The Ilocos Times

APART FROM the looming power crisis brought about by lack of foresight or sheer idiocy, another crisis is brewing in the horizon. In its fact sheet, UN Water stated: “With expected increases in population, by 2030, food demand is predicted to increase by 50% (70% by 2050) (Bruinsma, 2009), while energy demand from hydropower and other renewable energy resources will rise by 60% (WWAP, 2009). These issues are interconnected—increasing agricultural output, for example, will substantially increase both water and energy consumption, leading to increased competition for water between water-using sectors. “Water availability is expected to decrease in many regions. Yet future global agricultural water consumption alone is estimated to increase by ~19% by 2050, and will be even greater in the absence of any technological progress or policy intervention. “Water for irrigation and food production constitutes one of the greatest pressures on freshwater resources. Agriculture acc

“Who are willing to die for a tree?” So asked Fr. Robert Reyes during a governance forum on tree-cutting at the Northwestern University held March 12. Fr. Reyes, also known as the “Running Priest”, was in Laoag City for two days to try and prevent the cutting of hundreds of trees in Currimao, Ilocos Norte. Little did he know that another hundreds of trees are being lined up for the chainsaws in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. The priest did find out about the other trees in Burgos after a meeting with Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda R. Marcos. The tree-cutting attempts in Currimao and Burgos are supposedly for renewable energy projects. However, the question that begs to be asked is “How can we be environmentally conscious and environmentally friendly when the first thing we do for solar and wind power projects is to cut trees?” Renewable sources of energy are indeed the way to go if we are to go about saving our race from extinction. But doing this by way of forcing ot

I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it, or so said Voltaire, a French philosopher and writer who mainly espoused freedom of expression. These may have been the last words in the minds of brothers Said and Charif Kouachi when they decided to try and silence forever the editors, cartoonists and other staff members of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine, for publishing “offensive” caricatures about their religion. After the carnage, 12 people lay dead—and the brothers, who had since been acknowledged as religious extremists, went on other shooting sprees involving French security forces until both were finally gunned down on Jan. 9. It is sad to note that religions preach love, understanding and tolerance but extremists turn these teachings on their head and use them to commit atrocities, barbarism and murder on their fellow human beings. The attack on the French satirical magazine is not a simple terrorist act,

THE NEW Year usually turns the whole country into a sort of a war zone—explosions, smoke and general gunpowder odor takes center stage in a celebration welcoming the New Year. As such, injuries—and worse, fatalities—often become the result of a rowdy revelry. This New Year, the Dept. of Health reports a lower number of firecracker victims. As of Jan. 2, 2015, the figures are 593; 580 of which happened from Dec. 31, 2014 to Jan. 2, 2015. This, the DOH said, was almost 400 cases lower than last year’s revelry; last year the DOH recorded 986. But as DOH acting Sec. Jannette Garin earlier said, it would have been better if firecrackers have not been used in ushering the New Year. It is a source of amazement for foreigners why most Filipinos would risk life and limb by handling firecrackers and fireworks by themselves to welcome the New Year. In more developed countries, professionals are hired to stage firecracker and fireworks display. Not only would this ensure a beau

THE recent opening and subsequent full operation of the Burgos windmill farm firmly puts Ilocos Norte in the map as the foremost host of renewable sources of energy in the country. The Burgos windmill farm is the second of its kind in the province following the breakthrough of the Bangui windmill farm in the last decade. The national government’s thrust of refocusing from fossil fuel-powered energy sources to renewable ones is indeed a massive step towards environment protection and preservation. And with Ilocos Norte firmly in the forefront of these efforts, we may soon lessen our dependence on exported fuel for power. However, Ilocos Norte residents—especially those in towns hosting these wind turbines—are hoping for more benefits from these projects. In the years that the first windmill farm was established in the province, all it had been good for was a tourist attraction. The promised lower power rates never came to fruition; the steady supply of electricity from thi

HE MAY HAVE been small in physical stature but in everything else he was a giant. And now, we join the whole Filipino nation in grieving for the passing of a person who had become to personify public health services. For all his achievements and contribution to the country and to the Filipino people, Juan Martin Flavier was not only an innovator in terms of packaging and implementing health programs, he was more so a leader who had done all the things he would later ask of other health professionals. Before there was his doctor to the barrios program, Dr. Flavier had volunteered himself right after his graduation to become one. In essence, he found out for himself what our countrymen in the farthest parts of the country needed in terms of health service. All these experiences, he later transformed into various health programs. From Oplan Alis Disease that called for vaccination of babies and toddlers for various diseases; to Oplan Sagip Mata in response to the massive scour

57… The road was harrowing and fraught with hardship borne of the economic environment that was shifting towards the digital media, and a lack of foresight that resulted in mediocrity and incompetence. A complacency that had neither a reason, a backbone nor a foundation, The Ilocos Times soldiered on, running in circles like a headless chicken. It could have crumbled under its smug weight; but just as collapse became imminent, a new blood was transfused and the recovery from near-death to comatose to once again alive and kicking was not only challenging but more so, breathtaking. And now as it turns 57, The Ilocos Times continues to bring the news and other pertinent information to Ilocanos all over the world. And for this, we thank our loyal subscribers, our generous advertisers, our very vocal readers, and, above all, the Almighty for always showing us the way. For without all of you, we could have succumbed to oblivion. And as we take our first step towards our