The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY —The city government of Laoag has expressed its appreciation to Davies Paints Philippines Inc. for supporting the repainting of all 92 Child Development Centers (CDCs) across the city. Laoag councilor Donald Nicolas said the Sangguniang Panlungsod has authorized Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid to enter into and sign a tripartite agreement with Liga ng mga Barangay President and ex-officio Sangguniang Panlungsod member Roque Benjamin C. Ablan and Davies Paints Philippines Inc., represented by Vice President for Business Development Engr. Maria Rosario Quintos. Under the proposed agreement, Davies Paints will donate 450 pails of paint valued at PHP1.3 million for the repainting of the city’s 92 CDCs. Nicolas said the project responds to the need to maintain and improve the facilities where young children receive early childhood care and development services. Repainting the centers will help improve their physical co...

Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas receives his Certificate of Completion and Certificate of Appearance during the face-to-face session and graduation of the Executive Education Program for Young Legislators , held August 30 to September 1, 2026, at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore . (Photo courtesy of VMO)   By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas has completed the Executive Education for Young Legislators (EEYL) program at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) of the National University of Singapore, bringing home new insights on governance, public policy and leadership. The executive education program ran from July 23 to August 31, 2026, with Fariñas attending the face-to-face session and graduation activities from August 30 to September 1 at LKYSPP. The program was conducted in partnership with the National Movement of Youn...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY— Mayor James Bryan Q. Acid delivered his first State of the City Address (SOCA) on September 7, 2026 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, highlighting the administration’s accomplishments during its first year in office and outlining projects and programs planned for the coming years. Dubbed “Makatkatwen ti Alisto a Serbisyo,” the address was delivered during a special session of the 13 th Sangguniang Panlungsod presided over by Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas. The council unanimously approved the suspension of its rules to accommodate the mayor’s SOCA. Among the administration’s priorities during its first year were disaster preparedness, public safety, digitalization, social services, health, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure.   Public safety and disaster response The city government strengthened its disaster and emergency response capabilities through the installation of additional AI-powered CCTV camer...

Nueva Era Mayor Aldrin Garvida and Vice Mayor Caroline Arzadon Garvida lead the distribution of educational assistance to 216 ADAL scholars, incentives to senior citizens, birthday celebrants, BHWs and barangay tanods, rice to heads of families, maintenance medicines to residents with non-communicable diseases , and livestock to ADAL scholars. ( Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ,  Staff Reporter NUEVA ERA, Ilocos Norte —The municipal government of Nueva Era distributed educational assistance to 216 scholars under the Arapaap Dagiti Agtutubo ken Laing (ADAL) Scholarship Program on August 31, 2026 at the People’s Center, highlighting its continuing support for education, community welfare and livelihood development. Nueva Era Mayor Aldrin Garvida led the activity, joined by Nueva Era Vice Mayor Caroline Arzadon Garvida, members of the Sangguniang Bayan , Sangguniang Kabataan officials, parents, guardians and other stakeholders. The scholars received educational ass...

Batac City Councilor Martha Louise Aurora M. Borleo announces the passage of an ordinance temporarily suspending the payment of business taxes, rental fees and garbage fees for fire-affected vendors of the Batac Public Market . ( Doms Dela Cruz)   By Dominic B. dela Cruz;  Staff Reporter CITY OF BATAC— The city government of Batac has temporarily suspended the payment of business taxes, rental fees and garbage fees for market stall holders affected by the Batac Public Market fire for the third and fourth quarters of 2026. Batac Councilor Martha Louise Aurora M. Borleo said the measure was approved through an ordinance to provide temporary financial relief and help affected vendors resume and rehabilitate their businesses. The Batac Public Market fire damaged stalls and structures, destroyed inventories and disrupted business operations, leaving affected vendors with significant financial losses, Borleo said. Under the ordinance, payment of the covered fees for th...

  Councilors vote on the measure authored by Laoag Councilor Justine Chua establishing a three-tier permit and price-tracking system for the hog industry in Laoag City . ABC President Rbee Ablan, SK Federated President Rionell Jan Respicio and Councilor Eric Ang voted in favor, while Councilors Jeff Fariñas, John Michael Fariñas and Atty. Jason Bader Perera abstained. (Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. Dela Cruz.  Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Laoag City Sangguniang Panlungsod is moving to impose a three-tier permit and price-tracking system for the hog industry to improve transparency in the trading of live pigs and monitor price increases from hog raisers to the retail market. City Councilor Justine Clarence G. Chua, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and author of the measure, said the system is designed to identify where price increases occur, determine whether they are justified and curb unreasonable markups along the pork supply chain. Chua said the tradin...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter LAOAG CITY —The city government of Laoag has adopted and institutionalized the Department of the Interior and Local Government ’s ( DILG ) “Safer Cities Initiative” to strengthen public safety, order and decency in public spaces. The nationwide initiative calls on local government units to enact and strictly enforce community safety measures. Laoag City Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas , who authored the measure, said it is timely amid recent violent incidents in schools involving minors. He said measures such as curfew enforcement , noise regulation and public decency standards can help prevent disturbances and promote a safer environment for residents and visitors. Under the measure, existing city and provincial regulations on curfew, excessive noise and public drinking will be harmonized and strengthened. Minors 17 years old and below are prohibited from loitering, roaming or staying in public ...

San Nicolas Mayor Edmar Vincent Bonoan delivers his first State of San Nicolas Address (SOSNA) 2026 in a special session conducted by the Sangguniang Bayan headed by San Nicolas Vice Mayor and presiding officer Napoleon Hernando before the people of San Nicolas held at the Robinsons Mall Cinema 4 on August 10, 2026. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte—Mayor Edmar Vincent Bonoan delivered his first State of San Nicolas Address (SOSNA) on August 10, 2026, highlighting the administration’s first-year accomplishments, ongoing programs and development priorities for the municipality. The address was delivered during a special session of the Sangguniang Bayan, presided over by Vice Mayor Napoleon Hernando, and attended by municipal and barangay officials, government agencies, stakeholders and residents. Bonoan thanked San Nicoleños for entrusting him and his administration with the responsibility of leading the municipality. He s...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally visits the site of the fire at the Batac Public Market and awards PHP 150 million as initial funding for the construction of a new Batac Public Market, as Mayor Mark Christian “Markee” Chua presents the proposed site and building. Governor Cecilia Marcos, 2nd District Congressman Angelo Marcos Barba, and city officials headed by Vice Mayor Albert Chua were also present during the inspection. ( Photo courtesy of CMO Batac)   By Dominic B. dela Cruz. Staff reporter City of Batac — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the Batac Public Market to personally inspect the damage caused by the July 5, 2026 fire and meet with affected stallholders. During his visit, the President turned over PHP 150 million in funding to the City Government of Batac for the construction of a new public market through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). President Marcos was joined by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian , Ilocos Norte 2 nd District Congr...