The Ilocos Times

By Joni C. Luis ( Correspondent) Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—"Full, solid, 100 percent.” That is how Pagudpud Vice Mayor Matilde “Maja” H. Sales described her support for Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, who is running for the congressional seat of Ilocos Norte’s first district. Sales, who is aiming a return as Pagudpud mayor, said she believes that Marcos, with his educational background and exposure in Congress, is “ripe and ready” to represent the district. She added that having him as congressman will be very beneficial for the district, especially if his father, presidential frontliner Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., becomes the nation’s leader. “ Alam niyo naman, manipud idi , no matter what and against all odds, hindi talaga kami umaalis sa Marcos, kaya ikarigatanmi a tulungan isuna ,” said Sales who intimated that her association with the younger Marcos goes way back. Sandro himself has shared in previous media interviews that among his fondest memories grow

Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano in an interview with the members of the media. ( Photo by Dulce Valenzuela) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte—" Awan kinagpayso na dayta nga agwarwaras ta iti kinapudno na ket kayat paylaeng dagiti appo nga kakailiak iti Marcos nga itul-tuloy ko iti pinagserbik kadakuada babaen ngata dagiti nagkaadu a makitkita da a pinag progreso ti ili mi ”. This was Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano clarification on rumors that he will no longer run for re-election in next year’s elections as he will be going back to the United States for his family. The Ilocos Times learned that there are already some politicians eyeing the said mayoralty post, including his opponents in 2019 election and one of his present councilor. The mayor likewise said that his relationship with Marcos Vice Mayor Hilario Lorenzo is “okay in terms of work”. “ Dayta iti the big question mark no kayat nak to pay a kadwa wennu saanen ngem possible met a kadwa

  Unveiling of the Malasakit Center By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—A one-stop shop “Malasakit Center” for patients in need of medical and financial assistance is now open at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital, or more popularly known as the provincial hospital, to ensure that government health services should be accessible for all Filipinos. With an initial fund of PHP5 million, with the check personally turned over to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong" Go and his party who arrived in the city for the launching of the country’s 101 st “Malasakit Center”. “ Ang requirement lang po dito sa ‘Malasakit Center’ ay basta Pilipino ka. Walang pinipili ang center na ito ,” Go remarked. “ Kami po ay nandito upang makapagbigay ng kaunting tulong sa mga pasiente. At kung may pasiente kayo na hindi kayang operahan sa inyong hospital , willing kaming tumulong sa Maynila pati pamasahe ay sasagut

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The city’s Commission on Election (Comelec) office is now open for voter’s registration starting on September 1, 2020 onwards. The elections office is open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. City elections officer Atty. Julius Balbas announced that the filing of applications for registration start on Tuesdays thru Saturdays without satellite voter’s registration. He added that applicants must be 18 years old on or before May 2022 election period. He also stated that the elections office will also accept transfer and corrections of records application. Transferees should bring with them their identification cards or certification from their present barangay where they are staying; while new applicants should bring with them birth certificates and valid IDs. The elections officer also advised applicants to bring with them their application form, which they can download at www.comelec.gov.ph ; applicants, however should be fill out t

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The city’s Commission on Elections office registered 3,350 new voters for the registration period of August 1, 2019 to September 31, 2019. Of the 3,350 new registrants, 2,664 are regular voters aged 18 and above, and included those who transferred from other locales, corrected voter’s information and reactivated voters. The remaining 686 new voters are those from 15-17 years old, or Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voters. Laoag elections officer Atty. Julius Balbas said there was a good turn out during the two-month registration period. With this development, total Laoag City voters are now 78,500. Meanwhile, Mr. Balbas stressed that they have not received any communication from the Comelec central office whether there is a postponement of the barangay and SK elections. The local elections office however, is set to approve the new registrants on October 16, 2019 to formalize their registration.

