The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter PDEA investigation agent V Lani Bel C. Ancheta along with Laoag police chief Mar Louise Bundoc, city DILG officer Janet Duarte and Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas pose with the 20 “drug-cleared” and “non-drug affected” barangays represented by their respective punong barangay after they received their certification. (Doms dela Cruz) Laoag City —The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) based in Ilocos Norte has declared 17 barangays in this city as “drug cleared” and three “non-drug affected” barangays. PDEA made the declaration on April 1, 2019 after the flag-raising ceremony at the Laoag City hall. The 20 “cleared” barangays were represented by their respective punong barangay. They received a certification from the Dangerous Drugs Board. The barangays are Brgys. 30-B Sta Maria, 37 Calayab, 32-B La Paz West, 33-A La Paz Proper, 33-B La Paz Proper, 31 Talingaan, 29 Sto. Tomas, 26 San Marcelino, 27 Nra Sra De Soleda

Vintar Mayor Larisa Foronda delivers her State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) before other town officials and her constituents including municipal councilors headed by Vintar Vice Mayor and presiding officer Victor Rasimo, barangay officials, NGOs, NGAs, stakeholders and the public. She reported the municipal government’s accomplishments in her first three-year term of office. Mrs. Foronda specifically mentioned in her administration’s accomplishments with the help of the Sangguniang Bayan in all areas of agriculture, tourism, education, environment, infrastructure, and health among others. The mayor promised that her administration will continue to serve the people of Vintar in the next three years if she is given the chance to serve for her second term of office in the upcoming midterm elections. (Doms Dela Cruz)

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

Alwytz is all smiles with the goat he got as graduation gift. ( Photo courtesy of Gaoiran family) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Bacarra , Ilocos Norte— Grade 6 student, Alwytz Robiniol Gaoiran, 11, graduated on April 3,2019 with no medal but got the biggest surprise from his family when a goat met him as he arrived home. Alwytz prefers animals to toys or gadgets and creates his own play station out of recycled materials. He is the sixth out of the eight children of Ronnie Gaoiran, a farmer from Brgy. Buyon, this town, and Brigida, who is currently working as a domestic helper in Kuwait. Last Christmas, the boy wished for a goat to take care of while studying, but the family budget was just enough to make ends meet. On his graduation at the Buyon Elementary School in this town, Alwytz beamed when his elder brother Alvin, who is now working in Manila, granted his long-time wish to have a goat he can take care of. Alvin described his younger br

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Paper flowers, necklace and bracelets made of recycled papers are helping out a community of parolees and probationers earn a living by selling it to interested buyers. Priced at PHP50 to PHP150 depending on its size and design, these products are usually direct orders from customers, mostly composed of balikbayans, resort owners, and friends. To further enhance their skills, a model barangay on solid waste management, Brgy. Poblacion, in this town facilitated a hands-on training on waste diversion. “Not all wastes are trash, they can be cash[ed-in] if you add some love and wit to it,” said Brgy. Poblacion punong barangay Joegie Jimenez before some 150 parolees and probationers , who attended a skills training on waste diversion at the Burgos municipal auditorium. After a short program, the participants were taught how to make leis, bracelets, flowers, vases, trash cans and eco-bricks, among ot

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—Specialists from “FutureRice Farm” of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) introduced drone farming at Brgy. Catuguing, in this town recently. The drone will monitor rice growth and can also be used in direct-seeding and mechanical trans-planter for rice farms. Fertilizers and herbicides will also be applied using the drone spreader and sprayer systems. In just 20 minutes, the drone can provide fertilize a minimum of 1-hectare area—or an equivalent of 3 hectares an hour. Far faster than the old-school-type of farming in the province. The FutureRice Farm’s study on drone and other modern farming technologies is in partnership with Crop Protection Division, Rice Farming Mechanization and Modernization Program, and the New Hope Corporation. For the meantime, the drone is available is for rent at PHP850 per hectare.

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—At least 35 micro-, small-, and medium-entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in Ilocos Norte and nearby provinces are exhibiting their best-selling products again at a mall in this town from April 8-14, 2019. Inspired by government support, Juana Pancho, a manufacturer of JF’s Boneless Bagoong from Brgy. Cabungaan, Laoag City said she is excited every time her products are on display in a mall and a lot of shoppers get curious of what is in store for them. “I’m so happy for being part of the exhibit. It makes me feel awesome because in my years of business, it is only this time that we get to sell our products in a cool environment such as this,” said Ms. Pancho as she recalled selling her bagoong [fish sauce] products only at public markets or in her home at Brgy. Cabungaan. Through the joint collaboration between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, the 65