The Ilocos Times

  Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., with the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) Director IV Julius Leaño alongside Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Angelo Marcos Barba, Vintar Mayor Richard Degala and Presidential Assistant for Northern Luzon Ana Carmela Remigio lead the launching of the Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) in Vintar, Ilocos Norte on July 3, 2026. The RYPIC is the first yarn production and innovation center in the Ilocos Region and the third in the country which marks a major step toward strengthening the local textile industry. The DOST continues to empower local weavers, textile producers, and entrepreneurs by providing access to science, technology, innovation, and modern production facilities. RYPIC now opens new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods while ensuring that the rich legacy of Filipino weaving thrives for future generations.  (Doms dela Cruz)

  MORE AWARDS. Vintar Mayor Richard Agregado Degala receives two awards from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Sinagtala Award , and Timpuyog Award in a ceremony held in San Fernando City, La Union on June 11, 2026. The Sinagtala Award recognizes the mayor’s outstanding partnership and unwavering commitment bringing government services closer to Overseas Filipino Workers ( OFW ) and their families in Vintar. Through responsive governance and meaningful collaboration, LGU Vintar has served a vital bridge between OWWA RWO1 and local communities ensuring that programs, opportunities and assistance reach those in need. While the Timpuyog Award also recognizes the mayor’s exemplary commitment to promoting the welfare, protection and empowerment of OFWs and their families through responsive local governance and innovative public service. Through the mayor’s steadfast partnership with OWWA ROW1, LGU Vintar has strengthened family resilience, expanded opportunitie...

Vintar Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Bayan presiding officer Dr. Maribel Albano presides over the Sangguniang Bayan members of Vintar during one of their regular sessions, now streamed live on social media as part of the body's innovations in legislative conduct.  (Photo courtesy of OVM) By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte —The Sangguniang Bayan here now holds its regular Monday sessions via live social media streaming, a move aimed at promoting transparency and keeping residents informed of local legislative proceedings. Vintar Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Dr. Maribel Albano announced this as one of the body's innovations in conducting its regular sessions. " Ammu yo gamin appo ket very vital ngamin amin a mapaspasamak ti uneg iti Sangguniang Bayan because this is where the seat of governance is centered on," Albano said. She added that the public deserves to know about all ordinances and resolutions being deliberated an...

DILG Regional Director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen cuts the ribbon and turns over the SGLG incentive fund project for improvements. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen led the formal turnover of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) incentive fund for improvements to the Vintar Sports Complex in Barangay Lubnac on June 4, 2026. Leusen congratulated Vintar Mayor Richard Degala and the Vintar local government for completing the project, noting that only SGLG awardees qualify for the grant. He says the incentive, while modest, rewards municipalities that meet DILG standards in areas such as financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, health compliance, education, business‑friendliness, peace and order, environmental management, tourism and culture, and youth development. Vintar received SGLG recognition in 2024. Degala ...

WAREHOUSE PROJECT. The inauguration and turnover of the San Jose warehouse with solar dryer to the local government of Vintar, Ilocos Norte on Oct. 15, 2025. With the solar dryer, farmers will no longer use road shoulders of highways to dry their produce, reducing post-harvest losses. ( Photo courtesy of Vintar LGU) By Leilanie Adriano Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Some 500 garlic farmers in this town are among the first beneficiaries of a newly opened multi-purpose warehouse with solar dryer in Brgy. San Jose that is seen to improve productivity and reduce post-harvest losses. In an interview, Vintar municipal agriculturist Maricel Serrano said "full utilization" of the warehouse is expected early next year, in time for the harvest season. "Most of our farmers are now preparing their farm lots for the planting season this coming November," Serrano added. "The expected harvest is by February next year." According to the project brief, the warehouse is ex...

Vintar, Ilocos Norte— Ilocos Norte is set to become Northern Luzon ’s hub for textile research and development with the forthcoming opening of the Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC), locally known as “Panait ni Siwawer,” on November 20, 2025. The partnership for the establishment of the center was formally sealed through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed on October 16, 2025 in Vintar, Ilocos Norte , between the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte , and the Municipality of Vintar. The facility, the first of its kind in Northern Luzon and the third in the entire country, forms part of DOST-PTRI’s program titled “Fostering the Revitalization of Nascent Textile Innovation Ecosystems in the Region.” It aims to strengthen the textile value chain by enabling the production of natural yarns from locally sourced fibers such as bamboo , cotton, abaca , and pineapple . On...

