The Ilocos Times

Piddig , Ilocos Norte—Police operatives here arrested former town councilor Marvin A. Crisostomo, 42 in a buy-bust operation. According to the police report, Mr. Crisostomo was about to buy bread in a bakery when an undercover police officer approached him to buy shabu. When he handed over the alleged drug, other police officers immediately arrested him. Seized from him were two medium size sachets of suspected shabu and the PHP 1,000 marked money. The police said they surveilled Mr. Crisostomo for several months and was in in their “drug watch” list. (Bernard Ver)

Piddig mayor Georgina Guillen with treasurer Ofelia Ventura and accountant Victor Pascual receives the check from DSWD representative Elizabeth Aquino. (Berong Ver)   By Bernard Ver Contributor PIDDIG, Ilocos Norte—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 1 turned over PHP1 million fund from Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program to the municipal government here. The DSWD through its Protective Services Program places emphasis in ensuring that the government provides indigent and vulnerable individuals with the necessary assistance thru AICS to help them cope during crisis situations. Under AICS, the DSWD provides educational, medical, burial and of transportation assistance to persons/families in crisis situations, specifically those belonging to the informal sector, indigenous group and other marginalized, vulnerable, and differently-able individuals. "Maagap at tuloy-tulo

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Diocese of Laoag and the residents of Piddig town look forward to the full restoration of the 207-year-old St. Anne parish church in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, about 30 kilometers from this city. Father Carlito “Joey” Ranjo Jr., Diocese of Laoag spokesperson said it took about two years for restoration experts to study the church structure and materials used to determine the right approach to fully restore the church. After the conduct of several digging operations in the church wall and some parts of the church compound, Mr. Ranjo clarified these were all part of the process contrary to allegations that the excavation was due to “treasure hunting”. “We hope the church restoration with start this January as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines already approved an initial funding of PHP50 million,” said Mr. Ranjo. In September 2014, Laoag diocese closed the St. Anne parish due to structural problems

Manila —The Center for Food and Agri Business (CFA) of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) held its ‘Year-end Food and Agribusiness’ conference with the theme “Sustainable Philippine Food and Agribusiness: How to shape the future?” on December 5, 2017 at Ortigas Center in Pasig City. Among the speakers for the conference were Dr. Rolando Dy, executive director, Center for Food and Agri Business (CFA) who spoke about the agriculture scenarios in 2017-2018; Rosemarie Gumera, Sugar Regulatory Administration planning manager, spoke about the sugar industry; Philip Moran, Amici Foodservice Ventures, Inc chief operating officer and general manager spoke about the food service industry; Phillip Ong, Santeh Feeds Corporation president discussed the aquaculture industry; and Edwin Mapanao, Univet chief marketing officer, talked the animal health and nutrition industry. Former Piddig mayor now consultant Engr. Eduardo “Eddie” Guillen, who expounded on his municipality’s be

Piddig , Ilocos Norte—Carabao, or water buffalo, was once a farmer’s best friend in Ilocos Norte. Farming families highly depended on it for draft. But as heavy infrastructure developments and agricultural modernization took place, the carabao industry has waned over the years. In Piddig town, the local government unit here is trying to save water buffalo from extinction. Recognizing its potential as a local source of milk and meat, Piddig mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen believes the need to develop and conserve water buffalo production. “We need carabaos, not just to help farmers to plow the land but they also give us milk and meat. They exist to balance our ecosystem,” Ms. Guillen said in an interview. As baby steps to revive the industry, the Piddig local government moved to conduct an inventory of the remaining water buffalo in every rural village here. Under the animal health program here, the local government unit will focus on the health welfare of water bu

Piddig , Ilocos Norte – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Ilocos Norte Chapter spearheaded by Atty. Cherrie Grace Bareng-Asistin initiated a legal aid consultation for town folks here for free. At least 20 participants attended the said activity with most of their queries concerning land disputes and ownership. Other participants availed of the free public notary on their legal documents. Ms. Asistin emphasized that this activity is part of the local bar association on their Law Week Celebration. This year’s is “IBP: Promoting Justice through the Rule of Law.” “We [IBP] are here to help our kababayans [countrymen] in the entire province [Ilocos Norte] with their dilemmas and other concerns on the laws of the land—under the Republic of the Philippines and our office is open for everyone,” Ms. Asistin added. As part of their other notable projects, the IBP is active in safeguarding the integrity of the bar exams; promoting ethical practices of lawyers,

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Piddig , Ilocos Norte—Before farmers could take that match to light up scattered rice straw in the farm lands, the local government unit of Piddig is offering cash to them should they convert it into organic fertilizer. Pegged at Php 5,000 per farmer, the Piddig LGU announced that they are buying rice straw locally known as “garami” from farmers. Former Piddig mayor, now consultant to the Office of the Mayor, Engr. Eduardo Guillen, said this is one way of encouraging them not to burn their farm wastes but instead, convert them into cash. Town mayor Georgina Guillen said the municipal agriculture office has been collecting dry rice straw from farmers for a fee. Vermicomposting technology converts rice straws into organic fertilizer, and then the LGU will give the produce back to farmers’ cooperatives for free. Despite the presence of a provincial ordinance prohibiting the burning of rice straw in the entire province, t