The Ilocos Times

Nearly one in four Filipino adolescents falls behind in school by age 18, according to findings from one of the country’s most extensive studies tracking child and adolescent development.  Researchers behind the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child (LCSFC) found that disadvantages experienced early in life—including poor nutrition, poverty, mental health challenges , and exposure to work—continue to shape educational outcomes and future opportunities years later. Among the cohort studied, 30.6% were already stunted at age 10, while 15.8% had experienced work. Over the following years, school progression steadily declined, with the proportion of adolescents remaining academically on track dropping from 90% at age 10 to 82% at age 15, and further to about 75% by age 18. Dr. Judith Borja , lead investigator of the study and former director of the University of San Carlos–Office of Population Studies Foundation (USC-OPS Foundation), said childhood experiences contin...

Violence experienced at home and exclusion encountered in school can have lasting consequences on Filipino adolescents’ education, well-being, and future opportunities, according to studies presented during the second session of the forum “Ugnayan: The Journey of Filipino Adolescents Across Past, Present, and Future”. Organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support from the Australian Government, the session examined how childhood and adolescent experiences shape long-term development outcomes. Drawing from the Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child (LCSFC), PIDS researchers found that children exposed to parental violence were significantly less likely to stay in school, while adolescents with diverse sexual orientations faced higher risks of domestic violence and bullying. The LCSFC, which follows about 5,000 Filipino children from age 10 in 2016 until they reach young adulthood in 2030,...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The city’s Sangguniang Kabataan federation president and Sangguniang Panlungsod ex-officio member Anzhelyka Faye Lao expressed surprise on the issue of an alleged case filed against her at the Office of the President. Ms. Lao, in an interview during a regular session, said she does not know anything about any complaint filed against her at the Office of the President; she, however said she is aware of an administrative charge filed by Barangay 47 (Bengcag) SK chairperson Mary Diane Domingo. Ms. Domingo filed an administrative charge at the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for “grave misconduct and gross inefficiency resulting to loss of confidence against Lao”.    The complaint stemmed from an event in November 2018 during a seminar, training, team-building session attended by all Laoag SK chairpersons, which the budget or funding was allegedly questioned. The complaint also indicated the alleged incompet...

  THE PROPER WAY TO WASH HANDS . P/Lt. Col. Mar Louise Bundoc, force commander of the Ilocos Norte 1 st  PMFC, Nenita Cabella, head teacher III of the Pila Elementary School, P/Master Sgt. Noel R. Abad along with some pupils demonstrate how to do proper hand washing to get rid of germs and avoid infectious diseases. The wash area was made possible with the help of runners and shooters joining fun run and shooting events in the city. (Leilanie G. Adriano)   By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter   LAOAG CITY—Over a hundred teachers and pupils at the Pila Elementary School in this city joined a simultaneous hand washing demonstration at the newly-installed “wash area” facility, which is just a few steps away from the classrooms of learners.   But unlike any other wash area constructed in the school, the Pila school’s hand washing facility was a “labor of love” from the runners and shooters who are joining regular fun run activities and shoot fest comp...

Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, through the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office (INYDO) and in partnership with Philippine Red Cross (PRC) called for blood donors as they conducted the “Sirib Youth Blood Bank” donation drive on November 29, 2019 from 9:00 A.M to 2:00 P.M., at the Philippine Red Cross Office, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The ‘Sirib Youth Blood Bank,’ a quarterly activity of the INYDO and the PRC started in 2017, to celebrate INYDO’s fourth anniversary. “Aside from the fact that this activity promotes volunteerism among Ilokano community, particularly the donors, it is also one way of showing unity or panagkaykaysa . Simpleng aktibidad lang siya kung tutuusin , but it could help and save hundreds of lives; sa mga Ilokano families who will be needing blood supply,” Willie Jake Sib-at, local youth development officer remarked. Since 2017, the INYDO recorded almost 200 donors from various institutions, organization, and groups througho...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Batac City —In a bid to further help children in conflict with the law (CICL), the Sangguniang Panlungsod here requested the provincial government of Ilocos Norte thru Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc for the establishment of Bahay Pag-Asa in the province. Batac councilor Kichel Jomarie Pungtilan and Batac vice mayor Atty. Windell Chua sponsored the measure which the council later approved. Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. Records show, Mr. Pungtilan said, that there are already CICL cases in the province citing an example in this city wherein 23 CICL cases were reported from January 2016 up to the present; and five of them were sent to Bahay Pag-Asa in Bauang, La Union. The measure, Mr. Pungtilan added, helps the families and rel...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Hundreds of students lined up for work at the ground floor of the Provincial Capitol on November 20, 2019 as application for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in December began. For Sharina Mae Verdadero, a student of Bachelor of Science in English Language in the City of Batac, she said the program is worth trying not just to earn for money but also to gain more experience. Open to all students aged 15 to 25 years old, Ana Marie Leaño, public services officer 1 said, “there are 200 slots ready to be filled up this December holiday.” Applicants should submit a duly-accomplished application form issued by PESO, a photocopy of NSO birth certificate, and one passport size picture. Deadline of submission is on Friday, November 22. The program aims to take advantage of the Christmas holidays to give opportunity to Ilocano youth to earn money for their education and basic needs. Beneficiaries...

