The Ilocos Times

WINDMILLS. Gigantic wind turbines occupy vast lands as seen in this undated photo in Barangay Caparispisan, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. More of these are being proposed in neighboring Bangui town. ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—A 136-megawatt wind farm project is being proposed for Bangui, Ilocos Norte, reinforcing the province's reputation as one of the country's leading renewable energy hubs. The proposed development, with an investment of around PHP8.4 billion, aims to harness the municipality's strong and consistent wind resources to generate clean electricity, supporting the Philippines' transition to renewable energy and helping meet the growing demand for sustainable power. In a press release, Luzon Cleanergy Generation Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables Inc., said the project is expected to cover 3,321 hectares across eight villages, including Payac, Bacsil, Malasin, Abaca, Nagbalagan, Masikil, Manayon and San Lorenzo. A public scoping...

Laoag City —The Laoag City government’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has stood by its disqualification of Northpoint Alliance Motors Corporation (NAMCO), the losing bidder in the city government’s PHP92-million procurement of 80 vehicles, despite the company’s protest. In its letter addressed to Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Farinas, NAMCO said it was disqualified without its sealed bid being opened, allegedly on the ground that one of its owners is a provincial board member. The company argued that the official does not directly or indirectly influence the decisions and funding of Laoag City. NAMCO also questioned the BAC’s specifications, saying they appeared tailor-made for a particular brand and that the winning bidder failed to meet three requirements, which it said should have resulted in a failed bidding. It added that the winning bid amounted to PHP91.16 million, compared with NAMCO’s PHP83.98 million offer, or a difference of PHP7.18 million that it said could have been us...

Laoag City —The 13 th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Laoag has approved an ordinance granting holiday-with-pay benefits to job order (JO) and contract of service (CoS) workers of the city government, citing the constitutional right to health, the Mental Health Act, and related civil service issuances. The proposed measure, titled “Holiday with Pay Benefit of the JO and CoS Workers of Laoag City,” seeks to extend to JO and CoS personnel a benefit similar to the wellness leave granted by the Civil Service Commission to government workers under Resolution No. 2501292 and Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2026. The ordinance also cites Republic Act No. 4622, which provides for the payment of regular daily wages to government laborers and employees during special public holidays. Under the ordinance, all Laoag City Job Order and Contract of Service workers, regardless of length of service, are entitled to holiday leave with pay during regular, special and local holidays, except those as...

  At least 131 market stalls were burned in the Batac Public Market firer that began on July 5 and continued into the early hours of July 6, 2026. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter City of Batac —At least 131 business stalls were reduced to ashes in the fire that hit the Batac Public Market on July 5, 2026, starting at about 8:50 pm and continuing until around 6:00 am the following morning, Batac Mayor Mark Christian “Markee” Chua said. In response, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, headed by Batac Vice Mayor and presiding officer Abert D. Chua, immediately held a special session to declare the city under a state of calamity , following the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government . The declaration was also needed for the release of the city’s Quick Response Fund. Fire/Sr. Insp. Heinrich Gudoy and other members of the inspection team attended the session, in t...

GOV'T INCENTIVES. Visitors at the Paoay sand dunes in this undated photo. The provincial government said on July 10, 2026 that it continues to offer incentives to filmmakers, offering its cinematic landscapes such as this. File photo  By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY —The film industry in Ilocos Norte is getting a boost as the provincial government strengthens initiatives to attract local and international productions through a package of incentives and streamlined support services. The initiative aims to position Ilocos Norte as a premier filming destination by offering assistance with site matching, location fee waiver, logistical coordination, and access to the province's diverse natural landscapes, heritage sites, and cultural attractions. It is also part of the province's broader strategy to strengthen film tourism and promote Ilocos Norte as a competitive destination for local and international productions. “At present, the provincial government’s Media Inc...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz;  Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government here is urging all 80 punong barangays to intensify awareness, prevention and response measures against leptospirosis to reduce infections during and after heavy rains. Laoag Councilor Justine Clarence Chua reminded barangay officials that Laoag’s frequent tropical cyclones and prolonged rainfall increase the risk of waterborne diseases transmitted through floodwaters and contaminated soil, including leptospirosis. He described the disease as a serious bacterial infection that can cause high fever, jaundice, kidney failure, meningitis and death, and warned that even a few cases can burden local health services and families. The City Health Office reports four confirmed cases since July 2025, including two from Barangay Bengcag and two fatal cases from Barangays 6 and 46. Chua said barangay health workers, working with punong barangays, are key to early detection, reporting, education and referrals that e...

