The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —After marking her first 100 days in office, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos renewed her commitment to uplift Ilokano families through stronger initiatives on employment and enterprise, underscoring that true progress is achieved when people are empowered to build better lives for themselves and their communities. Under her leadership, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte continues to strengthen programs that generate employment and support local businesses. Through initiatives such as “Mercato ni Nanay Ces” and “producer-to-consumer” trade fairs, local entrepreneurs , farmers, and artisans gain valuable opportunities to market their products, promote Ilokano craftsmanship , and grow their enterprises. According to a report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority , Ilocos Norte recorded an employment rate of 98.7% as of December 2024, reflecting the province’s robust performance in implementing programs that promote sustainable and inclusiv...

Laoag City —The provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) showcased local mythology and creativity in this year’s “Semana ti Ar-aria” Ilocano Halloween Festival, a week-long celebration that brought together culture, artistry, and community spirit across the province. Held in commemoration of the Day of the Dead, the festival honored the memory of departed loved ones while celebrating Ilokano heritage and tradition. Leading this year’s festivities, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos joined the parade dressed as "Inang Reyna" from “Encantadia,” a Filipino fantasy TV show. Provincial employees and public servants from across Ilocos Norte filled the streets in elaborate costumes inspired by Philippine folklore , bringing myth and fantasy to life through dance, music, and performance. Araneta-Marcos expressed PGIN’s continued support for initiatives that promote Ilokano culture and creativity, stating: “The Semana ti Ar-aria Halloween Celebration brings to lif...

City of Batac —"Leadership begins with a vision—one that is rooted in faith, shared with the people, and lived in service,” said Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos as she marked her first 100 days in office at the Ilocandia Cultural Center in this city on October 10, 2025. In her address, Araneta-Marcos outlined her administration’s early accomplishments, emphasizing responsive governance, disaster resilience, and inclusive development. She cited the institutionalization of monthly alignment meetings between the executive and legislative branches, the full approval of Salary Grade 3 for entry-level government workers, and the creation of new offices such as the Provincial Information Office and Agriculture Biosystems Engineering Office, among others. “I cannot work with unhappy people. One of my first priorities was to make the Capitol a happier place,” she said. In the face of multiple typhoons and natural disasters, Araneta-Marcos underscored the province’s shift...

EMERGENCY DRILL. Responders use a boom truck to rescue a "victim" trapped inside a burning building during an earthquake drill at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol in Laoag City on October 17, 2025. The activity was part of a simultaneous large-scale drills held in the province to boost earthquake preparedness among Ilocanos. (Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—Local government units in Ilocos Norte, together with partner agencies including schools and private establishments, conducted simultaneous earthquake drills to boost readiness and proper response and emergency protocols on October 17, 2025. The drills were in line with the directive of Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure public safety. "Preparation is the key to any disaster and we must all be ready to respond effectively," Marcel Tabije of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said in an interview. ...

  Ilocos  Norte leads the way toward cervical cancer elimination, nearing 90% HPV vaccination coverage among young girls, a milestone that brings the Philippines closer to a cervical cancer-free future. Laoag City — Ilocos Norte is on its way to becoming the first province in the Philippines to achieve 90-percent vaccination coverage among young girls in public schools against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which is the cause of cervical cancer.   The province’s goal is aligned with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) target to fully vaccinated 90% of girls against HPV by age 15, to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. Ilocos Norte’s ambition was highlighted during the Department of Health’s (DOH) national launch of the Bakuna Eskwela Campaign in Balatong Integrated School in Laoag City on September 30, 2025. This comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed in his recent State of the Nation Address , that cancer prevention through HPV vaccination, is one o...

Bacarra , Ilocos Norte—Twenty-three modern Ilokanas dazzled the crowd in a cultural fashion show wearing modern interpretations of the traditional ‘kimona’ and ‘terno’ at the Dome-less Belfry of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in this town on April 23, 2025. As part of Miss Ilocos Norte 2025’s preliminary activities, the Inabel Fashion Show and Terno Competition exhibited locally designed ensembles, aimed to honor Ilokano culture through fashion, putting a spotlight on inabel weaving traditions. Each candidate modelled unique creations as symbols of Ilokana grace and modesty that fused heritage craftsmanship with contemporary style. Xavier Rafales Ruiz, supervising tourism operations officer, remarked: “This segment aims to showcase our creatives, including our heritage crafts, in particular, inabel fabric.” “The ‘kimona’ is one of the iconic Filipino designs that needs more attention and needs more promotion. It's unusual because if you think of Filipiniana or Filipina-inspire...

1st INABEL provincial winners announced The winners of the newly launched Ilocos Norte Award for Barangays Excellence in Legislation (INABEL) are given their awards during the Ilocos Norte Liga ng Mga Barangays (LnB) provincial congress 2025 held March 21-23, 2025 in Nasugbu, Batangas. They are: Brgy. 1 San Lorenzo Laoag City (City Category); Brgy. 11 San Fernando, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte (1st-3rd Class Municipal Category), and Brgy.  Caparispisan, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte (4th-5th Class Municipal Category). [ Photos courtesy of LnB Ilocos Norte] By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nasugbu , Batangas—A total of 652 barangay officials from the entire Ilocos Norte participated in the Liga Ng Mga Barangay (LMB) Ilocos Norte Chapter provincial congress 2025 with the   theme: “Barangay Leaders Empowerment for the Nation’s Sustainable Growth and Development’’ held March 21-25, 2025 at Forest Crest Resort and Hotel in Nasugbu, Batangas. LnB Provincial President and...

