The Ilocos Times

  Law enforcers witness a "slash-and-burn" site just a kilometer away from one of the town's pristine waterfalls where tourists enjoy trekking and swimming on July 11, 2020. Adams tourism officer Anavic Medrano said the area is covered with cogon grass and it will be planted with banana saplings. ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) Adams, Ilocos Norte —The provincial government’s Environment and Natural Resources Office sounded the alarm on the rampant practice of slash-and-burn farming in this eco-tourism destination of the north. During a tree-planting program on July 11, 2020 with the ENRO and the Philippine National Police and a non-government organization participating, ENRO chief Estrellla “Baby” Sacro expressed her dismay on the rampant practice of slash-and-burn practice in this municipality, which she personally witnessed during the said activity. Overlooking a lush forest and streams that surround a population of less than 2,000, or a

Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is now finalizing the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the new provincial scholarship program for medical students. On June 25, 2020, the provincial board’s Committee on Education, chaired by Atty. Saul Paulo A. Lazo, invited resource speakers and major stakeholders to revise the draft IRR for the Doctor of Medicine scholarship program at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac City. “ Madaming katanungan ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa pagkagawa ng IRR. Kaya ang Committee on Education ay nag-imbita ng resource speakers kasama ang mga kapwa bokal natin upang ayusin ang IRR,” Mr. Lazo noted. He guaranteed that the “tripartite agreement” for the first year to third-year scholars will be finalized before the opening of MMSU College of Medicine in August, while the Clinical Clerkship and Internship programs will have a separate agreement. Moreover, the final number of scholarship slots will still need further discussi

  Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon meets with Barangay 7 chairperson Henry Yumul regarding the barangay’s implementation of waste segregation. Mr. Yumul presented the plans and programs of their barangay regarding the said program. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —"Everybody should understand that Laoag City is among the few cities in the Region left without a comprehensive waste segregation program. This is the reason why we are also left with no choice but to act fast and immediately fast track the implementation of the program, and subsequently open the sanitary landfill in Barangay Balatong”. Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon made this announcement after the city government received a “Notice of Violation” from the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) for the closure of the existing open dumpsite at Brgy. Lagui Sail, this city. In relation to this, Keon thanked Brgy. 7 Nra. Sra. De Natividad led

  Laoag City —The provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) continues its animal dispersal program to sustain income-generating opportunities for livestock raisers, especially at this time of the pandemic. On July 21, 2020, the Provincial Veterinary Office spearheaded the dispersal of 33 native piglets to three women organizations: Rural Improvement Clubs of Brgy. Sto. Tomas and Brgy. San Jose in Vintar, and Brgy. Bato in Badoc. Each organization received one male and ten female piglets, along with electrolytes, deworming medications, and vitamins. " Ito ay tulong sa mga kababaihan. Ipapahiram natin ang mga baboy sa loob ng dalawang taon. Pagkatapos nito, ibabalik nila sa provincial government ang dalawang anak ng mga baboy. Ito ang ipamimigay natin ulit sa mga ibang organisasyon ," animal dispersal coordinator Mark Patrick Cortez explained the rationale of the program. Since 2010, PGIN has dispersed around 28,700 farm animals to almost 11,000 recipients. Also,

  By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Following the successful staging of the maiden drive-in concert at the La Paz sand dunes in this city, the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office arranged another “drive tour” featuring this time the scenic Solsona-Apayao road, an emerging highway tourism destination in the province even before the COVID-19 lockdown. Located between the boundaries of Brgys. Manalpac in Solsona town, and Butao in Calanasan, Apayao, some 40 kilometers from this city, provincial tourism officer Aianree Raquel said that they managed fully booked the mountain drive held July 18, 2020. “We can responsibly enjoy our vast natural landscape by following health and safety protocols,” said Mr. Raquel while enjoining interested individuals or groups to register and avail of some freebies with live performances from partner event hosts or sponsors. For the Ilocos-Cordillera drive tour, the provincial government made 70 slots available, inclusive of coffee and ube

BARTER FOR A CAUSE. Children in Barangay Lagui-Sail, Laoag City receive a learning kit courtesy of A&A Foundation and the Ilocos Norte 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company. Some of the donated school supplies were sourced through an online barter system where a kilo of calamansi is exchanged with a writing pad, pencil or crayons. ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY–At least 50 incoming Day-Care pupils at Barangay Lagui-Sail, this city are beneficiaries of a locally organized “barter for a cause” program, which is becoming a trend online, at least in the province of Ilocos Norte. On July 1, 2020, four-year old Ysabel Pastor from Sitio West of the said barangay, received her very first eight-color crayons along with pencils, writing pads, sharpener, eraser and a pack of multivitamin syrup from a group of Ilocos Norte cops spearheading the gift-giving activity. Ysabel is among the incoming Day-Care pupils of Barangay 54-A Lagui-Sail that benefited in

  File photo of the Laoag City Jail By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in this city released half of its total persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). Jail/Sr. Insp. Rodel Cadpino announced that they released 85 of the total population of 170 PDLs as of July 16, 2020. He explained that the releases were results of plea-bargaining agreements reached by the PDLs. The said agreements were in line with a recent Supreme Court memorandum circular. Other PDLs were also acquitted, Mr. Cadpino added. The jail officer also disclosed that most of the 85 PDLs released faced illegal drugs charges/ “ Iti lang advantage iti bassit PDL na ket matutukan tayo amin isuda ken nalawa iti space dan kumpara idi ket nailet, ” Mr. Cadpino said.   With the current pandemic, Mr. Capidno also noted that the Laoag jail is on total lockdown since March. As a result, they have restricted visitations. BJMP, however, allows PDLs to g