Vintar Mayor Richard Degala formally announces to the members of the media the 24-hour operation of the Vintar District Hospital starting Feb. 10, 2025 as he thanked Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew M. Manotoc for giving additional manpower for the said hospital’s operations. ( Doms Dela Cruz) Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Town Mayor Richard Degala formally announced that the operation of the Vintar District Hospital is now open on 24-hours staring Feb. 10, 2024. “Napalalo iti ragsak ken yaman ko ta finally , matungpalen tay nabayagen a kalkalikaguman dagiti appo a kakailiak ditoy Vintar aglalo dagitay padak a taga Surong ta ag 24 orasen daytoy Tamdagan District Hospital tayon wennu Vintar District Hospital’ en tapnu mas mapaalisto a mataming ta no adda emergency ket talaga a marigatan dagti padak a taga away a maitaray dagiti pasyente”, Degala said. The mayor thanked the provincial government of Ilocos Norte headed by Governor Matthew Joseph M. M...

VINTAR  residents revive loom weaving that once thrived in the community. (Photo courtesy of Erwin Suguitan) By Leilanie G. Adriano Vintar, Ilocos Norte—A vintage photo of a woman manually spinning thread in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, documented by an American writer in 1920, has sparked interest among residents to revive a cultural gem that once flourished in this landlocked municipality. Vintar, located some 330 miles north of Manila, was once known for Abel Iloco or Inabel, the traditional loom weaving industry. "A good friend sent this photo to me and I thought what a glorious way to display the history and culture of Vintar,” municipal tourism officer Erwin Suguitan told The Ilocos Times . He said the industry was said to have flourished “in the north of the river,” citing as proof a loom weaving machine displayed at the Museo de Siwawer at Brgy. Abkir. “And now, here comes this picture and its writeup that was copyrighted by a certain H. V. Rohrer and taken from the US ...

  ASF in Vintar. Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo confirms that Brgy. Dipilat of his town is ASF-affected during an interview with the local media. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—The African swine fever (ASF) has now affected this town. Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo personally confirmed this in an interview with the local media. Rasimo reported that they have culled 581 ASF-infected hogs at Brgy. Dipilat here. He said he and municipal agriculturist Dr. Myrna Simon have already met with the provincial ASF task force twice, which confirmed the ASF cases in the said barangay. “ Isu a pangngaasi tayo appo lalo dagiti adda taraken na a baboy ti intero a Vintar ta ipalubos tayo kuma a maalaan iti blood samples dagiti baboy tayo tapnu saan kuman nga agwaras ken al-alisto met laeng a mai- declare ti ili tayo nga ASF-free no maduktalan a negative dagiti taraken tayo a baboy ,” Rasimo implored his townmates. ...

Vintar municipal health officer Dr. Heidi Albano (standing, right) speaks to the members of the Sangguniang Bayan presided over by Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor Racimo (seated, left) on the Jan. 18, 2021 regular session regarding the plan of the said municipality for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Of the 23 local government units (LGUs) in the province, Vintar is still among those few which has yet to pass its 2021 annual budget. In an interview with Vintar Sangguniang Bayan member Arlene Ruadap, she disclosed that the proposed budget of said municipality for CY 2021 was still under review due to lack of documents needed and they are still incorporating additional items. In the proposed budget, Ruadap, who chairs the committee on finance and appropriations, said the municipality of Vintar deemed it proper to incorporate financial assistance for the transport sector, like the tricycle and j...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor Rasimo proposed the establishment of a financial aid for children with disabilities (CWDs) program. He said this will affirm the municipal government’s role in providing additional benefits and privileges for persons with disabilities (PWD’s) as provided under RA 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons as amended by RA 9442. Mr. Rasimo explained that the program aims to institutionalize the grant of a regular financial aid “to those who have less in life”, particularly indigent children with disabilities. As the author of the measure, the vice mayor and council presiding officer said the Vintar government adheres to the declared policy of the state by prioritizing the needs of the underprivileged, sick elderly, disabled, women and children as provided in Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution. The program will provide to all qualified indigent ...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Intermediate students in this town no longer need to share books during classroom discussions as they enjoy watching high quality video and photos flashed on screen while their teachers discuss the presentation. For a teacher like Flordeliza Domingo of this town, she said they feel so lucky to enjoy the benefits of a 21 st century school as the local government unit of Vintar is giving priority to the needs of their students. Sourced from the town’s Special Education Fund, the municipal government here allocated about PHP940,000 for the purchase of 114 cameras to all schools in this first-class municipality. The cameras, AverVision U50 5.0 megapixel features an auto focus lens up to 25-30 FPS live video capture, which students and teacher can use to project materials such as textbooks and other visual aid. It can also shoot clear pictures and videos. “We are thankful to the local government unit ...

