The Ilocos Times

  HAPPY GRADUATION. Ilocos Norte's second batch of DICT RIS graduates pose for posterity with their mentors and local officials on Dec. 2, 2019 at the Provincial Capitol session hall. (Lei Adriano)   By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter   LAOAG CITY—Eighteen trainees from Ilocos Norte graduated on December 2, 2019 from a 12-day blended learning on digital marketing and e-commerce course courtesy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) Technical Training program.   In a simple graduation ceremony held at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol, Honey Eileen Julian said she feels more confident now after going through many sleepless nights to complete the comprehensive technical program.   “It’s quite fulfilling to finished the program—a survival of the fittest indeed!” said Ms. Julian saying her experience in digital marketing along with the small and medium enterprises they work with gave her new perspect

  FREE WI-FI IN LAOAG . Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon together with PLDT and Smart Telecommunications personnel, and Vertext Handyphone’s Handy Lao relaunch the free and upgraded Google Wi-Fi to the public. The 24-hour free Wi-Fi service covers the Laoag International Airport, Laoag City Hall, Laoag City Pubic Market and Aurora Park. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The city government here in cooperation with Smart Telecommunication and Vertext Corporation re-launched the free and upgraded Google Wi-Fi service in this city. Laoag councilor and Vertext President and CEO Handy Lao said the relaunched services will be give better and faster internet connectivity in select areas around the city. Mr. Lao disclosed further that the relaunched service is now “unlimited”, whereas the previous iteration limited access to 30 minutes per user in a day. The select areas are the Laoag International Airport (LIA), Laoag City Public Mar

Laoag City —In a bid to create more quality public spaces equipped with upgraded internet connectivity and accessible communication services, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), in partnership with a telecommunications company, started the installation of free wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) service in its pilot areas on September 18, 2019. Areas for the phase I of public Wi-Fi service include the Provincial Capitol Building, Aurora Park, and the Laoag City Hall, San Nicolas IT Park, and the Batac City Hall. “Last week, sinimulan na natin ang pag -install ng free Wi-Fi dito sa Provincial Capitol para mas mapadali pa ang transaction ng services natin . At the same time, while people are waiting for their turn in line, they can use the free internet for entertainment or for other important communication needs,” provincial information technology officer-in-charge Wilfredo Lorenzo Jr. said. According to Mr. Lorenzo, after the Wi-Fi installation in the Prov

Laoag City —Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos is urging the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to “seriously consider” implementing a “lifeline” rate for consumers who are not heavy users of data and mobile services. She is also proposing a package of measures to reduce the cost of phone calls, text messages, and data services so as to end the country's record of having one of the highest mobile voice and SMS rates in Asia. “A ‘lifeline’ rate which could be based on a consumer’s average data and mobile use would benefit mostly lower income Filipinos,” the governor said. “The poor sectors of our society use the internet less frequently than the ‘techie’ ones; hence they should not be burdened with high cell phone charges that they did not actually incur.” Ms. Marcos urged the government to remove the value-added tax on telecommunication services, such as phone calls

SP member Matthew Manotoc and other Ilocos Norte officials distribute laptops, projectors and television sets to various Ilocos Norte primary schools. ( Photos courtesy of CMO) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Some 245 primary schools in the province became the latest recipients of 118 laptops, 100 projectors and 181 Smart LED television sets courtesy of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte. Funded under the Special Education Fund of the province, provincial government officials distributed the school equipment on August 30, 2018 in time for the management committee meeting and oath-taking of the new set of officers of the School Division of Ilocos Norte Federated Parents Teachers Association with Sangguniang Panlalawigan senior member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc as inducting officer. In his speech, Mr. Manotoc expressed gratitude to the parent-representatives and to the teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education Iloco

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Ilocos netizens here are eagerly awaiting the entry of a third telecom player, which they expect to break duopoly of communication firms in the country. This is one of the good news Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque shared in his recent visit to Laoag as he reported that they have discussed in a cabinet meeting the improvement of the country’s internet connectivity. Like in most parts of the country, residents here have been complaining a lot about the poor internet service provided by the two telecom firms. “I hope the new telco challenger will compete against the two big players in the industry and ensure no consolidation,” said Roger dela Cruz, an information technology graduate from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. In social networking sites, rants about crawling internet connectivity both from private and public consumers are a common status posts in the Philippines, having the lowest