Laoag City —In support of “Fridays for Future” (FFF) and 350.org’s environmental advocacies, more than 50 young Ilocano eco-warriors participated in the global climate strike at the Aurora Park in this city on May 24, 2019. FFF started when 15-year old Swedish school girl, Greten Thunberg, solely began protesting outside the Swedish parliament asking for immediate action on climate crisis. It went viral and she continued promoting her advocacy on her personal social media accounts. Ms. Thunberg delivered an eye-opening speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December last year. The first global climate strike was conducted on March 15, 2019 with an estimated 1.6 million students in 125 countries around the world joining the movement. Meanwhile, Switch Philippines (Switch PH) and Movement against Plastic Pollution (MAPP)-Ilocos Norte spearheaded the global strike in Ilocos Norte. It is the only province in Region I that joined this month’s movemen...

DSWD Field Office 1 head Dir. Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo together with the representatives of the SLC and SALAKNIB poses for commemorative photos in the beginning of their journey towards helping RRCY clients and staff. ( DSWD FO1) San Fernando City , La Union--The  Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Field Office 1 , Saint Louis College (SLC), and SAngguniang LAkas Para Sa Katarungan at Kapayapaan Na Naglilingkod Sa Inang Bayan (SALAKNIB) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to build capability projects enhancing the development needs of the RRCY residents and staff. In line with the Department’s mission, the DSWD recognizes participation of volunteers since they contribute in improving economic and social capital, and serves as catalyst that encourage the people to work together to discover their potentials and capabilities. Moreover, these groups complement the efforts of the Department in ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The planned salary increase for the 300 Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES)slots in Laoag was also impacted by the rejected 2019 annual budget. The 2019 annual budget was disapproved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in January this year and has not been tackled since until the 90-day period lapsed. City Budget Office (CBO) record shows that the allocated budget for SPES last year was PHP3,380,190; and fir this year, PHP3,559,580, or an increase of PHP179,390 was allocated. The increase in allocation would have translated to higher SPES salaries but with the disapproval of the annual budget, the increase was also shelved. The salaries for SPES was based on the existing entry level position of the city government similar to contract of service (COS), which has a rate of PHP387.73 per day. Community Affairs Department (CAD) officer II Vilma Ranchez said that 300 students can work and avail again of...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Ilocanos here has joined child rights advocates in pushing for legislations that protects the rights and welfare of children above anything else. In a public forum held at the Student Center of Northwestern University here, school President Ferdinand Nicolas welcomed over a hundred participants mostly composed of students from different colleges and universities in the province to support the campaign to end child rape. “The campaign aims to raise the age to determine statutory rape in the Philippines from 12 to at least 16 years old. It also aims to introduce the progressive amendments in the anti-rape law, such as the equalization of legal protection for both boy and girl child victims and the removal of forgiveness clause in cases of marital rape,” CRN convenor Romeo Dongeto said in an interview. In Ilocos Norte, record from the Philippine National Police shows an increasing trend of rape cases while some remai...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The city new local government operations officer Janet Duarte is eyeing the holding of additional special Sangguniang Kabataan elections for the city’s 37 barangays. Ms. Duarte said the said barangays have incomplete number of elected SK officials, thus the special elections. The planned special election is based on a Dept. of Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2018-212 dated December 20, 2018, which states the need to complete the set of SK officials in all the barangays within 30 days upon issuance. However, with 237 barangays having incomplete SK officials, the 30-day period does not apply to the city. A supplemental memorandum was issued wherein it states that the city of Laoag can conduct special SK elections until March 31, 2019. Record shows that the city DILG started conducting special elections on January 19 and 20, 2019 for 10 Barangays. Ms. Duarte expressed hopes that all th...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Kabataan Federated Association in Ilocos Norte bared plans to conduct its own investigation following the discovery of some 79 Laoag SK chairperson who signed a blank payroll while they attended a leadership training at a resort in this city. They were also allegedly made to sign a waiver authorizing the Laoag SK president to collect their travelling expenses. Ilocos Norte SK Federated President Rafael Medina confirmed this as several SK presidents of Laoag expressed their dismay when they found out that a total of PHP73,075 has been liquidated as their per diem after attending a three-day live in seminar on November 28-30, 2018, which they did not receive. Through a joint committee hearing of the committees on laws, youth and good government held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall on January 16, 2019, the investigation revealed that the Laoag city government through the Local Youth Development O...

Laoag City —Newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federated President Rafael Salvador Chua Medina assumed his seat as the newest ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP). The board later gave him the chairpersonship of the Committee on Youth and Sports during the 93 rd SP Regular Session on July 16, 2018. As the representative for the youth at the SP, he guaranteed that he will always support advocacies that will develop the youth for a better future. On youth involvement with illegal drugs, he wants to “[H]elp them realize that there is no good that comes from using drugs. Wala tayong makukuha diyan. Pwede pa ngang ika-baliw iyan . Sa mga kabataang nakagamit na ng drugs, we will seek the help of the Department of Health (DOH) for their rehabilitation and conduct seminars," adding that after their rehabilitation period, " Bigyan natin sila ng livelihood projects, nang pagkakaabalahan nila para hindi na sila bumalik sa maling landas ....

THE REFORMED Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) is back. It’s officials in Philippine barangays assumed office on July 1, 2018. There were many thoughts about the reforms made in the new edition of the Sangguniang Kabataan, through Republic Act 10742 or the SK Reform Act, especially on how it empowers youth leaders to better contribute in national development, thereby erasing the reputation it has sadly earned in years past—that it is irrelevant, corrupt, and a bane to an already bloated bureaucracy. Bringing SK back to life was a big challenge, but its believers, including my friend James Ventura, who is commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission, are holding their hopes high. It seems like the youth leaders of Pagudpud town here in Ilocos Norte are up to the challenge. In their first days in office, they got themselves busy with their first assignment, their baptism of fire: a beauty contest. The town is celebrating its 64 th founding anniversary, and organizers tas...