  Laoag Mayor James Bryan Alcid meets with barangays tanods and barangay officials headed by Laoag ABC President Rbee Ablan, Schools Division Superintendent Joan Corpuz, chief of police Lt. Col. Ryan Retotar and CDRRM officer Dr. Melvin Manuel for a stricter implementation of peace and order both in public and private schools in the city to avoid crimes and other illegal activities that might occur. ( Photo by Mr. Larry Pedralvez) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter Laoag City —To ensure public safety and protect residents from crime, the city government of Laoag has asked Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police, to deploy 106 additional police personnel to meet the ideal 1:500 police-to-population ratio and bolster security across 80 barangays and 64 schools. Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas said Laoag covers 12,747.35 hectares and comprises 80 barangays, 40 public schools and 24 private schools, all of which require ade...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz.  Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved PHP20.2 million for the Laoag City Sports Development and Tourism Promotions Project to host an international triathlon aimed at boosting employment, the local economy and tourism. The council authorized Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid to enter into a multi-year contract with a qualified supplier/consultant for the project. Laoag Councilor Donald Nicolas, chairperson of the appropriations committee, said Republic Act No. 12009 (the New Government Procurement Act) allows multi-year contracts subject to Multi-Year Contractual Authority (MYCA) and Department of Budget and Management conditions. The MYCA’s total project cost will be the basis for the Approved Budget for the Contract. The city plans to fund the project over two years. It allocated PHP6 million through Supplemental Budget Ordinance No. 13-013-2026 (Series of 2026) and will include the remaining PHP14.2 million in the 2027 ann...

Bangui Mayor Denton Lawrence Garvida delivers his 365 days State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) before the municipal council, municipal hall employees, barangay officials and the people of Bangui. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter Bangui , Ilocos Norte—Mayor Denton Lawrence G. Garvida delivers his first State of the Municipality Address (SOMA), “A Year of Service. A Vision for the Future,” at the Bangui People’s Center during the Sangguniang Bayan ’s second Special Session on June 30, 2026, marking his 365 days as local chief executive. Garvida reviews the municipality’s accomplishments, outlines ongoing projects and sets priorities for 2026–2027, stressing that local governance is a shared task among the municipal, provincial and national governments, barangays, civil society, the private sector and residents. Administrative governance and partnerships drive many projects. The LGU partnered with Mariano Marcos State University on tilapia grow‑out sit...

  Laoag City —Demonstrating its continued dedication to providing equitable and convenient identification services, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Ilocos Norte Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) intensified its national ID (NID) registration operations, recording a total of 1,805 registrants across the province in May 2026. This accomplishment was achieved through the enhanced implementation of field registration activities, particularly through mobile registration efforts conducted in collaboration with various local government units (LGUs), especially in the cities of Laoag and Batac. These outreach initiatives enabled the PSO to bring NID services closer to residents, making registration more accessible to individuals who encounter difficulties traveling to Fixed Registration Centers (FRCs) because of geographical, physical, or economic barriers. As part of the province’s operational strategy, considerable manpower resources were allocated to LGU-led mobile reg...

Batac Mayor Markee Chua leads the launching of the GCash City-zen's ID as part of the 19th Charter Day celebration, making Batac the first local government unit in Ilocos Norte to implement the program. Also present were Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, Ms. Trisha Dizon, GCash public sector head for North and Central Luzon, and city officials. (Photo by Dominic B. dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter CITY OF BATAC —The city government of Batac marked a milestone in digital governance during its 19 th Charter Day celebration on June 23, 2026, launching the GCash City-zen's ID and becoming the first local government unit in Ilocos Norte to implement the program. Batac Mayor Mark Christian “Markee” R. Chua and Trisha Dizon, GCash public sector head for North and Central Luzon, formally signed a memorandum of agreement during the launching. Designed to improve government service delivery, the GCash City-zen's ID allows residents to receive financial as...