The Ilocos Times

LAOAG CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development has released about ₱ 17.6 million worth of relief goods to help aid in the recovery efforts of typhoon victims in the region. This came shortly as President Rodrigo Duterte and some of his cabinet members met with Ilocos Norte officials at the Laoag International Airport on the evening of October 23. “Validation of the list of affected families and project proposal preparations in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs) are currently being undertaken,” said DSWD regional director Marcelo Nicomedes Castillo. These are needed to facilitate the recovery programs such as emergency shelter assistance, core shelter assistance Program, food/cash for work and the like.  To date, the DSWD National Resource Operations Center (NROC) downloaded at least 40,000 family food packs and other non-food items during the height of disaster operations. These were forwarded to satellite warehouses in Sta. Barbara, Rosales a

The final plan for the Batac Cultural Center in Batac City. DPWH district Engr. Mathias Malenab said the P322 million project is ongoing. Road structures and drainage are expected to be done next yr. the miniature is displayed at the DPWH 2nd Engineering District office. (Doms dela Cruz)

Supertyphoons Karen and Lawin brought damages in Central and Northern Luzon affecting the country’s major rice-producing provinces. According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), Karen alone left almost P3 Billion in agricultural damages. To help farmers recover from the damages brought by the said calamities, experts at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) recommended strategies on how to manage crops after typhoons. For those who were able to harvest before Karen and Lawin hit the country, farmers are advised to use the mechanical dryer for drying of harvested grains. “Seeds must have drying temperature not higher than 43°C. It is advantageous for farmers to use the mechanical dryer as it allows drying during unfavorable weather conditions,” said Arnold Juliano, PhilRice’s agricultural engineer. In harvesting crops submerged in water or mud, farmers can use the  combine harvester  provided that the field is already dry. “If the crop submerged in w

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters LAOAG CITY—Facing an unprecedented public storm warning signal ( PSWS ) no. 5, Ilocos Norte and its residents went ahead to prepare for supertyphoon Haima (Lawin), and as a result minimized what could have been heavy damages. Howling winds with moderate to heavy rains toppled electric posts, uprooted trees and destroyed some house roofs here but Ilocanos knew better than to ignore warnings, as almost all prepared for the strong typhoon. A day before Haima arrived, Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos ordered the suspension of classes in all levels. At that time, the province was under PSWS 3; Ms. Marcos then was also in China as part of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s delegation. Farmers were also advised to harvest their rice crops early while the local government helped in hauling and drying their harvest using combined harvester and modern drying facilities as one of the mac

Publication Notice RA 10172 NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC October 19, 2016 CCE-0067-2016 R.A. 10172           In Compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that VIRGINIA P. TOLENTINO has filed with this Office, a petition for Correction of Entry in the child’s sex from MALE to FEMALE; the child’s place of birth (province) from Dist. No. 3. Pob., Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte to Ilocos Norte; the child’s middle name from PEÑAYARO to PEÑAROYO; the mother’s last name from PEÑARAYO to PEÑAROYO and the mother’s place of birth from PASUQUIN, ILOCOS NORTE to BATAN, AKLAN in the Certificate of Live Birth of VIRGINIA P. TOLENTINO at Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte whose parents are MAGNO TOLENTINO and BASILISA PEÑARAYO.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition wi

Supertyphoon Haima, locally known as “Lawin”, was as strong as advertised; however, because it changed course and headed straight for Northern Luzon, it’s devastating power was diminished went its main body went over land. It also helped that it had to traverse the Sierra Madre mountain range before hitting Ilocos Norte. Haima did devastate parts of Cagayan but it weakened before touching down in Ilocos Norte. But even in its weakened state, Haima still lashed out at the province. Howling winds and driving rains dominated its presence in the province. But as Ilocos Norte is already typhoon-ready, Ilocanos were better prepared to deal with it. Local governments enforced forced evacuations of high risk areas long before Haima made landfall. The provincial government also cancelled all classes and work a day before the supertyphoon reached the province. There were still damages; and there was one casualty. But as Haima battered Ilocos Norte, it could have been worse. Kudos, ther

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—A hybrid super rice variety from China found its new home in Ilocos Norte province with its successful field trial initially planted on a three-hectare lot in Der-ap, a sub-village of Saoit in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.  Planted during the wet season of June, the 250-farmer beneficiaries received a grant of five tons of LP 331 super rice variety where it yielded about 12-15 tons per hectare. Compared to the local variety, the desired yield is quite similar to the China rice variety but its significant characteristic is its greater resistance to climate change, said ex-officio Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Domingo Ambrocio, chair of the committee on agriculture. On October 3, a team of Chinese rice experts led by Cheng Liangji, co-director of the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) based in Central Luzon State University in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija conducted a site visit and gathered