Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Ilocos Norte

PGIN’s PESO still region’s best

Laoag City —The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) sustained its position as the Regional's Best PESO for 2023 during the Dept. of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Year-End Performance Assessment and Planning Exercise cum 2024 Congress in Alaminos City, Pangasinan, on March 13, 2024. PGIN-PESO also received the same recognition in 2017, 2019, and 2022. It   was also recognized for achieving the “Highest Number of Individuals Reached through Labor Market Information”, the “Highest Number of Hires on the Spot during Job Fairs”, the “Highest Number of Applicants Placed”, being the “Best Implementer of the TUPAD Program”, having the “Highest Number of Registered Employers”, winning the “Kabuhayan Awards 2023 for Implementing Livelihood Programs”, being the “Top Performing PESO in Career Development Support Programs”, receiving “Special Citations for Implementing Job Start Philippines”, and for “Timely and Complete Submission of St

Ilocos Norte, Danao City forge sisterhood relationship

Laoag City —The provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) officially established a sisterhood partnership with the City Government of Danao through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on March 7, 2024. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc and Danao Mayor Thomas Mark “Mix” Durano led the MOA signing at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium along with government officials from Ilocos Norte and City of Danao. “This is more than a sisterhood agreement. It is a friendship and a strong everlasting bond between families and now one that has culminated in this official MOA signing. This is an earnest and hopeful invitation for you to come back anytime because Danaoanos will always be most welcome in Ilocos Norte. May both the Province of Ilocos Norte and the City of Danao prosper,” Manotoc stated. This relationship between Ilocos Norte and the City of Danao signifies a commitment to solidarity, friendship, and shared progress, as both government units strive to trans

DILG turns over 11 new fire trucks to Ilocos Norte

Laoag City —In a bid to enhance the firefighting capabilities and response readiness in Ilocos Norte, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has turned over 11 newly-acquired fire trucks to the province on July 17, 2023. The towns of Bacarra, Badoc, Bangui, Currimao, Paoay, Pasuquin, Piddig, Sarrat, Vintar, and the cities of Batac and Laoag were the recipients of the new firefighting vehicles. "These fire trucks will undoubtedly bolster our firefighting capabilities. Prevention remains to be the first defense against fire hazards," F/Chief Supt. Leonida Gumanab-Rosales, Regional Director of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Region 1 remarked. Over the past months, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc closely coordinated with DILG and BFP in assessing the capacity of Ilocos Norte’s component Local Government Units, requesting the provision of fire trucks to priority towns. During the turnover event, Manotoc expressed his gratitude to th

PGIN leads launch of Padsan River restoration

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —In a move to help avoid future wide-scale flooding in the province and with the effect of typhoon Ineng in 2019 still fresh on everyone’s minds, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) along with four government agencies officially launched Phase 1 of the Padsan River Restoration Project through a ceremonial dredging in Metro Gabu, this city, on Dec. 15, 2022. PGIN, through the Provincial Quarry Office, has been collaborating with the Depts. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), as well as the official contractor, He Sha Prime Sand & Gravel Aggregates Philippines Inc., to conduct vital research, studies, and campaigns for the project. Present during the ceremonial dredging were Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, regional d

Dingras mayor is national mayor’s league VP for Luzon

NEWLY  elected League of Mayors of the Philippines (LMP) Vice President for Luzon Dingras Mayor Joefrey Saguid (left) and LMP newly elected national president La Paz, Abra Mayor JB Bernos (right) pose with His Excellency President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during their oath taking at Malacañang Palace. (Photo courtesy by LGU Dingras) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Following closely to the selection of Laoag City councilor Handy T. Lao as national interim president of the Philippine Councilors League, another Ilocos Norte elected official, Dingras Mayor Joefrey Saguid, is elected as the League of Mayors of the Philippines (LMP) vice president for Luzon. “It’s an honor to be one of the vice presidents in the LMP national level representing Luzon because it was unexpected that I will be given the chance to be elected, more so in the national level,” Saguid said.    He thanked the Almighty for another position he now holds as he also acknowledged the supp

Ilocos Norte generates P4.4M from travel fair

By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—A three-day travel fair in Manila has generated almost PHP4.5 million in sales for Ilocos Norte, contributing to the province's efforts to bounce back from the slump caused by the coronavirus disease 2019. Gervy James Gumarit, Ilocos Norte government information officer, said the province earned PHP4,394,520 from tickets, accommodations, tours, and visas, including additional sales from Ilocano food and non-food products amounting to PHP58,000, during the fair organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, 2022. “Among our best-selling products at the fair were bagnet and longganisa among others,” he said, adding that they had to restock by the second day. Participating in the 33 rd staging of the Philippine Travel Mart were 300 exhibitors from 12 regions representing different brands and institutions in the tourism, hospitality, and travel and tours industries. “Our diverse options fo

Israel gov't vows support for Ilocos mangoes

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss during his visit to Laoag City By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—The Israel government has vowed to assist Ilocos farmers to boost their productivity by sharing their innovative solutions to modern agriculture. In his first visit to Ilocos Norte, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said one of the big areas they are looking at for stronger support and longer cooperation is battling emerging diseases in mangoes and other promising crops in the region by tapping mango experts from Israel. “We have lots of expertise in the approach. See what we can offer if I can identify good experts that can come and help in identifying the disease and solution which is not always on more and more pesticides but try different approaches to look into it and come back to the governor,” he said. As a junior diplomat to the Philippines back in the 1990s, Fluss recalled that the Israel government had introduced a traini

