The Ilocos Times

RELIEF ASSISTANCE. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc leads the distribution of relief aid to evacuation centers in various parts of the province. ( PGIN) By Leilanie G. Adriano Laoag City —The provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), led by Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, has distributed PHP55.8 million in rehabilitation resources to farmers severely affected by super typhoon “Julian,” which battered the province last month. The multi-million worth of hybrid corn seeds, assorted vegetable seeds, rice seeds, and fertilizers, is aimed at restoring crops in lands damaged by extreme flooding and destructive winds. This initiative follows a recent assessment indicating that the typhoon impacted over 195,000 individuals across Ilocos Norte, with damages and losses reaching nearly PHP1.1 billion as of the report from the Provincial Resiliency Council dated Oct. 7, 2024. A total of 16,789 farmers received the support package, with the goal of ensuring timely agricul...

Laoag City —The provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) spearheaded by Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc led a series of cash-for-work payout distribution on April 2, 2024 as Ilokano farmers concluded their environmental preservation services. PGIN, in partnership with the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development, allotted a budget for the program totaling to PHP54,810,900 which helped 13,212 beneficiaries in the first quarter of this year. Since Manotoc was elected as governor of Ilocos Norte, he has prioritized the promotion of environmental preservation which can be seen from his province-wide campaign “Narimat nga Aglawlaw” that focuses on implementing solid waste management and anti-pollution programs. This cash-for-work program is one of the foundations that builds the bridge towards improved quality of environment in the province and this is manifested in his speech during the cash distribution in Vintar, Ilocos Norte: “Rest assured itutuloy po namin itong programa...

SMART CROP. Drought-resistant crops at a seedling nursery at Brgy. Tabug, in the City of Batac. To aid farmers, the Ilocos Norte government has released over PHP15.1 million worth of irrigation assistance to mitigate the effects of El Niño, according to data released on March 15, 2024.( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—Farmers in Ilocos Norte have received agricultural supplies worth over PHP15.1 million from the provincial government to mitigate the effects of El Niño. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc confirmed this on March 15, 2024 after he reported that at least 140 units of water pumps and some 37 rolls of irrigation hose have been distributed to 140 farmers associations in the towns of Bacarra, Pasuquin, Vintar, Nueva Era, Pinili, Badoc, Dingras, Currimao, San Nicolas, and Solsona, Batac and this city. Fuel subsidy vouchers worth PHP3,000 each were also given as irrigation support to 766 recipients in the towns of Piddig, Vintar, Currimao, Burgos...

  By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Piddig , Ilocos Norte—"What we did was like hitting two birds with one stone”, Piddig Mayor Eduardo “Eddie” G. Guillen said in their effort to help his constituents as the pandemic rages and to help local hog raisers as the African swine fever now also threatens the province. “ Ta ngamin ginatang mi dagitay baboy dagiti kailian min ta awan met aggatangen tapnu matulungan mi isuda a mai- dispose and at the same time matulungan mi pay dagiti kakailian mi ta maparti dagitoy ket maibunong para kadagiti amin nga households ti ili a Piddig,” Guillen explained. The mayor also disclosed that he is monitoring with the Provincial Veterinary Office on the ASF situation in his town and their neighboring areas. He added that since Piddig is ASF-free, he decided to help local hog raisers here by buying their hogs and adding them to relief packs, which they also distributed to local residents. Aside from the pork meat, each household wil...

COMPLETE D. Rep. Ria Cristina Fariñas (Ilocos Norte. 1 st  district) meets with BHW, BNS, BSPO, tanods and day-care workers during the AICS distribution at Brgy. 11 Sta. Rosa in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte as she assisted the DSWD personnel in giving the financial assistance to beneficiaries. ( Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) distribution for the first district of Ilocos Norte is complete, Rep. Ria Cristina Fariñas (Ilocos Norte, 1 st district) announced. Of the 12 local government units (LGUs), including the Laoag City, and with a total of 285 Barangays and about 5,331 recipients received PHP2,000 each. In total, PHP10,926,000 were distributed. Records show that the Laoag had the highest number of recipients for the AICS distribution with 1,455 barangay health workers (BHWs), barangay tanods, barangay nutrition scholars (BNS), barangay service point officers (BSPOs), and barangay day-c...

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte provincial government keeps on inspiring farmers to increase their productivity with the continuing distribution of livelihood assistance such as additional agricultural inputs and equipment to mango, rice and vegetable growers in the province. Recently, the provincial government distributed a total of 2,749 bags of commercial fertilizers, 23,200 packs of humus, 1,120 carrageenan and foliar fertilizer to registered rice and corn farmers, both in the first and second districts of Ilocos Norte.  For mango and vegetable growers, they likewise received 845 bottles of insecticide and 3,860 vials of fruitfully attractant while other high value crops associations and backyard vegetable growers received 800 units of knapsack sprayer, 30 power sprayer, 525 rolls of irrigation hose, one unit shredding machine, 50 units grass cutter and 40 units of jetmatic pump courtesy of the Sustainable Development Center (SDC)...

