The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Over 6,000 residents of all ages from this city and the province of Ilocos Norte occupied the major thoroughfares in this city on September 22, 2019 as they “ran for unity” in time for the first birthday celebration of Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon. Led by the city mayor himself, the first “MMK run for unity” aims to promote a healthy habit of running while encouraging everyone to unite and “work for the common good.” “This running event is a manifestation to unite all sectors of the society, both from public and private sectors. It also advocates the promotion of health programs of our city mayor,” said Arlene de Guzman, overall chairman of the MMK fun run to the participants on early Saturday. For the first time after the 2019 midterm elections, a huge number of Laoag residents led by barangay officials were gathered in front of the Aurora Park in support of the current Keon administration. According to the

Visitors take a photo at the rice paddy art in front of the administration building of the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac Campus. It features an image of former first lady Imelda Marcos.  (Contributed photo)       By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Batac CITY—Around 150 local farmers, students, researchers, and extension workers among others joined a cross-farm visit the state-run Mariano Marcos State University-Batac Campus hosted on November 12, 2019. Showcasing the best agricultural practices being advocated by research experts of the university, the cross-farm visit features the MMSU-CARES farm at Brgy. Quiling Sur in this city, the President’s Farm and Seed Production Project in front of the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD), and the rice paddy art at the university’s administration building. Every year, MMSU is conducting this activity to inspire more farmers to plant high yielding and resilient varieties of rice

  International Beauties. Winners in the best in national costume were: (from left) Miss Morocco, Miss Vietnam, Miss Poland, Miss Vietnam, Miss Mexico and Miss Philippines. The coronation night is set on Oct. 27, 2019 at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City. (Photo courtesy of Miss Tourism Queen Worldwide) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur—Barely two days before the October 27, 2019 grand coronation for Miss Tourism Queen Worldwide 2019, the Philippines’ bet Theresa Diana Macalino Pazcoguin from Paniqui, Tarlac province is oozing with charisma and confidence she will claim the crown in this prestigious international beauty pageant. Looking radiant in her golden Filipiniana attire with defined flower patches, the Tarlac beauty queen emerged as one of the top five winners in the search for best in national costume held at the Terraza de Niño Resort in Brgy. Aggay, Bantay, Ilocos Sur. She shared the centerstag

Manila —The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), formally launched on Friday the DOH Academy’s e-learning platform, which will standardize core training content for health workers through online learning modules centralized in one location. The first of its kind in the Philippines, the e-learning platform went live during a ceremony led by USAID acting deputy mission director Thomas Bayer and DOH Undersecretary Mario Villaverde. “The DOH e-learning platform can be accessed by health workers anytime and anywhere, which will save travel time and reduce absenteeism from workstations.   This will enable trainers and health workers to spend more time attending to their patients,” Mr. Villaverde said. “USAID believes that technological innovation presents new opportunities to respond to critical development challenges that impact millions of people around the world,” said Mr. Bayer.   “We are proud of ou

  San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—For the first time in its history, Barangay 11 San Fernando in this town launched its first-ever and official “Allawagi Festival” from October 19 to 27, 2019, with Brgy.11 chairperson Dominic B. Dela Cruz leading the event. The Allawagi Festival is based on Barangay Ordinance No. 03 series of 2019, “An Ordinance Declaring Every Third Week of October Of Every Year As The Official Dates In Celebration of The Allawagi Festival of Barangay 11 San Fernando, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte And Providing Funds Thereof”, which was sponsored by all members of the Sangguniang Barangay including the chairperson. The festival started with a walkathon as opening salvo within the barangay at exactly 5:00 am of October 19, 2019, with hundreds of residents participating. This was followed by a Zumba held at the barangay basketball court. On the same day, a simple program formally opened the barangay fiesta with Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative di

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced a gun ban in Metro Manila, Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4A) and La Union from November 20, 2019 to December 14, 2019 to ensure peace and security during the conduct of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the country. It also announced the guidelines for granting special permits to transport firearms, explosives and explosive ingredients during the gun ban period. According to a memorandum dated November 18, 2019 issued by the director of PNP's Civil Security Group (CSG): "In view of the scheduled 30 th SEA Games 2019, all Permits to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) in Region 3, Region 4A, National Capital Region and the whole province of La Union are hereby suspended effective November 20, 2019 to December 14, 2019." Only members of the PNP, Armed Forces, and other law enforcement agencies who are performing official duties and are in agency-prescribed uniforms, and participants t

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and the Bureau of Animal Industry continues to monitor commercial establishments selling pork and other processed meat products following the African swine fever (ASF) scare. Ilocos Norte provincial veterinary officer Dr. Loida Valenzuela said she is glad that mall owners and giant food chains here are “self-regulating” the entry of pork and its by-products here. On November 13, 2019, at least 169 packs of Chinese sausage, special pork longganisa , tocino , tapa and pork siomai were returned to manufacturers as a result of an executive order from Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc stating that “pork ban” is still in place in the province. Giant food chains and grocery stores in the province have also cut orders on their pork-based menu while there is temporary ban on the entry of pork products in the province to protect local piggeries here from being contam