Pagudpud Vice Mayor Maja Sales throws full support to Sandro Marcos' congressional bid

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

Beating plastic pollution, one brick at a time

ECO-FRIENDLY. On Oct. 20, 2021, a worker at the newly-inaugurated Ilocos Norte Eco Hub demonstrates to local officials of the province led by Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos how the stripped plastic sachets are mix with cement to produce eco-bricks. Also shown in the background photo are eco-bricks used in the construction of the first eco hub in the province which is envisioned to be replicated in various parts of the province to help beat plastic pollution. ( Lei G. Adriano) Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—The province of Ilocos Norte is heading towards beating plastic pollution with the manufacturing of eco-bricks using recycled plastic wastes for construction purposes. Located along the national highway at Sitio Bato, Brgy. Tonoton in Piddig, Ilocos Norte the project is a model eco hub recycling facility, the first of its kind in Ilocos region. Through a public and private partnership agreement between the Ayala-led renewable energy corporation-North Luzon

Vintar culls 581 ASF-affected hogs

  ASF in Vintar. Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo confirms that Brgy. Dipilat of his town is ASF-affected during an interview with the local media. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—The African swine fever (ASF) has now affected this town. Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo personally confirmed this in an interview with the local media. Rasimo reported that they have culled 581 ASF-infected hogs at Brgy. Dipilat here. He said he and municipal agriculturist Dr. Myrna Simon have already met with the provincial ASF task force twice, which confirmed the ASF cases in the said barangay. “ Isu a pangngaasi tayo appo lalo dagiti adda taraken na a baboy ti intero a Vintar ta ipalubos tayo kuma a maalaan iti blood samples dagiti baboy tayo tapnu saan kuman nga agwaras ken al-alisto met laeng a mai- declare ti ili tayo nga ASF-free no maduktalan a negative dagiti taraken tayo a baboy ,” Rasimo implored his townmates. With

Ilocos Norte 1st district completes AICS distribution

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-care

Despite COVID-19: BIR-Laoag reaches its June target collection

Newly installed BIR-Ilocos Norte District Officer Marilou Sapungan fields questions from the local media as she announces that the Laoag City-Ilocos Norte district office has reached its target collection for June—PHP135 million. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —Despite the COVID-pandemic, newly installed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Laoag District Officer Marilou G. Sapungan announced that they reached their PHP135 million target collection for June. She added that she hopes they will also reach their PHP142 million target collection this July, or an increase of PHP7 million from last month. The Ilocos Times learned that target collection for the Laoag District for 2021 is PHP1.8 billion; and Sapungan is hopeful they will realize this with the help of taxpayers here who usually pay their obligations “promptly and honestly.” To reach this goal, Sapungan said they will strictly implement the district’s plans and programs including the

Over 1,000 pigs culled in 2 Ilocos Norte towns due to ASF

By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—More than 1,000 pigs in Solsona and its neighboring Dingras town in Ilocos Norte have been culled to contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF), the Provincial Veterinary Office reported. While depopulation is ongoing within the infected zone, Dr. Loida Valenzuela, provincial veterinarian, has urged hog raisers to cooperate with local authorities by reporting an unusual death of pigs in their areas and to refrain from feeding them with swills or getting their water from an irrigation canal. According to Valenzuela, they are still investigating what triggered the outbreak which started in the remote Brgy. Manalpac in Solsona with a few small hog raisers. During the course of their investigation, they found out that a farmer from Brgy. Maan-anteng in Solsona town dumped his dead piglets and sow in a water irrigation system that spread to other sub-villages. “All adjacent municipalities near the border of Apayao are being

More agri-inputs to boost Ilocos farmers’ productivity

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) of the I

Solar-powered irrigation system benefits small farmers

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

Organic farming works wonders in Ilocos Norte

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 now

BIR-LC/IN office tops Region I collection in 2020

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Laoag City/Ilocos Norte district office emerged the on top of collection of taxes for CY 2020 in the entire Region I, revenue district officer Ramos Navarro announced. Despite of the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March of last year, the local BIR here never stopped in the collection of taxes, though a series of extensions were also granted to taxpayers. Upon assuming as the new RDO in February last year, Navarro was immediately challenged as the January 2020 Laoag City-Ilocos Norte district office was recorded as number one in collection efficiency and it lasted until December 2020. Due to a good response, Laoag City-Ilocos Norte was again number one this January 2021, with Ramos hoping it will continue for the rest of the following months. However, Navarro expected a little problem that may arise because the annual income tax return to be filed this year will be from March 1

Ilocos Norte eyes higher tobacco excise tax share

  LAOAG CITY—The provincial government here is eyeing to increase its share in tobacco excise tax with strengthened monitoring this trading season. In partnership with authorities from the provincial government, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), and the Philippine National Police, the transport of tobacco outside the province will be monitored in border checkpoints to ensure that tobacco grown in Ilocos Norte are properly documented. Recently, the monitoring task force representing these four agencies convened a meeting at the NTA in the City of Batac to familiarize themselves with the legal basis for the issuance of NTA trading rules and regulations, as well as the rules and regulations in the implementation of regulatory activities. Luzviminda Padayao, NTA officer-in-charge, said during the orientation that the subjects of inspection include traders, vehicles carrying tobacco as well as its volume and capacity, among o