The Ilocos Times

PAGUDPUD  third term and consistent senior SB member Ferdinand Garvida formally announces his intention to run for mayor the coming 2022 local and national elections  (Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—A three-way fight for the chief executive post in this town looms in the coming elections next year. Three-termer and consistent senior Sangguniang Bayan member Ferdinand Garvida disclosed his intention to run for mayor in the upcoming election. “ Saan a mailingeden appo ta agradwarak met ngaminen ket ti unus iti tallo a pinag konsehal ko, siyak latta iti nagbalin a number one kas resulta iti pinangay-ayat dagiti tao kaniyak ,” Garvida stressed. He said his family has already decided for him to run for mayor. His family includes his sister Pagudpud Liga ng mga Barangay president and Sangguniang Bayan ex-officio member Maricel Garvida, who will be his running mate. He likewise added that he has already formed his line up though he

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte provincial government keeps on inspiring farmers to increase their productivity with the continuing distribution of livelihood assistance such as additional agricultural inputs and equipment to mango, rice and vegetable growers in the province. Recently, the provincial government distributed a total of 2,749 bags of commercial fertilizers, 23,200 packs of humus, 1,120 carrageenan and foliar fertilizer to registered rice and corn farmers, both in the first and second districts of Ilocos Norte.  For mango and vegetable growers, they likewise received 845 bottles of insecticide and 3,860 vials of fruitfully attractant while other high value crops associations and backyard vegetable growers received 800 units of knapsack sprayer, 30 power sprayer, 525 rolls of irrigation hose, one unit shredding machine, 50 units grass cutter and 40 units of jetmatic pump courtesy of the Sustainable Development Center (SDC) of the I

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) urged anew local government units (LGUs) to avail of its free contact tracing training program (CTTP) as the country is now experiencing a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. It can be recalled that at the onset of the pandemic last year, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña immediately ordered the registration of more health-related programs and tasked the agency's Qualifications and Standards Office to develop competency standards on contact tracing. He likewise directed the TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs) nationwide to register the program and partner with barangay health centers, LGUs, Philippine Red Cross (PRC), or Department of Health (DOH) facilities in their areas. With this, TESDA, in September last year, has started offering free contact tracing training program to support the country's fight against the spread of COVID-19. From September last year up to March this year, based on r

By   Noralyn Onto Dudt A year has passed since most of the world populace was told to stay in place; to stay put or they may end up "killing" each other. A year of uncertainty, a year of wearing masks, a year of physical distancing, a year of not visiting parents, grandparents and friends. A year of no touching and no hugging each other. It has been a year that had almost all of us gripped with fear as we watched others become critically ill and were rushed to fill hospital beds. As the kings and queens of centuries past, with their "coronas" (crowns) on their heads, wielding power that put fear into their subjects’ hearts, the coronavirus has been wielding its power and our hearts have been terrified.   And with this fear gripping us, the way we carry on with our lives has been changed forever. As the virus was proving to be so deadly and with so many people dying, businesses collapsing, and people losing their jobs, the government of the United States went into

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY–Army Brig. Gen. Audrey L. Pasia, the commander of the army’s 702 nd Infantry Brigade in the Ilocos Region urged all sectors of the community including government workers to be more discerning with the so-called “long-time virus” which is deadlier which is deadlier than the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In time for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) 52 nd anniversary on March 29, 2021, Pasia said the insurgency issue has continuously infected various sectors and the government sector is no excuse. "All sectors—including government employees, media, church, professionals, and laborers among others have already been targets. So please, let us all be discerning. We may not know it, but they may already be in government that is bent on destroying us,” he said in a virtual presser on March 29, 2021. Out of the 12 identified municipalities in Ilocos Sur that were earlier reported to b

LAOAG CITY—Small farmers in rain-fed farmlands of Ilocos Norte will now have a chance to grow high-value crops even during summer by harnessing the power of the sun as alternative energy. Tapping the sun's energy is the new craze at Brgy. Lang-ayan in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, where a solar-powered irrigation system with at least four solar panels was installed near a communal food garden where its residents can grow off-season fruits and vegetables. Funded by the province’s share from the tobacco excise tax, there are four units of this kind of small-scale irrigation project being pilot tested in the second district of Ilocos Norte where water is scarce during the summer months of March to May or even longer due to prolonged El Niño phenomenon. The other units are located in the rural Barangays of Camguidan and Camandingan in Batac City and Barbar, Pinili town. The solar-powered irrigation system worth PHP486,250 per unit may be a bit costly for small farmers but in the long

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Another batch of 1,000 farmers received a soil fertility package covering 250 hectares last week in the continuing soil restoration program of the Ilocos Norte government. For every hectare, the local government provides at least 20 sacks of organic fertilizer, urea (nitrogen fertilizer), and gypsum (soil conditioner) to help rehabilitate farmlands and boost production efficiency. Soil experts say agri-gypsum is a good source of calcium and sulfur and improves soil characteristics. It helps soil better absorb water and reduces erosion. “This is enough to restore the soil fertility if we get the appropriate measure for every hectare. That is why we are asking our farmers to do their share,” Edwin Cariño, head of the Sustainable Development Center, said during the March 16, 2021 ceremonial distribution at the Rizal Park here. Cariño said the soil restoration program started during the term of then-Ilocos Norte Governor and now