LAOAG CITY—Another barangay in Ilocos Norte has been added to the “red zone map” of African swine fever (ASF), provincial veterinarian Loida Valenzuela confirmed on Feb. 26, 2025. In an interview, Valenzuela said surveillance operation is ongoing within the 300-meter radius of the affected piggery farm at Brgy. Alejo Malasig in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, as around 300 pigs are needed to be culled to arrest the further spread of ASF to nearby areas. Barangay Rayuray in the city of Batac has been tagged recently as a “red zone area” due to single case of ASF. Fortunately, it was immediately contained due to the residents’ cooperation with the Bantay ASF Task Force. “We are encouraging our livestock raisers to observe biosecurity measures both housing improvement and change in their hog raising practices,” Valenzuela told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday. To minimize damage, farmer-clients are advised to insure their livestock to protect their source of livelihood. “Good thing...

By Leilanie G. Adriano OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST. Hidilyn Diaz talks about the role of education in developing future weightlifters, at a press conference on Feb. 21, 2025 in Ilocos Norte. She also said weightlifting should be a regular event in the Palarong Pambansa. Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz is on a mission to make young Filipinos love and engage in sports, particularly weightlifting. Diaz is touring Ilocos Norte to inspire and develop the next generation of athletes. The country’s first Olympic gold medalist recently met with officials of the Dept. of Education to advocate weightlifting to be included as a regular event in the Palarong Pambansa, rather than just a demonstration sport. "We really have to work on spreading the sport by having events and to have education for technical officials and coaches,” Diaz said in an interview on Feb. 21, 2025, noting that the key to weightlifting education is to start from top to bottom. She ...

FREE ACCESS. The facilities of the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium in Laoag City is free for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, students, and minors aged 17 years and below. A fee of PHP30 will be collected on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday for other visitors. By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—The provincial government of Ilocos Norte has announced a new usage policy for regular goers at the newly-rehabilitated Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium in this city. “Let's enjoy the stadium. It is a public venue and the use of the facilities will be free for three days a week," Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc told reporters in a press conference. To ensure the upkeep of the facilities of the 12,000-capacity track and field stadium, a fee of PHP30 will be collected on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, while the Olympic pool is free for everyone every Sunday. Exempted to this, however, are senior citizens, persons with disabilities...

  Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc and SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino cut the ceremonial ribbon opening the SEC extension office in Laoag City. Laoag City —The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) opened its first extension office in Northern Luzon, located on the 5 th floor of the Dap-Ayan Commercial Center in this city. The inauguration of the new SEC office on Jan. 9, 2025 was led by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc and SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino, both emphasizing the importance of the office in further boosting the economic performance of the provinces in Northern Luzon. “We welcome SEC with open arms and I am hopeful that this will be a positive windfall, not only for Ilocos Norte but [for ] the entire Northern Luzon. We thank you once again our friends and partners from the SEC and please know that we’re here if you need anything, especially our new head of the SEC. We are hopeful that we will have a fruitful and beneficial p...

SMART GRID. Officials of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, National Electrification Administration Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan lead the ceremonial switching of the advanced metering infrastructure project at the INEC main branch in Dingras, Ilocos Norte on Jan. 15, 2025. The smart metering system will be deployed in the towns of  Nueva Era, Dingras, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Badoc and the city of Laoag for pilot testing in the first quarter of this year. ( Photo grab from NEA’s FB page) By Leilanie Adriano Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Government and commercial buildings in five municipalities and a city in Ilocos Norte will be tapped to pilot smart meters in the first quarter of 2025. The smart metering system will be pilot-tested in the towns of Nueva Era, Dingras, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Badoc and the city of Laoag, Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) acting general manager Cipriano Martinez said. National E...

Champion  pole vaulter EJ Obiena guides a young athlete during the opening of the pole-vaulting facility at the FEM Memorial Stadium. Laoag City —Olympic pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” U. Obiena and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc opened Ilocos Norte’s first pole vaulting facility at the Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) Memorial Stadium, on No. 22, 2024, a step forward in transforming the Philippines into a global force in pole vaulting. Obiena, a world-class Filipino pole vaulter is currently ranked third in the 2024 World Athletics Rankings for the men’s pole vault category. He finished fourth place in the same sport at the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, France, barely missing a medal. He is also the first Asian athlete to conquer the six-meter mark at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway in 2023. Aside from this, Obiena is also a three-time Southeast Asian Games champion. He also bagged the gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games, becoming the first Filipino gold medalist ...

USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks (right) hands over a donation of fishing nets to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc (left) at the Pasuquin Fish Farm on October 10. Laoag City —The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for Internation al Development (USAID), turned over Php5 million (US$89,500) in aquaculture equipment to the provincial government of Ilocos Norte to support fisherfolk in sustainably farming tilapia. USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks handed over the donation to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc at the government-owned Pasuquin Fish Farm on Oct. 10, 2024.   “The United States is proud to support fishers in Ilocos Norte with tools that can increase their income and create resilient communities,” Eubanks said.   “These supplies will help fishers, especially those impacted by the recent Super Typhoon Julian, restore their livelihood and contribute to long-term food security by incre...

City of Batac —The provincial government of Ilocos Norte, in partnership with the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC), conducted a medical mission in the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte, from Sept. 19 to 21, 2024. SGH is the largest acute care tertiary hospital in Singapore, with over 50 clinical specialties, emphasizing patient-centered care and comprehensive healthcare services, and is a leader in medical education and research. The medical team from Singapore was comprised of renown orthopedic, hand, and plastic surgeons, as well as senior nursing and allied healthcare staff. Surgeries performed included hip and knee replacements, arthroscopic procedures for both the shoulder and knee, as well as complex upper limb and facial reconstructive surgeries. Over the years, PGIN, under the leadership of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, has continued to focus on improving the province's health system by part...