted their list of candidates for the incoming election to Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, who he said is as their political ally and head of their political party. The list contains the name of the incumbent mayor, vice-mayor and eight town councilors. However, Mr. Valenzuela refused to divulge the names on his list. He said they might change the arrangement of candidates. The current Dingras mayor and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Saguid are both political allies of Ms. Marcos. The Commission on Elections set the filing of candidacy on October 11 and 12, and October 15-17, 2018, from 8 am to 5 pm.

Dingras mayor Erdio Valenzuela receive a series of disaster response and preparedness equipment from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for the town’s five barangays here namely: Elizabeth, Barong, San Marcelino, Baresbes and Foz. The project is in partnership with and funded by the BMZ Phase 2 Community and School Based DRRM which aims to empower communities and government institutions to replicate and consolidate inclusive community-based disaster risk reduction. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Officials of this town has placed the “rice granary of Ilocos Norte” under a state of calamity due to the increase of Dengue cases here. Dingras Mayor Erdio Valenzuela confirmed this as he reported the municipality has recorded 66 suspected cases of dengue since the onset of the rainy season here. A child from the flood-prone village of San Marcelino died recently here due to dengue. “It was already too late when they brought the child to the hospital,” the mayor added. At present, he said they are carrying out fumigation activities in Dingras to contain the spread of the disease. “We have mobilized our barangay officials and barangay health workers to spearhead the cleanliness drive. Our municipal health unit is also on top of the situation to arrest this problem,” said Mr. Valenzuela. In putting this town as under a state of calamity, the mayor assured they have enough funds to contain the proble...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—The local government here continues to improve Madongan Dam as a tourist attraction. This summer, however, local officials admit that the summer season has caused a shortage of water in the dam. Despite this, Dingras mayor Erdio Valenzuela said picnickers continue to flock to the dam as it maintained its “natural beauty with its water curtain”. “So far adda met payla danum na ta adu met pay dagitay map-mapmapan a turista though we admit a talaga nga adda pinagkisang iti danumen gagangay ta dagitoy a gundaway ket nakittid ti ayos iti karayanen ”, the mayor said. Mr. Valenzuela said they have coordinated with the police and the Brgy. San Marcelino council to keep the area safe, especially this summer. The Ilocos Norte provincial government has provided tourist ambassadors and aids, as well as first aid nurses last year. Brgy. San Marcelino operates and maintains the dam located at Sitio Nalasin...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—As the province of Ilocos Norte celebrated its 200 th founding anniversary on February 2, 2018, farmers in Dingras town also rejoiced with the turn-over of multi-million rice processing complex. Representatives of the Department of Agriculture led by regional executive director Lucrecio Alviar and Dingras officials led the ribbon cutting ceremony of the modern rice processing center here. Operated by the Sarusar Federated Irrigators Association, they obtained the PHP4.5 million rice processing center in this town through a grant from the DA with a counterpart fund from the local government unit and the local farmers association. Once the rice granary of Ilocos Norte before it Vintar town claimed the title as top rice producer in the province, Dingras sets its eyes on regaining its title by improving its rice production efficiency in the coming years. “This is a one step forward for the province to sus...