The Ilocos Times

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently trained about 300 rice-based growers in Marawi, Lanao del Sur to help them resume farming, which was left for almost a year due to the city’s siege. Teodora Briones, head of PhilRice’s Corporate Services Division, said farmers in the area expressed interest in going back to farming after Ramadan. However, the farmers have yet to restore their livelihood and regain capital to start again. “Farmers’ present priority includes having enough food for their family’s everyday needs. Through rice-based farming, they will eventually recover,” Ms. Briones said. Farmers were given about 376 sacks of quality rice seeds after the training. Rainfed cultivators in the villages of Patani and Sugod received NSIC Rc 286 seeds while upland farmers in the villages of Kilala and Banga were provided with Alo-al and Dapolog seeds. Moreover, three sacks of organic and inorgani

Journalists from Luzon and the NCR agreed that a Filipino or “Filipinized” type of federalism that acknowledges the country's diverse cultures, traditions, religions, and regional dynamics will be applicable to the Philippines. Amidst differing beliefs and apprehensions over the proposed federal form of government during the two-day seminar-workshop on Understanding Federalism in the Philippine Context conducted by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) in Manila on October 11-12, with support from Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) and in partnership with the Pimentel Institute of Local Governance (PILG), thirty publishers, editors, and reporters expressed support for good governance no matter the form of government. "Let's look at the CAR experience. We’ve been talking about autonomy for the longest time. In fact, our different tribes up there are the ones very much affected with all these issues on having an autonomous region," said Sonia Daoas, PPI trustee

LAOAG CITY  police officers conduct a drug awareness lecture and the salient features of RA 9165 and the RA 10627, otherwise known as the Anti Bullying Act of 2013 to first year college students of a Laoag school. The lecture aims to raise students’ awareness on the intensified campaign plan of the city police to eradicate illegal drugs and to achieve a drug-free Laoag City. It also focuses on improving strategies and responses to incidents of bullying and help avoid the recurrence of said acts.  (Photo courtesy of Laoag PNP)

  Laoag City —Recognizing and incentivizing successful Ilocano families, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and Gender and Development (GAD) Office awarded the 2018 Model Families on September 28, 2018, at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, this city. Congratulating the awardees and finalists, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba said, “ Kayong lahat ay may kanya-kanyang kwento ng hirap at tagumpay . We are proud to see you here today, the overcomers, the victors, now triumphant over everything that threatened your families. “You have each won a battle for the very foundation of our society.” Model Families is an annual program for families who have successfully trumped socio-economic difficulties as well as involve themselves in the community and are responsible in environmental and waste management. It comprises three categories: professional, non-professional, and o

Rice constitutes a huge portion of a regular diet of every Filipino. On average, a Filipino consumes 114 kilograms of rice every year. Rice, however, does not have much nutrients. It contains largely carbohydrates. To make it healthier and to help address the pressing malnutrition problem in the country, Golden Rice is being developed. According to Dr. Reynante Ordonio, PhilRice Healthier Rice Project lead, Golden Rice is a new type of rice that contains beta carotene in its grain.   He said this nutrient, similar to what is found in orange-colored fruits and vegetables, is converted to vitamin A only as needed by the body. Dr. Ordonio stressed that micronutrient malnutrition, such as vitamin A deficiency (VAD), is a serious public health problem affecting 2 billion people globally.   In the Philippines according to the 2013 report of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), 2.1 M children Filipinos aging 6 months to 6 years are affected by VAD. Moreover, the report

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —"In Unity There Is Power”. In view of this, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) hosted the Regional Electric Cooperative Association Fellowship at the Laoag City Centennial Arena on October 26, 2018. INEC board president Enrico Ruiz welcomed the nine electric cooperatives from the entire Region I for the whole day fellowship event. Mr. Ruiz said the fellowship was a team building activity for unity to all electric coops in Region I in order to provide more efficient service to all its member consumers.   Other activities aside from fellowship were competitions for the “Singing Got Talents”, “Search for Mr. & Miss Front Liners” and the “Lux Awarding”. INEC got the most number of attendees award during the recently concluded Annual General Membership Assembly meetings of INEC. The award was given by the RECO I board.

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—In a gathering of Indigenous Peoples here, various IP organizations and tribal councils in Region 1 crafted and signed a manifesto of support to the proposed federal form of government being pushed under President Rodrigo Duterte administration. According to Atty. Jesus Agbayani, Provincial Officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Ilocos Norte said they convened a dialogue among the leaders and members of the Indigenous Cultural Communities here for them to fully understand the basic provisions of the federal system of government particularly and how this will create on impact on the lives of IPs. “After a thorough study and exchange of ideas using our customary mode of decision-making, we are of the view that amendment of revision of the existing form of government is absolutely necessary to address the sad plight of the IPs and further strengthen the rights it already conferred to the ICCs/IPs,” said