  Vintar Vice Mayor Amado Victor Rasimo assists provincial veterinary officer Dr. Loida Valenzuela in the distribution of 321 goats to Vintar farmers. The recipients are those farmers whose crops were destroyed by typhoon “Ompong” two years ago. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—The Department of Agriculture (DA) thru the Provincial Veterinary (PVet) Office distributed 321 goats to farmers here. The farmer-beneficiaries were affected by the typhoon “Ompong” two years ago. PVet head Dr. Loida Valenzuela led the distribution of the said goats assisted by Vintar Vice Mayor Amado Victor Rasimo and several members of the Sangguniang Bayan. Dr. Valenzuela said the beneficiaries are farmers whose crops and animals were affected by “Ompong”. The Ilocos Times learned that former Ilocos Norte Governor, now Senator Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos has requested this rehabilitation for farmers not only in V...

Vintar Vice Mayor Amado Victor Racimo, representing the municipal government, meets the delegates from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the DPWH regional office on January 9, 2019 to verify the proposed rehabilitation of the hanging bridges destroyed by typhoon Ineng at Brgys. Isic-Isic and Lipay. The said project has an appropriated budget of PHP3 million and PHP8 million respectively, which was already approved. The Vintar government hopes the project will start at the soonest possible time. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—To strictly implement approved municipal ordinances here, Vintar Mayor Larisa C. Foronda issued an executive order (EO) deputizing several municipal employees and barangay officials, both elected and appointed, as citation officers. The EO states that the there are many violations of municipal ordinances without any apprehensions. This issue came out during a Municipal Peace and Order Council meeting. To correct this, Mrs. Foronda issued the EO to deputize municipal government employees and barangay officials to apprehended violators of this town’s ordinances. In addition, the EO will also help the municipal government in earning additional income through the fines prescribed for violations of ordinances here. The municipal government has also deputized local police and fire officers as citation officers. The EO also advised apprehended violators to pay their penalties at the municipal treasury off...

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor LAOAG City —ZAK Green Energy Philippines plans to put-up a mini hydropower plant in Vintar, Ilocos Norte. The said project is set to generate electricity using water source from the river particularly at Brgy. Canaam in the said town using the modernized ‘diversion type hydro plant’.   From the water source, they will use large steel pipes down to the ‘Power House’ where the water turbines are located. The hydro plant can produce 12 megawatts (MW) of power that can cater to about 10,000 households near it. Atty. Jingboy Atonen, ZAK’s legal counsel said the project cost is more than PHP1.5 billion. The project’s completion will take up to five years, or in 2024 if it starts this year. The project’s design officer Engr. Warlito Ramos, meanwhile, assures that there will be no dredging activity in the area. Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Atty. Saul Lazo, however said he is worried about the hazardous effects of the s...

Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo and other members of the Sangguniang Bayan discuss amendments to their internal rules of procedures for better work input as the new set of councilors begin their terms. (Doms dela Cruz )

Vintar Mayor Larisa Foronda delivers her State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) before other town officials and her constituents including municipal councilors headed by Vintar Vice Mayor and presiding officer Victor Rasimo, barangay officials, NGOs, NGAs, stakeholders and the public. She reported the municipal government’s accomplishments in her first three-year term of office. Mrs. Foronda specifically mentioned in her administration’s accomplishments with the help of the Sangguniang Bayan in all areas of agriculture, tourism, education, environment, infrastructure, and health among others. The mayor promised that her administration will continue to serve the people of Vintar in the next three years if she is given the chance to serve for her second term of office in the upcoming midterm elections. (Doms Dela Cruz)

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—In time for the summer season, the municipal government here launched another extreme adventure activity in the north that will surely entice both local and foreign tourists. Measuring around 230 meters, the very first bike zipline in the Ilocos region is being managed by the Vintar government led by Mayor Larisa Foronda. Located at Sitio Bucana in Brgy. Parparuroc, or about eight kilometers from downtown Laoag City, Mrs. Foronda hopes this latest tourism attraction in her hometown will awaken the town’s tourism potentials and bring in more livelihood opportunities to the locals. During the launching, provincial government tourism head Aianree Raquel has lauded the efforts of Vintar officials and those behind the realization of the project, offering something new for first time and returning visitors in the province. “We’ve seen and always know that Vintar has a very strong potential in terms of...