The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—As air travel demand continues to increase, the sole airline that services Manila-Laoag flights might consider opening direct flights connecting this northern gateway of Luzon to the central Visayas region. Xavier Ruiz, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Tourism Office confirmed this as talks are underway for the proposed direct flights from Cebu to Laoag and vice versa. “Since we are participating in international travel marts, we are constantly receiving a number of inquiries should airlines consider adding new flights and we are glad about it,” said Mr. Ruiz following Ilocos Norte’s latest participation in the International Travel Festival held in Cebu City last week. In 2011, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee" R. Marcos and then Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed a pact for the sister-province ties between Ilocos Norte and Cebu. With the signing of the sister province bond, both local gove

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The provincial government has replenished at least seven satellite evacuation centers in Ilocos Norte with canned goods and other basic commodities in times of disaster. Provincial social welfare and development officer Lilian Caliva Rin confirmed this after moderate to heavy monsoon rainfalls in the past few weeks. Placed in various strategic places of the province, Ms. Rin said, “The evacuation centers of the province are packed with relief goods consisting of food and non-food items. Among these also include blankets, used clothing and cooking essentials.” According to Ms. Rin, the PSWDO also came up with a database for senior citizens who are living alone in their respective houses. During typhoon, officials will prioritize them in the monitoring. Based on previous typhoon experiences here, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) noted that some senior citizens living alone in th

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributes four-wheel tractors and hand tractors to the different agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations in Ilocos Norte. The provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Ilocos Norte awarded ten units of four-wheel tractors with implements to different agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) on July 30 at Brgy. Tambidao in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. Chief agrarian reform program officer (CARPO) Teresita T. Acang said the tractors are part of the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP) and Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) of DAR. “Our office continues to implement support programs and projects to address the needs of our agrarian reform beneficiaries in the countryside including the provision of common service facilities,” said Ms. Acang. Aside from the four-wheel tractors, two units of hand tractors with implements fr

Dingras mayor Erdio Valenzuela receive a series of disaster response and preparedness equipment from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for the town’s five barangays here namely: Elizabeth, Barong, San Marcelino, Baresbes and Foz. The project is in partnership with and funded by the BMZ Phase 2 Community and School Based DRRM which aims to empower communities and government institutions to replicate and consolidate inclusive community-based disaster risk reduction. (Doms dela Cruz)

A show window for off season vegetable production and high value crops .  Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua, with the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Dr. Melinda Mangabat of ATI Regional Office I and Engr. Jordan Gabur of AgriDoc batch 1 grace the launching of the Technology Demonstration on Integrated Farming cum Good Agricultural Practices project at Brgy. Baoa East, Batac City on July 24, 2018. The Veronica Irrigators Association is the project’s recipient. This project aims to persuade farmers to engage in integrated farming for increased income through off-season vegetable production and high-value crops. (Batac City gov’t photo)

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—To speed up the processing of passports, the Dept. of Foreign Affairs Consular Office (DFA-CO) in this town announced applicants may now prepay their processing fees through authorized payment centers. “In our effort to simplify and speed up passport processing applicants, we have just launched the DFA ePayment system in Manila,” said Edison Ipac, DFA-CO in officer-in-charge. The DFA said there is an additional PHP50 convenience fee for the ePayment on top of the current PHP950 for regular and PHP1,200 for expedited processing. Applicants will only be able to secure a confirmed appointment after paying at the various payment centers around the province. When seeking passport renewal, applicants, including those who are working abroad complain about the difficulties in getting appointment through the DFA’s online facilities. In a media conference, Mr. Ipac explained the agency’s central office i

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Pinili , Ilocos Norte—The Ilocanos ’ love for green leafy vegetables is not just contained in backyard gardens, barangay streets and idle lots. This time, a primary school at Brgy. Badio, this town, is transforming its 6,235 square-meter lot into a haven for malunggay ( Moringa oleifera ) plantation. In time for the nutrition month celebration on July 27, 2018, around 147 pupils along with some 50 parents of the Badio Elementary School (BES) took off their shoes and slippers as they walked through the rice paddies within the school compound and planted malunggay cuttings on the sides. “We chose malunggay because it is full of vitamins and minerals. It is also easy to grow by the parents and children at home,” said Aileen Rambaud, BES principal. The lowly malunggay, also known as horse-radish tree is drought resistant and it grows well in Ilocos Norte soil. On the first year after planting, the tree can reach up to three m