The Ilocos Times

DSWD Field Office 1 head Dir. Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo together with the representatives of the SLC and SALAKNIB poses for commemorative photos in the beginning of their journey towards helping RRCY clients and staff. ( DSWD FO1) San Fernando City , La Union--The  Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Field Office 1 , Saint Louis College (SLC), and SAngguniang LAkas Para Sa Katarungan at Kapayapaan Na Naglilingkod Sa Inang Bayan (SALAKNIB) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to build capability projects enhancing the development needs of the RRCY residents and staff. In line with the Department’s mission, the DSWD recognizes participation of volunteers since they contribute in improving economic and social capital, and serves as catalyst that encourage the people to work together to discover their potentials and capabilities. Moreover, these groups complement the efforts of the Department in achi

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —This city’s Sangguniang Panlungsod and the Ilocos Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan may be headed for another showdown, this time regarding Ordinance No. 2018-078. The ordinance, authored by Laoag councilor Roger John C. Fariñas prohibits and penalizes the entry of illegal drugs and paraphernalia, firearms and ammunitions, bladed weapons, cellular phones and similar devices used for communication, cigarettes or tobaccos, electric cigarettes and liquor or other forms of intoxicating beverages to the Laoag City jail. The provincial board sent a communication to the Laoag council stating the said ordinance as “invalid”. The board cited “ultra vires” as the main reason. It means the council passed an ordinance that was beyond its powers, since there are already national laws that carry the same prohibition. Mr. Fariñas, however stressed that city will still enforce the ordinance. He said he has asked council secretary

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The Schools Division of Ilocos Norte (SDOIN) sent 114 delegation to the 2019 Palarong Pambansa to be held in Davao City from April 27-May 4, 2019. Of the 114 delegates, education program specialist II Rochito Duque said 83 of them are athletes, 22 coaches, two chaperons and seven other persons from Ilocos Norte. They left for Davao on April 16, 2019 to prepare early for the said national sports event. Mr. Duque said the SDOIN prepared some food wrapped made of banana leaves for their travel. As part of this endeavor, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte approved PHP500,000 from the Special Education Fund (SEF) for the Ilocos Norte delegation. He said the conduct of Palarong Pambansa is in accordance with RA No. 10588 otherwise known as the Palarong Pambansa Act of 2013, which aims to select athletes to represent the country in a higher level of sports competition worldwide. SDOIN superintendent Vilma Ed

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—As a series of earthquakes that hit various parts of the country, some local government units and other concerned national government line agencies in the province has intensified their disaster awareness campaign using social media as the latest mode of communication. In San Nicolas town for example, local officials led by their Mayor Alfredo P. Valdez alerted all residents to stay alert and be prepared in the event of any disaster or earthquake. Before an earthquake happens, authorities reminded the public to prepare a “lifeline kit”. This includes a whistle, flashlight and identification card at all times. It is also important to know the evacuation area and to determine is your area is prone to earthquake. During an earthquake, the drop, cover and hold technique should always be practiced until the shaking stops and then be calm to evacuate and help other people in need. “Please take our drills seriously. This

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—As one of the cultural communities in the province of Ilocos Norte, the municipality of Nueva Era has integrated Tingguians’ traditional “Oggayam” in Nueva Era National High School (NENHS) curriculum. NENHS senior high school coordinator Geralyn Nabaysa said the Oggayam is now being taught in all high school levels of the said school. Ms. Nabaysa said the Oggayam integration in their curriculum helps preserve their culture. She disclosed that Tingguians, an indigenous peoples (IP) group in this town, comprise at least 80% of their school population. She added that the integration was based on a study made on the students, and which was presented last year in the first Singapore Institute of Multidisciplinary Research Festival held in Taguig City The Ilocos Times learned that of the 150 studies presented, the NENHS-owned research entitled “Effectiveness of Simulation in Developing the Student’s Ski

Worst pollutants. Volunteers gather the cigarette butts they collected from the Badoc beach.  (Photo courtesy of Radz Bismonte) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Badoc , Ilocos Norte—A group of youth volunteers from Ilocos Norte and neighboring Ilocos Sur jointly conducted a coastal clean-up on Sunday at the La Virgen Milagrosa cove in this town, picking up 4,538 pieces of cigarette butts and at least 238 kilograms of non-biodegradable wastes. While encouraging everyone to learn to protect the environment, Patricia Dacanay-Diaz, president of the Movement Against Plastic Pollution (MAPP) in Ilocos Norte has reminded beach goers to dispose of their garbage properly. According to Ms. Diaz, most of the collected non-biodegradable trashes came from picnickers and smokers who are apparently careless about the world they live.   In time for the Earth Day celebration, the MAPP mostly composed of young environment activists together with the Amianan Outd

Lingayen , Pangasinan — OFW [overseas Filipino workers] Family Circle (OFC) leaders and representatives in Ilocos Region are now capable in responding and providing first line assistance in case of emergency and disaster after they went through an intensive four-day training on water safety search and rescue (WASAR) held on April 10-13, 2019 at Narciso Sports Complex, Lingayen, Pangasinan. The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), headed by Maricar D. Palang, Argie B. Gattoc and WASAR trainers Mario R. Lopez, Rigor C. Demoral and Jimmy M. Pastor, acted as learning service providers on the aforementioned training. WASAR training is the second part of the “Basic Life Support and Disaster Preparedness” that OFC leaders need to undergo to empower them to respond in their areas in times of calamities. The first part was the Disaster Preparedness, Risk Management and First Aid or Basic Life Support-CPR Training held on October 19-20, 2018