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —A councilor from this city and two from Batac City are set to square off for the Philippine Councilors League (PCL)-Ilocos Norte Chapter presidency. Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon officially announced Laoag councilor Handy T. Lao as his candidate in the PCL-Ilocos Norte chapter elections in September. Mr. Keon strongly believes that Mr. Lao deserves the position based on his experiences in the city council. Mr. Lao, meanwhile said he was surprised and did not expect Mr. Keon’s announcement. He thanked the Laoag mayor though for his support and promised to do his best in case he gets the chance to lead the local PCL chapter He added that leading the PCL in the province is one of his dreams as it would widen his horizon for he would then be serving the entire province and not just this city. Mr. Lao also mentioned that should he win, he will further promote tourism, agriculture and sports as his flagship prog

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City— With the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set on May 11, 2020, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here is urging all first-time voters in the city to register at the local Commission on Elections office. The council passed a resolution in pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10549 which declared the registration period from August 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019. For the barangay elections, new voters should be at least eighteen (18) years old and have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they will vote or at least six months of the preceding year.   On the other hand, any Filipino Citizen who is not yet a registered voter but will be turning 15 years old on May 11, 2019 and residing in the Barangay for at least six months on or before the election can now register for the purpose of SK elections. SK voters should be at least 15 years old on the date of the elections until

Batac City’s officials pose right after their oath taking ceremony held at ICC in Batac on June 26, 2019 administered by RTC Batac Branch 18 Felix Salvador.  They are (from left) Batac councilors Giancarlo Angelo Crisostomo, Dr. Ramon Gaoat, Macarthur Aguinaldo, Kichel Jomarie Pungtilan, Vice Mayor Atty. Windell Chua, Mayor Albert D. Chua, councilors Violeta Nalupta, Bernardo Marders, Jaime Tanagon Sr. Christopher Lagmay and Lucky Rene Bunye. (Doms dela Cruz) “Pabilgen Ni Bataqueno Para Iti Sapasap a Progreso”. Reelected Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua said this in his inaugural address at the Imelda Cultural Center (ICC) on June 26, 2019 right after his oath of office administered by RTC Batac Branch 18 Judge Felix Salvador. Mr. Chua said in his second term as mayor, he identified some of his priority projects and programs lined-up including the expansion of the city’s scholarship program; improvement of roads; peace and order, health and free fertilizers and hybrid se

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Batac City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here unanimously approved a resolution commending all previous members who either termed out or lost in the recent midterm elections. The council will give certificate of commendations to their previous members, led by former Batac Vice Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta. Batac councilor Bismark Angelo A. Quidang, who sponsored the measure, said the previous members deserve the commendation. “Ta mamati-ak a nagkaadu iti naitulong da iti siyudad iti Batac ket kasapulan met nga ipakita mi iti pinagyaman mi kadakwada aglalo ket daytoy composition mi ita ket nagkaadu iti kabbaro including dagitay nagsubli a padak ,” Mr. Quidang said. Of the current council members, only councilors Jaime Tanagon, Bernardo Marders and Macarthur Aguinaldo were reelected. Other members of the previous council either served out their three-term limit or lost in the midterm elections. The new council members are

NUEVA  Era Mayor Atty. Aldrin Garvida, Vice Mayor Caroline Arzadon and members of the Sanggunian Bayan take their oath of office before Brgy. Poblacion chairperson Lucresia G. Corpuz on July 3 at the Nueva Era People’s Center. The same officials also took their oaths of office in all of the town’s 11 barangays. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The first of its kind. Nueva Era elected officials led by Mayor Atty. Aldrin Garvida and Vice Mayor Caroline Arzadon-Garvida along with the members of the Sanggunian Bayan took their oaths of office in all of this town’s 11 barangays. The oathtaking took three days—from July 1 to 3, 2019—with the barangays’ respective chairpersons administering the oath. The final oathtaking took place at Brgy. Poblacion, here on July 3, 2019. Mr. Garvida explained that their group decided on the move as a way of thanking their townmates for their trust and for all of them to personally wit

