The Ilocos Times

Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas defends his measure regarding the city government of Laoag expressing its commitment to transparency, accountability and community consultation in the implementation of national infrastructure projects in the city of Laoag. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here expressed its “commitment to transparency, accountability and community consultation in the implementation of national infrastructure projects in the city of Laoag”. Section 1, Article XI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that, “Public Office is a Public Trust’. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people with highest standard of transparency, efficiency, and public trust;” Sections 2 and 27 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that it is the Policy of the State to require all national agencies and offices to conduct periodic consultations with a...

Laoag councilor Donald Nicolas defends his measure for a partnership between the city government of Laoag through the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Officer (OCSWDO) and Parola Santuwaryo to be the city’s referral facility for girls, who are 8 and over 18 years old who are physically or mentally disabled and could not take care of themselves and are survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation and human trafficking in the province. (Doms dela Cru z) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —The city government of Laoag, through the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Officer (OCSWDO) intends to partner with Parola Santuwaryo where it will become the city’s referral facility for girls aged 8 to 18 years old, who are physically or mentally disabled and could not take care of themselves and are survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation and human trafficking in the province. Laoag councilor Donald Nicolas said Parola Santuwaryo, Inc., has ...

  Laoag Mayor  James Bryan Alcid signs Executive Order No. JBA 001-2025, adopting the tagline “Alisto, Asenso, Progreso” for Laoag City with the assistance of newly appointed city administrator Atty. Ed Von Cid. ( Photo courtesy of Laoag LGU) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —The new administration in this city unveiled a new tagline, ““Alisto, Asenso, Progreso”. The new tagline became effective after new Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid signed Executive Order No. JBA 001-2025, adopting the new tagline. The neophyte mayor said the new tagline reflects the direction of the new administration in building a government that is responsive, progressive, and committed to serving all Laoagueños anchored on “Alisto” [alert and quick to respond], “Asenso” [growth and improvement], and “Progreso” [inclusive development]. In addition, Alcid likewise approved and signed two memoranda: “Implement Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act” (RPVA...

NEW Laoag Mayor. New Laoag Mayor Bryan Alcid takes his oath along with other elected and reelected officials before former Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc at the Centennial arena.  By Dominic Dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —New Laoag City Mayor James Bryan Alcid formally took his oath of office administered by outgoing Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc during the Inauguration Ceremony of all the newly elected officials in the entire Province of Ilocos Norte held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on June 14, 2025. Highlighting the ceremony was the official turnover of leadership of Manotoc passing the Provincial Mace to incoming Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos as a symbol for the formal transfer of position followed by the administering of oath with the provincial higher officials down to the municipal/city officials. The former governor administered the oath of office of all the 23 newly elected mayors including Alcid, pledg...

Laoag City —The SM Supermalls will give free access to movie screenings at their cinemas for senior citizens (SC) and persons with disabilities (PWD) exclusively for the city of Laoag City as an initiative not only to promote inclusivity and accessibility but also to enhance the overall well-being of these individuals for entertainment and social engagement. Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas, the brainchild of the said program announced this after the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Laoag government represented by outgoing Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon and Fariñas, and the SM Supemalls officials,   represented by SM Cinema SAVP. Karen C. Zabaljaurequi and North 1-SM Supermalls Regional Operations Manager Rona B. Correa held June 23, 2025 at SM City Laoag.   After the MOA signing, several SC’s and PWDs who also attended the MOA signing, had the chance to watch a movie right after the program. Fariñas said that SM Cinema will allow SCs and PWDs to ...

  Laoag  vice mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas personally hands over 61 foam mattresses, acquired from his personal finances to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Laoag as earlier requested by Jail Warden Sheila Marie Sapaden. “Dagitoy ket regalok para iti panang selebrar da iti Valentines Day ta nakitak a saan da a komportable gapu ta daanen dagiti agdama nga us-usaren daken nangibati tayo pay bassit a pinagsasangwan da,” Fariñas said. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice Mayor)

Laoag  councilor James Bryan Alcid (standing left) promises to give PHP100,000 to the 200 participating students as their token cash incentives for the recently concluded Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) held at Dagupan City during the last regular session in the presence of the junior city officials. ( Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City -City councilor James Bryan Alcid promised to give PHP100,000 as token cash incentives to all the 200 participating Laoag students in the recently conducted Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) held in Dagupan City recently. Alcid made the promise during a regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod wherein it was reported that the DepEd Laoag Division has demonstrated outstanding performance during the RSPC emerging as the overall champion in the elementary level and first runner-up in the overall result of the event, further showcasing the talent, hard work, and dedication of both the students...