LAOAG CITY—Small farmers in rain-fed farmlands of Ilocos Norte will now have a chance to grow high-value crops even during summer by harnessing the power of the sun as alternative energy. Tapping the sun's energy is the new craze at Brgy. Lang-ayan in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, where a solar-powered irrigation system with at least four solar panels was installed near a communal food garden where its residents can grow off-season fruits and vegetables. Funded by the province’s share from the tobacco excise tax, there are four units of this kind of small-scale irrigation project being pilot tested in the second district of Ilocos Norte where water is scarce during the summer months of March to May or even longer due to prolonged El Niño phenomenon. The other units are located in the rural Barangays of Camguidan and Camandingan in Batac City and Barbar, Pinili town. The solar-powered irrigation system worth PHP486,250 per unit may be a bit costly for small farmers but in the long...

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Another batch of 1,000 farmers received a soil fertility package covering 250 hectares last week in the continuing soil restoration program of the Ilocos Norte government. For every hectare, the local government provides at least 20 sacks of organic fertilizer, urea (nitrogen fertilizer), and gypsum (soil conditioner) to help rehabilitate farmlands and boost production efficiency. Soil experts say agri-gypsum is a good source of calcium and sulfur and improves soil characteristics. It helps soil better absorb water and reduces erosion. “This is enough to restore the soil fertility if we get the appropriate measure for every hectare. That is why we are asking our farmers to do their share,” Edwin Cariño, head of the Sustainable Development Center, said during the March 16, 2021 ceremonial distribution at the Rizal Park here. Cariño said the soil restoration program started during the term of then-Ilocos Norte Governor and...

  By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—To boost the confidence of tourists to travel again, the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT) has approved PHP7 million for the RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing of tourism workers in the province. Covering at least 2,000 DOT-accredited tourism workers composed of tour guides, driver-guides, hotel and restaurant workers among others, RT-PCR testing bearing negative result is required before they can mingle with pre-registered tourists visiting Ilocos Norte. Xavier Ruiz, tourism operations officer II of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office said they were able to secure the fund since November last year as they were supposed to roll out the free RT-PCR testing of tourism workers in December if for the rise cases of COVID-19, mostly in this city. “The free RT-PCR tests of tourism workers is meant to lessen the burden of tou...

Currimao Mayor Edward Quilala on Jan. 25, 2021 gives cash and household goods to a parent of a quadriplegic kid lying in a side car. ( Rey Andres) By Reynaldo E. Andres ( Contributor) CURRIMAO, Ilocos Norte—At least six quadriplegic children of this town received on Jan. 25, 2021 a monthly stipend of PHP3,000 each, including a package of household and food supplies. The package consisted of milk supplement, bed, pillows, electric fan, transistor radio and rice, among others. Quadriplegics are those who cannot move their four limbs as a result of either diseases of various congenital abnormalities. “Of this amount, PHP2,000 came from a donor who requested anonymity, while the PHP1,000 is a counterpart of our local government,” said Currimao mayor Edward Quilala, emphasizing that the compassionate donor is a native of Currimao, but is now living in the United States. The package of supplies was also provided by the local government here. “These aren’t much, but at least we coul...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor Rasimo proposed the establishment of a financial aid for children with disabilities (CWDs) program. He said this will affirm the municipal government’s role in providing additional benefits and privileges for persons with disabilities (PWD’s) as provided under RA 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons as amended by RA 9442. Mr. Rasimo explained that the program aims to institutionalize the grant of a regular financial aid “to those who have less in life”, particularly indigent children with disabilities. As the author of the measure, the vice mayor and council presiding officer said the Vintar government adheres to the declared policy of the state by prioritizing the needs of the underprivileged, sick elderly, disabled, women and children as provided in Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution. The program will provide to all qualified indigent ...

Batac mayor Albert D. Chua leads the lighting of the giant Christmas tree on Dec. 8, 2020 at the heart of the city. ( Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) City of Batac —The city government here led the commemoration of the feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary—the Principal Patroness of the Philippines—and the opening of the annual city fiesta, despite the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A mass held at the Immaculate Conception Church in the morning kicked off the festivities followed by the blessing and inauguration of 43 barangay multi-purpose vehicles, which the city government later distributed to all the 43 Barangays in this city. Rev. Fr. Philip Anthony Dimagiba led the blessings of the 43-brand new multi-purpose vehicles witnessed by Batac mayor Albert D. Chua, Batac vice mayor Windell D. Chua, city councilors and all the punong barangays with their kagawads. Mr. Chua said the PHP50 million L300 multi-purpose vans are for the...

  Laoag City —Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc and the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) started the province-wide gift-giving activity to shed a light and bring joy in time for the holiday season and amidst the pandemic. Through the “Narimat a Paskua: Handog ng PGIN sa mga Ilokano,” the different capitol departments have prepared over 27,000 economic and social welfare assistance to various sectors in the province. A total of 17,000 noche buena packages with 250 gift vouchers and another 1,300 leisure incentive vouchers were given to COVID-19 frontliners. Likewise, millennium development goals family-beneficiaries and tourism workers will be receiving one of the 1,115 and 1,200 noche buena packages, respectively. Moreover, 3,000 senior citizens will also receive grocery packs, and some 200 beneficiaries of “assistance to individuals in crisis situation”, support services. PGIN has been handing out presents including assorted grocery items, b...

