The Ilocos Times

WATER RESERVE. A water impounding project in Batac City , Ilocos Norte stores rainwater for agricultural use in this undated photo. The provincial government has allocated PHP25 million to build at least 23 rainwater catchment facilities as part of preparations for prolonged dry conditions . ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY —The Ilocos Norte provincial government has set aside PHP25 million for the construction of at least 23 rainwater catchment facilities as the province prepares for prolonged dry conditions and possible El Niño impacts. Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) officer Marcell Tabije confirmed the allocation following a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Tabije said the project is intended to augment water supplies in communities that could face reduced availability during extended periods of below-normal rainfall. “The investment comes as communities face increasing pressure on w...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY —The city government of Laoag has expressed its appreciation to Davies Paints Philippines Inc. for supporting the repainting of all 92 Child Development Centers (CDCs) across the city. Laoag councilor Donald Nicolas said the Sangguniang Panlungsod has authorized Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid to enter into and sign a tripartite agreement with Liga ng mga Barangay President and ex-officio Sangguniang Panlungsod member Roque Benjamin C. Ablan and Davies Paints Philippines Inc., represented by Vice President for Business Development Engr. Maria Rosario Quintos. Under the proposed agreement, Davies Paints will donate 450 pails of paint valued at PHP1.3 million for the repainting of the city’s 92 CDCs. Nicolas said the project responds to the need to maintain and improve the facilities where young children receive early childhood care and development services. Repainting the centers will help improve their physical co...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter LAOAG CITY —The city government of Laoag has posthumously honored 12-year-old Mark Khianne Asuncion of Barangay 33-A La Paz for his courage and selfless attempt to save two cousins during a drowning incident in the barangay last year. The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a resolution commending Asuncion as a “ Young Hero of La Paz ” for risking his own life to rescue his cousins, an act that ultimately cost him his own young life. Laoag Councilor Jaybee Baquiran , who cited the boy’s extraordinary courage and presence of mind, said Asuncion immediately responded after seeing his two cousins in danger on September 12, 2025. According to the resolution, the two cousins were in a life-threatening situation when Asuncion intervened. He managed to rescue both of them and bring them to safety, but tragically drowned in the course of the incident. The council recognized Asuncion for placing the safety and lives of others before his own and d...

  DRUG-CLEARED. The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing conducts validation and deliberation on the drug-cleared status of Laoag ’s additional barangays. With the latest declaration, all 80 barangays of Laoag are now drug-cleared. (Photo courtesy of LMB Laoag) By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Laoag City has been declared “100 percent drug-cleared” after the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) validated and deliberated on the status of 18 additional barangays on September 9, 2026. Liga ng mga Barangay President and ex-officio Sangguniang Panlungsod member Roque Benjamin Ablan said the latest declaration brought all 80 barangays of Laoag to “drug-cleared” status. The validation and deliberation were conducted at the Philip Corpus Velasco Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Barangay 1, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, upon the motion of PDEA Regional Office 1 Director and ROCBDC Chairperson Julius M. Paderes Jr., PhD ,...

LASTING PRINCIPLE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pays tribute to his late father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., during the commemoration of the latter’s 109th birth anniversary in Batac City , Ilocos Norte on Friday (Sept. 11, 2026). Marcos said the principles and lessons he learned from his father continue to guide him in carrying out his responsibilities as president. (Screengrab from RTVM) CITY OF BATAC—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on September 11, 2026, honored his father and namesake, the late president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., as a “great man” whose lessons and principles continue to guide him in public service . During the commemoration of the elder Marcos’ 109 th birth anniversary in this city, the President recalled how his father taught him the value of public service, leadership , and sacrifice . He said his father taught him to stay on track and always do what is right, regardless of how difficult the circumstances may be. “So, one lesson—immedi...

Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas receives his Certificate of Completion and Certificate of Appearance during the face-to-face session and graduation of the Executive Education Program for Young Legislators , held August 30 to September 1, 2026, at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore . (Photo courtesy of VMO)   By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas has completed the Executive Education for Young Legislators (EEYL) program at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) of the National University of Singapore, bringing home new insights on governance, public policy and leadership. The executive education program ran from July 23 to August 31, 2026, with Fariñas attending the face-to-face session and graduation activities from August 30 to September 1 at LKYSPP. The program was conducted in partnership with the National Movement of Youn...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY— Mayor James Bryan Q. Acid delivered his first State of the City Address (SOCA) on September 7, 2026 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, highlighting the administration’s accomplishments during its first year in office and outlining projects and programs planned for the coming years. Dubbed “Makatkatwen ti Alisto a Serbisyo,” the address was delivered during a special session of the 13 th Sangguniang Panlungsod presided over by Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas. The council unanimously approved the suspension of its rules to accommodate the mayor’s SOCA. Among the administration’s priorities during its first year were disaster preparedness, public safety, digitalization, social services, health, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure.   Public safety and disaster response The city government strengthened its disaster and emergency response capabilities through the installation of additional AI-powered CCTV camer...

