The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here passed a measure that calls for the posting of deceased persons’ full names on a billboard in front of the City Hall. Batac councilor Bernardo Marders said the measure allows the public to check the veracity of those who have indeed died. Mr. Marders explained further that the posting of the deceased persons’ names will last up to seven days provided that consent is granted by the person who received the official death certificate. The basis of the publication will be the date of issuance of the death certificate by the civil registry office.

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government here proposed PHP867,463,160.63 as its annual budget for 2019. The proposed budget increased by PHP88 million compared to this year’s budget of PHP778,788,204. The 11% increase was based on the proposed budget certified by city treasurer officer-in-charge Diomedes Gayban from the city’s estimated income for next year. The PHP867,463,160 estimated income, which is the actual proposed budget, is higher from the city’s appropriations in the amount of P867,446,150.70 with a difference of P17,009.93. The appropriated amount comes from the respective budgets of the different city hall department offices. City budget officer Baby Angeline Emelda L. Castro said the final proposed budget was a result of the three-day budget hearing conducted by the local finance committee and department heads. However, Ms. Castro said that the proposed budget might still have some changes as it is not yet comp

(NBI Laoag photo By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Law enforcers from different units uprooted and later burned PHP4.3 million worth of marijuana during an anti-illegal drugs operation at Brgy. Tulgao in Tinglayan, Kalinga on October 6, 2018. Led by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation along with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Philippine National Police from Regions 1, 2, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the fully-grown marijuana plants were estimated to be worth PHP 4,350,000. Agent Gerald Butele of NBI Laoag and team leader of Operation Green Viking said they found five plantation sites with an aggregate estimated land area of 2,350 square meters at Sitio Balay, Barangay Tulgao East and West in Tinglayan town.   “The successful operation is still in line of the government’s intensified drive to eradicate prohibited drugs including that of marijuana,” said Mr. Butele citing their troop stayed in the mountains for

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte is donated PHP300,000 for the victims of landslide in Itogon, Benguet. In a special session held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on September 27, 2018, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approved Draft Provincial Resolution No. 2018-09-273 authorizing Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos to donate said amount as an expression of sympathy and support to the families of the victims. SP member Da Vinci M. Crisostomo, chairperson of the committee on laws said the amount hopes to ease the burden and sufferings of the families of the victims after a landslide buried them alive at the height of typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong). The amount will be coursed through the local government unit of Benguet. As of this posting, authorities suspended search and retrieval operation on September 30, 2018. The death toll has reached 91 with nine still missing at

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Around 2,000 houses damaged by typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong) will be replaced with new GI sheets courtesy of the national government. Funded by the National Housing Authority (NHA) worth PHP3.8 million with an additional amount from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), each owner of totally damaged house can receive PHP30,000 worth of shelter assistance and PHP10,000 for partially-damaged house in the province. As of press time, the Ilocos Norte government which shall implement the housing rehabilitation measure formed “Team Balay”, a group of volunteers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines reservists, engineers and carpenters who are helping typhoon victims to attached GI sheets to their roofing. While trying to get more help from other public and private donors, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos appealed to all residents to be more patient and help each other to rise

By Bernard Ver Contributor Dingras , Ilocos Norte--The League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Ilocos Norte President and Dingras Mayor Erdio Valenzuela his political line-up is ready for next year’s elections. Mr. Valenzuela in an interview said that they’ve submitted their list of candidates for the incoming election to Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, who he said is as their political ally and head of their political party. The list contains the name of the incumbent mayor, vice-mayor and eight town councilors. However, Mr. Valenzuela refused to divulge the names on his list. He said they might change the arrangement of candidates. The current Dingras mayor and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Saguid are both political allies of Ms. Marcos. The Commission on Elections set the filing of candidacy on October 11 and 12, and October 15-17, 2018, from 8 am to 5 pm.

By Bernard Ver Contributor LAOAG CITY—Attorney Jason Bader Ll. Perera, a Laoag City lawyer, survived an ambush attempt on September 29, 2018. Two unidentified motorcycle-riding malefactors shot the lawyer near his law office along J.P. Rizal St. at Brgy. 6 in this city at about 6:40 PM. According to a source, Mr. Perera was walking towards their house from a hotel when suddenly an unidentified gunman riding on a motorcycle fired twice hitting the lawyer on the back. The suspects fled after the shooting. Mr. Perera immediately ran inside their house located beside his law office. His secretary saw him and called an ambulance, which was passing by at the time. He was rushed to the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital. The police are still investigating the incident. Mr. Perera has regained consciousness on October 1. He is conscious and coherent but couldn't say if he agrees or disagrees with what's going on said Dr. dela Cruz, one of his