Incoming Mayor Edward T. Quilala of Currimao (3rd from left) takes his oath of office before Ilocos Norte RTC Executive Judge Francisco R.D. Quilala (left). Looking on are their children and other relatives. ( Reynaldo E. Andres) By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor Currimao , Ilocos Norte—This coastal town in southern Ilocos Norte voted for change in the recent May elections; in the process defeating a dynasty that began 31 years ago. New Currimao Mayor Edward “Boyet” T. Quilala took his oath on June 28, 2019 before Ilocos Norte Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Francisco R.D. Quilala, his relative. In his inaugural address, Mr. Quilala said he wants to institute reforms and progress in Currimao because it is “my humble dream and part of my vision. I’ll try my best to fulfill this within three years.” In asking the support and sympathy of the people, Mr. Quilala quoted part of one of the speeches of President Rodrigo Duterte who said that “no leader,

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Five members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan leave the halls of the Provincial Capitol session hall after the end of their terms on June 30, 2019. Led by its presiding officer, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M.   Barba along with three-term board members Rogelio Balbag, Ramon Gaoat, Matthew Joseph Manotoc and Vicentito Lazo turned a bit emotional as they bid farewell to each other during the last session of the 10 th Sangguniang Panlalawigan on June 24, 2019 afternoon. During the final conduct of the 127 th regular session, Mr. Barba expressed his gratitude to his colleagues, staff and supporters as he spent almost two decades of his life serving the province of Ilocos Norte as board member from 2001 to 2010 and then as vice governor from 2010 to 2019. The veteran politician looks forward to representing the second district of Ilocos Norte in Congress as he will assume his new office at the House of Represent

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Paoay, Ilocos Norte —The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 1 served on the morning of July 4. 2019 the dismissal order against newly elected Paoay Mayor Jessie Galano. Mr. Galano was not in his office when Atty. Patrick Estillore, DILG Region I regional legal officer served the order signed by DILG Regional Director James Fadrilan. Meanwhile, the DILG has directed Vice Paoay Mayor Romulo Acdal to assume as the new mayor, by the law of succession. Pursuant to a July 1, 2019 memorandum of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, it states that they will still enforce decision that dismissed and suspended local elective officials who ran, won and proclaimed as winners last May 13, 2019 elections. Mr. Galano was one of them, with the DILG citing a January 31, 2018 decision from the Ombudsman, dismissing him from service. Up to now, Mr. Galano has failed to secure a favorable relief pending an appeal at the Supreme

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City --Outgoing Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas personally thanked the people of Laoag in her speech during the June 19, 2019 Charter Day celebration held in front of the City Hall for all the support they had extended to her and her family for almost a decade. She likewise thanked her fellow city officials, all the city hall employees and the members of the media for also supporting her administration for six years as mayor as well as her late husband Michael V. Fariñas’ 9 years of administration as mayor. She stressed that her family is so grateful for their support. On June 24, 2019, city government employees posed with Mrs. Fariñas after the flag-raising ceremony. At the same day, outgoing Laoag councilors Shirley O. Sin, Dr. Edison Siazon, Pamela R. Salenda, Ferdinand Domingo and Laoag Vice Mayor Franklin Dante Respicio also gave their respective farewell speeches at the session hall during their last regular session

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—The elected Sangguniang Panlalawigan member from this town said he will focus on social services program and infrastructure projects. Engr. Aladin Santos, the lone candidate who won in the second district not from the Marcos party, said he “would love to be a part of the committee on social services if given the chance to choose as he wanted to support the governor’s program helping and addressing the needs of those less fortunate”. Mr. Santos added that he also wants to become part of the provincial board’s committee on infrastructure being an engineer by profession. He also showed interests on becoming a part of the economic development of the province. He disclosed that he wants to share the secret of the San Nicolas municipal government, which is a local government unit not solely dependent on its internal revenue allotment (IRA) share but rather on the revenues derived from this town’s boomin