Manila —In observance of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2020, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announced the launch of a new President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-funded program, which will begin this month. Through PEPFAR, the U.S. government has committed more than PHP875 million (US$18.2 million) over two years for U.S.-Philippines bilateral efforts, with implementation by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, and U.S. Department of Defense. The PEPFAR program will address the increasing number of people who are living with HIV in the Philippines, which has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region . The most recent data from the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau of the Philippines estimates that more than 110,000 Filipinos are living with HIV in 2020; 37,000 have not been diagnosed, and among those previously diagnosed, at least 18,500 still need ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Laoag City —As the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue to increase in this city, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed three resolutions, which Laoag mayor Michael M. Keon earlier certified as urgent.   Public jeepneys to transport APORs within the city Foremost among these is the granting of authority to the mayor to sign a memorandum of agreement with Laoag jeepney operators and drivers to ferry authorized persons outside residence (APOR) from the city’s boundaries to designated unloading areas, and vice versa. Laoag councilor Edison Bonoan, the council’s transportation committee chair and the measure’s sponsor said the MOA will last until the provincial government lifts the localized modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) that took effect on Nov. 27, 2020. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc’s localized MECQ order bars public transportation from entering the city. As a result, APORs wh...

Sarrat, Ilocos Norte—To further assist in the recovery of small businesses in the province, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), through the small-medium enterprises (SME) office, distributed package containing various goods to micro-bakery owners in the town of Sarrat. Called the “Pandagdag Pangkabuhayan Program,” it is an initiative of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, which aims to assist distressed small bakery owners who are affected by the pandemic, by providing them items to replenish their goods. “ Ang mga bakery owners dito sa bayan ng Sarrat ang unang mabibigyan ng assistance. Mayroon tayong walong beneficiaries dito. Pero imbes na flour ang ibigay, dahil may expiry date ito at mabilis masira kapag na -stock, na -convert ito sa mga raw materials gaya ng mantika , white sugar, at brown sugar na magagamit pa rin nila sa kanilang negosyo ,” SME officer Elma Gabriel explained. The provincial government plans to give assistance to 80 micro b...

  Laoag mayor Michael M. Keon personally hands over a PHP100,000 check to Reymunda Raras of Brgy. Gabu Norte on Oct. 26, 2020 at her residence. The check is the city government’s incentive for Nana Reymunda as she turned 100 on Sept. 11, 2020. The centenarian has five children with multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joining them during the handover is Brgy. Gabu Norte chairperson Rodel Legaspi, CSWD officer Perlita Cabello and BASCA president Jovito Sablay. ( Alwin Formantes photo)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Laoag City —Mayor Michael M. Keon and the city social welfare and development office (CSWDO) personally visited the families of Mrs. Fe Cadelinia and Mrs. Anita Ventura of Brgy. Dibua South this city immediately after a fire incident on November 5, 2020. Reports said the houses of Mmes. Cadelinia and Ventura were totally damaged by the fire; while the house of Ofelia Cadelinia, located near them, was partially damaged. In an interview with Mrs. Ventura, she said all their belongings inside their house were all burned and they were unable to save anything. CSWDO officer-in-charge Perlita Cabello said each of the three families received food packs from the city government consisting of eight kilos of rice, 12 packs of noodles, 20 sachets of coffee, 12 cans of sardines and eight cans of corned beef. The CSWDO also gave additional food packs for each family: six kilos of rice, four cans of sardines, four cans of corned beef and five t...

  Laoag City —The provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) and "Arkila," a local delivery service provider, have collaborated to employ displaced public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers as delivery riders to service customers in various parts of the province. According to Atty. Nikki Pilar, Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC) project head, the provincial government has been creating COVID-19 recovery projects to alleviate the condition of the stakeholders in the public transportation sector. “One way to safeguard the livelihood of our affected PUV drivers is working with delivery entities since 50% of the transportation sector is only allowed to operate in the province. We contacted Arkila, the first delivery service provider that showed interest to our ‘IN BUYanihan Recovery Program’, to partner with the hiring of displaced drivers,” she remarked. Five driver-riders were already hired, with beneficiaries targeted at 50. They will follow a rotational shift in deliverin...

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Young achievers in the province of Ilocos Norte received their cash stipend in a simple ceremony held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena. Running for nine years now, the Provincial Capitol workers’ children who are performing well in school get cash reward from the provincial government of Ilocos Norte. According to human resource management officer Fe Siazon, this year’s 52 beneficiaries have increased compared to previous years which ranges from 20 to 30. The beneficiaries graduated in elementary, senior high school and college on top of their classes and each of them received PHP6,000 cash reward. For a parent like Lyn Marie Asuncion from Laoag City, she said she is grateful to the provincial government under the administration of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc for inspiring more government workers and rewarding their children who do well in school. “The cash incentive is a great boost to our ch...