The Ilocos Times

Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos-Keon hands over the PHP100,000 check from the city government of Laoag and a plaque of recognition to Laoag centenarian Eugenio S. Pedro of Brgy. Lagui Sail. Doms dela Cruz

Laoag City —As part of the continuing relief efforts for severely affected families in the province due to typhoon “Ompong”, which lashed the province in 2018, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), through the support of the Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed another set of livestock assistance on January 9, 2020 at Motorpool Ground, this city. A total of 4,530 itik and goats were distributed to the local government units of Vintar, Pasuquin, Bacarra, San Nicolas, Paoay, Dingras, Pagudpud, Laoag City, and Batac City; an addition to the initial number of livestock distributed in the previous months. “ Nakumpleto na naming i -distribute ang mga itik . Hopefully sa susunod naman ay mayroon pang mga manok, dagdag na kambing, at tupa na manggagaling pa rin sa Department of Agriculture. All in all, mahigit 22,000 ang ibabahagi nating livestock para sa mga rice farmers dito sa probinsiya ,” provincial veterinarian Dr. Loida Valenzuela shared. Jessi

Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) has intensified the hiring of additional medical practitioners to augment the province’s health workforce.   Fe P. Siazon, provincial human resource management officer, disclosed that the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH) will be opening four vacancies for Nurse II, another four for Nurse I, and several casual and job order positions for the provincial hospital. “For our district hospitals, we are waiting for the final list of job vacancies. Maybe next week, we can publish and eventually fill the positions,” Ms. Siazon added. Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc continues to reinforce his commitment to revitalizing the province’s health sector, saying: “Our hospitals are filling up long-vacant and urgent staff positions, repairing old and damaged wards, as well as increasing expenditure in medicines and laboratory testing.” The primary thrust of this year’s budget

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —To cope with current economic demands, Laoag councilor Jason Bader Perera has introduced a measure to increase tricycle fare in this city from PHP11 to PHP13. The proposal also includes the same increase for calesa. Mr. Perera introduced the proposal during the council’s outreach session at Brgy. Casili, this city, for first reading and was later referred to the committees on laws, rules and regulations, and transportation. In October 2019, concerned stakeholders filed a petition to increase tricycle fares in the city to PHP15. The last fare increase in the city was enacted on April 13, 2011. Mr. Perera said he deemed the fare increase as “proper to cope up with the demands of tricycle drivers and operators”. “ Ta no kitkitaen tayo, iti presyo iti maysa a sardinas idi 2011 ket PHP12 laeng ket itan PHP18 iti kalakaanen dayta iti maysa a pakakitaan a ngimmato aminen iti magat-gatang ket kasta met dagiti

Laoag City —The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau Region I (DENR-EMB RI) granted PHP25.5 million to the Ilocos Norte provincial government to fund the construction of a plastic recycling and resource recovery facility (PRRF) at Brgy. Imelda in Marcos town, Ilocos Norte. On January 22, 2020, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc signed a memorandum of agreement with EMB Regional Director Engr. Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe to officially turn over the fund. Engr. Naz-Hipe applauded the initiative of the province, saying: “ Sa buong Pilipinas , Ilocos Norte is one of the very few provinces na nakakuha ng ganitong kalaking halaga under the administration of President [Rodrigo] Duterte. We congratulate you for having availed this assistance and we do hope that it will be a successful project. Maging model project ito na pwedeng bisitahin din ng ibang local government units para ma -replicate sa ibang rehiyon ,” she added.

Laoag City —In a bid to sustain standardized and systematic province-wide tourism operations, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc released a memorandum on January 8, 2020 ordering all city and municipal mayors to ensure that the Department of Tourism (DOT) has accredited all tourism enterprises in the province. In the memorandum, Mr. Manotoc said all city and municipal mayors “are hereby directed to observe and strictly enforce the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9593 or the 'Tourism Act of 2009', mandating primary tourism enterprises (PTEs) to secure accreditation from the DOT as a requirement for the issuance of license or permit to operate.” To guarantee the “reliability and legitimacy” of tourism-related services in the country, the DOT accreditation is a certification issued to tourism enterprises to officially recognize that they are compliant with the minimum standards for the operation of tourism facilities and services.

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here has approved PHP3.3 million to cover consultancy services to update the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). Laoag councilor Juan Conrado A. Respicio, who sponsored the measure, said a DILG Memorandum Circular which is a guidance on the preparation and/or updating of land use and development plans and investment programs referred to the CLUP update. The update aims to strengthen the linkages of the different planning and budgeting systems in LGUs, converge and harmonize agency policies and initiatives relative to local development planning and public financial management. Mr. Respicio stated that the amount came from the savings of personal services from July-November 2019, and was re-appropriated to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for the payment of consultancy services.   City planning officer-in-charge Ruby Bunalade, said the city has its existing CLUP but