Batac City Councilor Martha Louise Aurora M. Borleo announces the passage of an ordinance temporarily suspending the payment of business taxes, rental fees and garbage fees for fire-affected vendors of the Batac Public Market . ( Doms Dela Cruz)   By Dominic B. dela Cruz;  Staff Reporter CITY OF BATAC— The city government of Batac has temporarily suspended the payment of business taxes, rental fees and garbage fees for market stall holders affected by the Batac Public Market fire for the third and fourth quarters of 2026. Batac Councilor Martha Louise Aurora M. Borleo said the measure was approved through an ordinance to provide temporary financial relief and help affected vendors resume and rehabilitate their businesses. The Batac Public Market fire damaged stalls and structures, destroyed inventories and disrupted business operations, leaving affected vendors with significant financial losses, Borleo said. Under the ordinance, payment of the covered fees for th...

  Councilors vote on the measure authored by Laoag Councilor Justine Chua establishing a three-tier permit and price-tracking system for the hog industry in Laoag City . ABC President Rbee Ablan, SK Federated President Rionell Jan Respicio and Councilor Eric Ang voted in favor, while Councilors Jeff Fariñas, John Michael Fariñas and Atty. Jason Bader Perera abstained. (Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. Dela Cruz.  Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Laoag City Sangguniang Panlungsod is moving to impose a three-tier permit and price-tracking system for the hog industry to improve transparency in the trading of live pigs and monitor price increases from hog raisers to the retail market. City Councilor Justine Clarence G. Chua, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and author of the measure, said the system is designed to identify where price increases occur, determine whether they are justified and curb unreasonable markups along the pork supply chain. Chua said the tradin...

Ayatko founder Aurelio Almazan Jr. presents the new global digital platform through Zoom during its formal launch on August 22 at the Twins Function Hall in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. (Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—An Ilocano entrepreneur from Barangay Bengcag has developed a global digital platform designed to strengthen family, community and cultural connections among Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad. Aurelio Almazan Jr., founder of the “Ayatko” mobile application, is currently based in Texas, United States, where he developed the Filipino community and family social networking platform to connect Filipinos across barangays, municipalities, provinces and international borders. Unlike conventional social media platforms, Ayatko was designed without algorithm-driven feeds, advertisements or the selling of user data, promoting what Almazan described as a more authentic, community-centered and privacy-conscious digital environmen...

G2G PROGRAM. Marites Maynes, senior labor and employment officer of the Department of Migrant Workers , assists a returning an overseas Filipino worker from Singapore at a shopping mall in Laoag City on August 26, 2026. The DMW said a number of G2G jobs is available to interested migrant workers. ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano LAOAG CITY—The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on August 27, 2026 encouraged aspiring overseas Filipino workers in the province to take advantage of its government-to-government (G2G) program that provides access to legitimate overseas employment opportunities facilitated through government arrangements. Marites Maynes, senior labor and employment officer of the DMW, said that through the DMW's Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau , qualified Filipino workers can access vacancies without relying solely on private recruitment agencies. The DMW currently maintains a dedicated platform for G2G vacancies and Recruitment Specification...

Nueva Era Mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz.  Staff Reporter NUEVA ERA, Ilocos Norte — Nueva Era Mayor Aldrin Garvida has confirmed the plan to establish an extension campus of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Nueva Era, which could provide nearby college opportunities for students who cannot afford to pursue four-year degrees in Laoag City or Batac. Garvida said the proposed extension is intended primarily to help Grade 12 graduates from Nueva Era and surrounding communities who want to continue their education but face financial difficulties, particularly the cost of transportation, boarding and other expenses associated with studying outside the municipality. However, he said the proposal is still pending before the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which must assess the project’s requirements and feasibility, including the projected number of enrollees and the courses that can be sustainably offered. “ Maawatan tay met iti CHED ken MMSU ...