The Ilocos Times

Solsona Sangguniang Bayan member Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino (standing right) speaks during the deliberation of the annual investment plan (AIP) disapproval, which was moved by SB member Mark Dennis Del Castillo (seated left) while other members including Solsona vice mayor Bobby Sacro listen. Said motion for disapproval was later approved. ( Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Solsona , Ilocos Norte—The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) here disapproved the annual investment plan (AIP), which is a pre-requisite in the approval of the annual budget for CY 2021, on December 14, 2021 during their outreach session held at Barangay Talugtug in this municipality. As a result of the lengthy discussion, the voting profile showed that five members of the Sanggunian disapproved the AIP, while three voted in favor with one member abstaining. SB member Mark Dennis Del Castillo, who sponsored the measure said the reason for the disapproval was the “failure of different de

I t’s a common narrative of success when farmers increase their yield and sell their harvests at a competitive price. In an industry where the middlemen often take home the biggest share, it may be a little bit hard to believe that farmers can succeed in marketing their own produce. In just three years, an Ilokano farm cooperative, reached PHP2.5 million in assets. Unbelievable, but it happened. Ruthbell Pammit, 56-year-old chair of the Rayuray Farmers’ Agriculture Cooperative (RFAC), walks us through their journey and on how they have transformed themselves from rice tillers to “agripreneurs”.   The beginning An unusual opportunity to lead knocked on Ruthbell’s door in 2017. Upon learning that the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) was launching a program in Batac City to help farmers start their own businesses, Ruthbell gathered some of his farmer-friends and together, they established a small cooperative with the intention of joining

From the ashes of the old, a new world will rise. Or so they say, the pandemic has hit the world hard and without remorse. Sure, every now and then, you’ll see a person saying “Oh, it’s nothing, the COVID-19 panic is simply the ‘flu’ that you can cure with (insert old and barbaric ways to cure an ailment here)”; or worse, “The covid-19 panic is simply something the government uses to make business out of us”. It’s as if the pandemic hasn’t exposed a sheer magnitude of incompetence by the governments of the world. But we’re not here to talk about the politics of that, or any politics at all. When the pandemic started, everyone was forced to the confines of their homes; of course, we have a few stragglers here and there, walking about as if they are immune to the virus; or the people who have to report to work but most of us are locked in. The dreaded cabin fever sets in as people get at each other’s throats after being stuck with them for so long, everything we used to do, suddenly c

National Action Plan Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Secretary Vicencio Dizon. (PGIN-CMO photo) By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—As the province of Ilocos Norte re-strategize to prevent and contain the novel coronavirus infection here, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Secretary Vicencio Dizon assured officials and residents they are on the priority list to avail of the vaccine once it is available in the country. Mr. Dizon and other members of the National Task Force on Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) were in Laoag City on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 to augment the on-going containment strategies being implemented amid surge of cases of COVID-19 in the province. In a meeting held at the Laoag City Centennial Arena, Mr. Dizon said getting vaccinated is the surest way to move on from the pandemic. “Ilocos Norte is one of our priority areas specially for our front-liners. Hopefully, the vaccine will arrive by th

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor Rasimo proposed the establishment of a financial aid for children with disabilities (CWDs) program. He said this will affirm the municipal government’s role in providing additional benefits and privileges for persons with disabilities (PWD’s) as provided under RA 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons as amended by RA 9442. Mr. Rasimo explained that the program aims to institutionalize the grant of a regular financial aid “to those who have less in life”, particularly indigent children with disabilities. As the author of the measure, the vice mayor and council presiding officer said the Vintar government adheres to the declared policy of the state by prioritizing the needs of the underprivileged, sick elderly, disabled, women and children as provided in Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution. The program will provide to all qualified indigent chil

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Business owners may soon be able to apply or renew their business licenses online through an internet-based program developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to prevent direct contact and possible coronavirus transmissions. Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon said the city’s electronic business permits and licensing system (EBPLS) is the first of its kind in the region to ease business registration and license application procedures, which may take some time and may necessitate close contact with other people—violating physical distancing protocols. “This is a testament to our thrust for a more business-friendly, competitive, and progressive Laoag City by providing a more efficient way of doing business and eliminating red tape in the government,” he said. Mr. Keon added the new system will also facilitate the fast issuance of business permits which will be convenient for the business owners becau

  Laoag mayor Michael M. Keon receives a plaque of recognition and a P250,000.00 check as the winner in the search for the cleanest and greenest city in the province of Ilocos Norte. The awarding was witnessed by VG Cecilia Araneta Marcos, PENR officer Ms. Estrella 'Baby' Sacro and DENR-IN provincial director Vic Dabalos.  (CMO-Laoag photo) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Laoag City —Laoag City and the municipality of Nueva Era emerged as this year’s “cleanest and greenest” local government units (LGUs) of Ilocos Norte.   Under the “Narimat nga Aglawlaw” (A Brighter Environment) campaign of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, the provincial government, through its environment and natural resources office (ENRO), started the province-wide “Search for the Cleanest and Greenest Competition” last year to challenge component local government units to improve their waste management.  Held at the Sirib Mile on December 9, 2020, Laoag City won its second