  Business One Stop Shop . Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Laoag unanimously approved the extension of the “Business One Stop Shop” from Jan. 20 to 31, 2025 in the city of Laoag without surcharges and penalties to accommodate the 5,000 business establishments’ license renewal. ( Doms Dela Cruz)

Trike franchise amnesty. Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) member and chairman of the Committee on Public Works, Transportation and Communications James Bryan Alcid and several members of the council headed by Laoag vice mayor and council presiding Officer Rey Carlos Fariñas  congratulate the first batch of 100 franchise holders whose applications for amnesty were approved during the last regular session. “Daytoy a ganwat ket maiparit a talaga ngem sapay la kuma ta maudi daytoyen ta unfair met kadagitay natudyo a franchise holders ken daytoyen iti maudi iti datoy a termino mi,” Alcid said. The amnesty program was approved by joint committees of laws and transportation through a resolution granting amnesty to the 220 franchise holders that were revoked and those who illegal sold their franchises. The remaining 120 second batch will follow soon. (Doms delc Cruz)  

  Ilocos Norte 1 st  district Rep. Sandro Marcos presents the letter requesting  Php 500 million for the access road project. Laoag City —Ilocos Norte first district Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos replied to accusations that he is “politicking” when he criticized the Laoag City government’ mall bypass road project. His criticism of the said project happened during the filing of certificates of candidacy for next year’s elections. He pointed out that even if the proposal letter made by Laoag mayor Michael M. Keon—addressed to the Dept. of Public Works and Highways—was made during the first quarter of this year, Congress only gets to scrutinize the budget proposals for the general appropriations act in September of each year, or when the House of Representatives session resumes after the President’s state of the nation address. The young Marcos stressed that other than the timing, people should focus on the huge discrepancy between the DPHW project cost an...

Laoag  mayor Michael Keon along with several members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod headed by Laoag vice mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas lead the distribution of the PHP12 million worth of agricultural inputs to all the 1,500 combined farmers and fisher folks associations in the city. (Doms Dela Cruz ) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —The city government here, by mayor Michael M. Keon, distributed   PHP12 million worth of agricultural inputs to farmers and fishermen in the city. According to Keon, he said he considers the agricultural sector as the most important sector in the city considering that it “provides food on the table”. This is the reason, he said he strongly supports the agricultural sector to ensure the constant food supply here in the city. The mayor believes that food will be one of the main issues in the future and he wanted Laoag to be a self-sufficient and the people to buy local and not imported food products. The mayor cong...

The Laoag City delegation to Hawaii, headed by mayor Michael Keon and the 10 Sangguniang Panlungsod members pay a courtesy call to City and County of Honolulu chairperson and presiding officer Tommy Waters and members of the City Council. ( Photo courtesy of MMK) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —City mayor Michael M. Keon led the city government’s delegation to the State of Hawaii this August as per invitation of Honolulu city council chairperson and presiding officer Tommy Waters. Waters, in his invitation, expressed his gratitude for the signing of the sisterhood relationship between Honolulu and the City of Laoag a few months ago held here in the city that resulted in the strong foundation for future collaborations. It was learned that Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Keon and Laoag vice mayor and Presiding Officer Rey Carlos Farinas signed the sister city agreement, renewing the two cities’ commitment to the prosperity of the relationship between them. A...

  Laoag  Mayor Michael Keon along with officials from the PAG-IBIG Fund and Dept. of Human Settlements and Urban Development conducted an on-site inspection at the construction site of EL Sands Residences at Brgy. 31 Talingaan to personally oversee and monitor the progress of the project. The Phase I of the project is on track to be finished by the end of August this year. The project comprises a total of six buildings, with Phase I alone boasting 100 units that will soon become homes to many individuals and families in need of low-cost housing. Accompanying the mayor is Elliot Louis McLoughlin, the Chairman of EL Construction & Development Group, Inc.; Randy Halasan, Director IV of the 4PH Project Management Office; Engr. Sherwin Patanao, 4PH Regional Focal Person; Herald Alinao, Ilocos Norte 4PH provincial head and Engr. Chris Jason Caccam with city engineer Engr. Marishel Batuac and city planning and development coordinator Ruby Ann Bunalade. (Doms dela Cruz )

