The Ilocos Times

FROM  left:. Bb Marcos 2 nd  runner up Charlene Miguel Bayudan (Brgy. Elizabeth), Miss ABC Stephanie Malilay (Pacifico), Miss Marcos 2024 Ma. Ninotcha Ericka Jenee Diza (Mabuti), Miss Tourism Lyca Mae Dumaoal (Valdez) and 3 rd  runner-up Sharies Mae Argell (Daquioag) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte – Thousands of Marcoseños has successfully joined and participated in this year’s 7 th Mannalon Festival, held March 9-14, 2024, with the theme “Rambak iti Panagsalukag’’. Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano expressed his “heartfelt thanks” to all the people behind the success of this year’s festival especially to the participants in all the activities. MARCOS  Mayor Antonio Mariano announces the success celebration of the 7th Mannalon Festival in Marcos in an interview with the members of the media. (Doms dela Cruz) The festival kicked-off with a motor show on March 9 followed by the launching of “Tiangge ni Tatang Hub”, “TESDA Day” and “Thanksgiving Night” o

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) City of Batac —As the Christmas season goes into high gear the New Year beckons, four local government units in the province said they will have a reduction of their annual budgets in 2023 compared to this year. Batac Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer Atty. Windell D. Chua said this city will have a decrease of PHP70 million for next year compared to the current budget. From the PHP903,677,575.48 2020 annual budget, the Batac council only approved PHP833,473,836.08 for the 2023   annual budget. Among the major reasons for the decrease, Chua said, was the National Tax Allocation (NTA) share reduction wherein the city government here had PHP 107 million less, or 14.46%, from their last year’s share. Chua promised though that services offered by the city government,   particularly in the agricultural sector, health, social welfare and infrastructure projects will not be affected, adding only the budget for capital o

Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano in an interview with the members of the media. ( Photo by Dulce Valenzuela) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte—" Awan kinagpayso na dayta nga agwarwaras ta iti kinapudno na ket kayat paylaeng dagiti appo nga kakailiak iti Marcos nga itul-tuloy ko iti pinagserbik kadakuada babaen ngata dagiti nagkaadu a makitkita da a pinag progreso ti ili mi ”. This was Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano clarification on rumors that he will no longer run for re-election in next year’s elections as he will be going back to the United States for his family. The Ilocos Times learned that there are already some politicians eyeing the said mayoralty post, including his opponents in 2019 election and one of his present councilor. The mayor likewise said that his relationship with Marcos Vice Mayor Hilario Lorenzo is “okay in terms of work”. “ Dayta iti the big question mark no kayat nak to pay a kadwa wennu saanen ngem possible met a kadwa

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte—The Philippine National Police ( PNP ) Regional headquarters recognized Marcos Mayor Antonio V. Mariano with a plaque of recognition as one of the stakeholders for his enormous contributions in the PNP’s different programs and projects. Region I National Police Commission (NPC) Legal Affairs Unit chief Atty. Mary Hazel Bela-o and PNP regional director P/Brigadier General Emmanual B. Peralta handed the award during the kick-off ceremony of the 26 th Police Community Relations Month celebration with the theme, “Pulisya at Pamayanan, BARANGAYanihan sa Hamon ng Pandemya at Laban sa Krimen” held at Police Regional Office I, San Fernando, La Union on July 5, 2021. Mariano thanked the PNP for the award; he said he was surprised by it and that he was not expecting anything in return for his personal help to the different PNP stations including the PMFC, Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) and as far as PNP regiona

Inauguration of 2 more infra projects follow By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte—The municipality of Marcos will soon have its own three-storey new multi-purpose/municipal hall building after a ground breaking ceremony held Feb. 8, 2021, signaling the start of construction. Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc, who served as guest of honor in the groundbreaking, said in his speech that he “strongly expresses his full support with this monumental undertaking of Marcos as their stepping stone of going to a more progressive municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte”. Manotoc added that the people of Marcos deserve a new municipal building as a “representation and a symbol in the entire municipality and the people itself”. He applauded the leadership of the Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano and the whole Sangguniang Bayan headed by Marcos Vice Mayor Hilario Lorenzo for this initiative believing that this town hall will be one of the “nicest tow

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Marcos, Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here proposed three-storey town hall from the existing 50-year-old two-storey old building. Marcos town mayor Antonio Mariano announced this in an interview saying, “it’s about time to construct a new building municipal hall of Marcos”. As of press time, the mayor said all offices at the municipal hall are all getting ready in transferring their office supplies and equipment temporarily to the rural health unit (RHU), ABC building and other offices outside the municipal hall. “Makita tay metten a daan detoy municipyo tayon ta agob-obo pay ketdin no kasta nga agtudo ta agarup nasursurok payen ngem 50 years nan , ” Mariano said. The neophyte mayor added that the municipal government has applied for a loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) in the amount of PHP132 million with a 2.5% percent interest per annum payable for 15 years. The mayor hopes that construction will sta