The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Batac City -- Sangguniang Panlungsod of this city unanimously approved two resolutions endorsing major road rehabilitation, reconstruction, and upgrading by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The two resolutions cite the implementation of the off-carriageway improvement-tertiary road and the rehabilitation, reconstruction, upgrading of damaged paved roads of the Batac-Espiritu (Banna) road with no objection to the removal and cutting of 145 affected trees. Batac councilor Bernardo Marders said that these projects will be implemented by the DPWH on their road widening projects. It was learned that the road damages cause the increasing volume of traffic congestion in said areas. In relation to this, the city government of Batac expressed no objection in the cutting and removal of trees as these affects the implementation of the project. “These affected trees are imperative to pave way for the full impleme

  Severe tropical storm Ineng damaged and eroded concrete bank  revetment  at Brgys. Cabayo and Isik-Isik in Vintar, Ilocos Norte Total infrastructure damaged in Ilocos Norte reached PHP131 million according to the DPWH. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) first and second engineering districts reported millions of infrastructure damages in Ilocos Norte brought out by severe tropical storm Ineng (Bailu) from August 22-24, 2019. DPWH Ilocos Norte Engineering District (INED) district I Engr. Maria Venus Torio reported estimated damages of PHP117 million for the entire first district of Ilocos Norte as of August 28, 2019. Ms. Torio said majority of the damages are roads/bridge slope protections, revetment, eroded slope protections and scoured shoulders and flood controls. Of the reported damaged amount, the San Marcos Flood Control Bongo River at Brgy. San Marcos in Sarrat, Ilo

  DPWH INED II district engineer Mathias L. Malenab along with assistant district engineer James P. Ferrer, the section chiefs of DPWH-INSDEO and project engineer Ryan Cloyd R. Bundoc lead the groundbreaking for a two-storey eco-friendly building and a DPWH 2019 Standard Designed Ilocos Norte Second District Engineering Office in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte located just in-front of the current INED II office building. The project has a total area of 1,090 square meters and has a first release contract amount of PHP35,986,319.19 under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) C.Y 2019. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) central office has allocated an estimated PHP900 million worth of infrastructure projects for the Ilocos Norte Engineering District II for this year 2019.    DPWH INED II district engineer Engr. Mathias L. Malenab said the amount covers 43 multi-million infrast

  BATAC  Mayor Albert D. Chua leads the ribbon cutting of the newly inaugurated Batac RTC building. Batac City prosecutor Valentin Pascua, Rev. Father Philip Anthony Dimagiba and members of the city council join the mayor for the said activity held in celebration of the city’s 12 th  Charter Day on June 23 2019. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Batac City —In celebration of the 12 th anniversary of its cityhood, this city’s officials headed by Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua led the blessing and inauguration of government-owned buildings funded by the city government. The celebration kicked off with a mass held at Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church and followed immediately by the blessing and inauguration of the P5-million City Prosecutors Office Building; Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center (STAC) at Brgy. San Julian; and Bamboo Crop Center and Sweet Potato/Corn Processing Center at Brgy. Mabaleng, this city.   Mr. Chua announced th

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—A day before the June 29 mass oathtaking of newly and reelected provincial, city and municipal officials of Ilocos Norte, the provincial government will break ground a total of PHP2 billion infrastructure projects funded through a soft loan from the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines. As part of the continuing “Metro Ilocos Tourism Plan” to boost economic growth in this northern gateway of Luzon, these three big projects will become the centerpiece of transformation in Laoag this time. According to an Ilocano architect Felino Palafox Jr. who worked on the Ilocos Norte tourism plan in 2010 during the first term of outgoing Ilocos Norte Governor and now Senator-elect Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, “visiting and living in the province these days is exciting considering the many improvements that is taking place and the several infrastructure facilities that will be in place to enhance the aesthetics o

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The Vintar road construction in this city is now 90% complete. This was announced by construction section chief Engr. Romeo Bartolome of the Department of Public Works and Highways-1 st Engineering District. Mr. Bartolome explained that the project, which began in 2018, was delayed until this year because of heavy traffic and the rainy season. The 700-meter Vintar road project starts from General Luna Street to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building and includes the replacement of a bridge. The project was funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) by the national government with a PHP25 million amount. The said project also includes 16 solar lights. Mr. Bartolome appealed to the public to be more cooperative due to traffic congestion brought out by the construction. The Ilocos Times learned that this road has been a perennial problem for motorists due to its destroyed conc

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Paoay, Ilocos Norte —The Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Ilocos Norte Engineering District (INED) II advised that the construction of the Sawang Bridge replacement in this town is still ongoing. DPWH-INED II district engineer Mathias Malenab said the PHP30 million first release of the Sawang Bridge fund began in 2017 and continues up to present. He is hoping the additional funding for its completion will be released soon. He estimated the additional funding at less than PHP20 million. The bridge construction was delayed by the transfer of powerlines from the old, existing bridge to the new bridge. DPWH has completed the said transfer. He explained that the 45-meters bridge is located just beside the old Sawang Bridge, which is still operational and open to small type of vehicles. Earlier, DPWH-INED II temporarily closed the said bridge from 9 am to 5 pm on April 16, 2019 to launch the 40 meters type VI pre-stres

  By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter   Batac City—The P17 million expansion of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) expansion building in this city is 100% complete.   Jail/Insp. Antonio Sapaden made this announcement. He, however, noted that the building still needs it own transformer, thus there is still no electricity in the building.   Mr. Sapaden said the expansion building is intended for male persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) while the female detainees will remain at their existing dormitories.   He explained further that the transfer of the PDLs at the expansion building would depend on the presence of electricity including water availability.   He also added that they also still need to increase the perimeter fence’s height to avoid any escape attempt from the PDLs.   The two-storey building is located at the back of the existing jail at Brgy. Magnuang and was funded by the national government through the “Build-Build-Build” pr

Laoag City —Senior Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc said that they have already approved the budget for the renovation of the Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City and is currently “a matter of processing.” The Marcos Stadium last underwent renovation and had its oval track rubberized between 2008 and 2009, but lack of maintenance soon reduced the oval to a cement track. The complex now also houses the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office (INYDO) and Sports Development Office (INSDO), and was the venue of the first Ilocos Norte Youth Games and Ilocos Norte Children’s Games last year. “[Renovation] has definitely been on our to-do list nang matagal na . Even I go to the Stadium sometimes, and medyo depressing nga, at kung minsan , I also ask to increase the lights kasi ‘pag gabi, medyo madilim na masyado ,” said Mr. Manotoc. He acknowledged that quality sports facilities are key in encouraging locals to exercise: “ Ayaw mong mag -work out kun

SOON TO RISE . A bridge connecting Vintar poblacion to barangays north of the Bislak River will soon rise in this area.  ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—This town will soon have a bridge that will connect its poblacion area with barangays on the other side of the Bislak River. Rep. Rodolfo “Rudy” C. Fariñas (Ilocos Norte, 1 st district) initiated the project with an estimated fund of PHP300 million. Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor R. Racimo Jr. made the announcement. He said the Dept. if Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is conducting soil testing for the project. He said the bridge will measure at least 320 meters. The bridge will connect Vintar’s poblacion area to Brgys. Alsem, Salsalamagi, PF Alviar, Abkir, Columbia, Cabisuculan, Malampa and Manarang, all located north of the Bislak River. Brgy. Abkir kagawad Jojo Cumlat said that during the rainy season, barangays on the other side of the ri