The Ilocos Times

A joint panel of the House of Representatives has approved a substitute bill consolidating 35 House bills seeking to create the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Water Regulatory Commission (WRC). The Committee on Government Reorganization and Committee on Public Works and Highways both approved on November 12 the unnumbered substitute bill. The committee chairs noted the urgency and importance of the substitute measure given the issues plaguing the water supply in Metro Manila and the directives of President Rodrigo Duterte. "Our agenda is very timely due to the recent and continuing water crisis which is being experienced by the residents of Metro Manila and nearby provinces," said Rep. Ramon Guico, who represented the highways committee and co-presided the hearing with Rep. Mario Vittorio Marino, chairman of the reorganization committee. The DWR shall be the primary national agency to implement Presidential Decree No. 1067, otherwise known as the W

Chinese Consul and Head of Post to Laoag Mr. Zhou Youbin and wife Mrs. Li Jia pose with  The Ilocos Times ’ Jay Ramos, Herdy Yumul and Mitch T. Esmino. During the Chinese Spring Festival celebration at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel. (Contributed photo) By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor LAOAG CITY—To mark the Chinese New Year celebrations, Chinese Consul and Head of Post to Laoag Mr. Zhou Youbin and wife Mrs. Li Jia hosted on January 19, 2020 the Spring Festival dinner at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel with over 300 guests representing key sectors from the Philippine Northern provinces in attendance. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday in China. Two features distinguish it from the other festivals; it sees off the old year and greets the new; it is also the time for families to be reunited. Among the notable guests were former Ilocos Governor and current Narvacan Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson, Quirino Governor Dakila Ca

Magdalena Gamayo By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—A center dedicated to preserve and strengthen the Ilokano weaving tradition will soon rise in Pinili town, home of national living treasure Magdalena Gamayo. Funded by the Ilocos Norte government with PHP4 million, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc said the project aims to boost the inabel industry in the province as well as the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs who will directly benefit from it. “We wish to put up the center to show our support to our weavers and sustain the industry in the coming years,” he said. In Pinili, Ilocos Norte residents take pride of its loom weaving industry and the existence of “Lola Magdalena” who continues to inspire and pass on her loom weaving skills to the younger generation. In fact, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in partnership with the Katutubo Exchange Philippines , municipal government of Pinili and the Sacrit

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter CITY OF BATAC —Looking out for the welfare of its constituents, especially the elderly in their advanced ages, the city government here expanded the coverage of the existing Batac Centenarian Citizen’s Awards. The Sangguniang Panlungsod here amended the centenarian awards to expand its coverage. The previous council based the said ordinance on RA 10868, or the Centenarians Act of 2016, with the Dept. of Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2016-160, which provided the policies and guidelines and the implementing rules and regulations of the said act. But prior to the passage of RA 10868 and its IRR, the council here has already passed an ordinance for the establishment of Batac Centenarian Citizen’s Award as a means of recognizing centenarians and pre-centenarians through plaques, resolutions and cash incentives. Batac councilor Violeta Daradar-Nalupta, who authored the amended ordinance, said that over the

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter PIDDIG , Ilocos Norte—The local government unit in this town, home to the largest coffee plantation in the province is giving a hot coffee treat to tax payers who are queuing to pay their dues to the government on time. At least two vending machines filled with aromatic coffee produced by the municipality are made accessible to whoever wants to sip coffee while waiting for their turn in front of the Municipal Treasurer’s Office. This comes with sugar and creamer which they can avail as self-service or served by municipal employees themselves. “This is our simple way of showing true public service and to let our taxpayers know that we care for them,” said municipal treasurer Ofelia Ventura in an interview. It was learned the coffee treat was personally suggested by Piddig Mayor Eduardo “Eddie” Guillen during a meeting with the personnel of the Municipal Treasurer’s Office to entertain taxpayers while waiting for their turn to

  By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter CITY OF BATAC —The Philippine Economic Zone Authority looks forward to seeing the province of Ilocos Norte grow and develop into a “smart community” now that a Special Economic Zone Institute (SEZI) is readily accessible for all Ilocanos. Located at a small corner of the newly-inaugurated National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) of the Mariano Marcos State University in its main campus in this city, the SEZI establishment in partnership with MMSU is one of the biggest PEZA projects to provide skills training and research to make every Filipino a “world-class worker”. During the signing of memorandum of agreement between PEZA and MMSU held at the university’s hostel on January 23, 2020, PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza said, “more ecozones are being created now to promote investment throughout the world for export industries.” “Let us transform the Philippines as an investment haven and transform ever

Court employees from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 attend the 1st PACE Luzon summit in Ilocos Norte on January 15-16, 2020. The summit aims to strengthen unity among its members and provide better service to people.  (Leilanie G. Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Court employees from the five regions in Luzon were in this northern part of the country feasting over longganiza and bagnet while strengthening their bonds for better public service. Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Manotoc delivers his speech to the court employees. (Lei Adriano) In his speech to the members of the Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE) during their first Luzon summit held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on January 15, 2020, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc welcomed the delegates though around 150 of them were not able to make it due to unpredictable circumstances. “Thank you for your service. You are equally if not more important