Laoag City —SM Supermalls, in partnership with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN)-Public Employment Services Office, the Dept. of Labor and Employment, and Jobstreet by Seek conducted a job fair titled, “Trabaho para sa Super Pinoys” at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, Laoag City, on June 25. In preparation of the upcoming opening of the new SM Laoag City, the said job fair offered over 600 employment opportunities. It served as a platform for the participants to engage with industry professionals, and to explore a wide range of positions, from entry-level roles to professional careers, offering options for those looking to enter or re-enter the workforce. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc led the ribbon cutting at the event, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the benefits of this new partnership, “We have to make sure na ma -maximize po natin ang mga benefits sa ating kakailian . We should think of our people first, secondly, our environment,...

LAOAG  Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas is the only legislator of Ilocos Norte that joined the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) trip to Sennan City, Osaka, Japan from May 7-11, 2024.  Fariñas had the chance to propose for partnerships with the international agencies on their possible projects that might be feasible for the City of Laoag for adaptation. On the first day,  they discussed the roles of embassies and consulates in the foreign countries and the styles on diplomacy, constitution and laws as presented by Voltaire Mauricio. After which, the group visited the Osaka Prefectural Government and discussed the Osaka Expo 2025. The second day featured the discussion on data science and other topics from Japan for the Philippine Tech Leap represented by Professor Renzo Tan. Professor Neriza Sato, meanwhile, discussed the possible areas of engagement with Filipino-Japanese Community since she has been part of the Philippine Community Coordinating Counci...

Laoag SK federated president Michael Christoph Agustine defends his measure requesting Rep. Sandro Marcos to allocate fund for the construction, rehabilitation and expansion of LMB and SK buildings. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —With the aim of “fostering a better coordination and communication among the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials” in this  city, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here approved a measure requesting Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos, through the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to allocate funds for the construction, repair, rehabilitation, and expansion of the existing Liga ng Mga Barangay (LMB) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) building situated at Brgy. 2 Sta. Joaquina, this city. Sangguniang Kabataan Federated President and Sangguniang Panlungsod ex-officio member Michael Agustin said the construction of the LMB and SK buildings are deemed essential to facilita...

  The City Veterinary Office spearheaded by Dr. Samantha Licudine, city veterinarian, conducts a veterinary medical mission at the Brgy. 25 Multi-purpose Hall. This initiative was part of the Rabies Awareness Month celebrations last March and was a collaborative effort with the City Agriculture Office, led by Engr. Sheila Marie Opelac, TopBreed, represented by Richard Agustin, Regional Sales Manager North Luzon, Regional Veterinary Quarantine Service, Ilocos Norte Provincial Veterinary Office, and various veterinary practitioners in the city. The event offered essential veterinary services, including anti-rabies vaccinations, deworming, consultations, treatments, and the spaying/neutering of dogs and cats. It was learned that the city government is planning to establish a dog and cat pound which aims to reduce rabies incidents and potential road accidents caused by stray animals. The city government of Laoag also distributed 17 pigs from the animal breeding station to various reci...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The city government here will grant financial incentives and recognition certificates to bona fide residents of the city who excelled in either the bar or board licensure examinations and declared as topnotchers by the Supreme Court of the Philippines or the Professional Regulation Commission. Article 14, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, provides, that, “The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all”. Article 2, Section 17 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution likewise provides, that, “The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development”. Records show that the city government has an existing ordinance giving cash incentives to honor/d...

LAOAG  Councilor James Alcid defends his measure requesting the removal of plant boxes and overlay pavement which has effectively suspended the construction of a bike lane along the bypass road. (Inset) The suspended construction of a bike lane along the bypass road in Laoag City.  (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The construction of A bike lane along the Rodolfo C.G. Farinas Jr. bypass road remains suspended following another resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod here. Laoag councilor James Bryan Alcid requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-Region 1 office) to remove the plant boxes and overlay pavement of the suspended government project launched by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), along the Rodolfo C.G. Fariñas Jr. bypass road, which he said should to be replaced by thermoplastic paint with solar studs and to be painted with cautionary color scheme. The Philippine Highway Network under the Ph...