The Ilocos Times

Regarding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it is an international treaty that establishes the legal framework for maritime boundaries and activities. The arbitral tribunal ruling in 2016, which favored the Philippines and invalidated China's claims in the South China Sea, is legally binding under international law. However, China has rejected the ruling and continues to assert its claims based on historical rights. It is crucial for countries involved in the South China Sea disputes to engage in peaceful dialogue, adhere to international law, and work towards a peaceful resolution. Escalating tensions through provocative actions, such as military confrontations, can lead to unintended consequences and destabilize the region. Diplomatic efforts, multilateral negotiations, and international cooperation are essential in managing and resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea. It is important for all parties involved to prioritize dialogue,

LAOAG  Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas is the only legislator of Ilocos Norte that joined the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) trip to Sennan City, Osaka, Japan from May 7-11, 2024.  Fariñas had the chance to propose for partnerships with the international agencies on their possible projects that might be feasible for the City of Laoag for adaptation. On the first day,  they discussed the roles of embassies and consulates in the foreign countries and the styles on diplomacy, constitution and laws as presented by Voltaire Mauricio. After which, the group visited the Osaka Prefectural Government and discussed the Osaka Expo 2025. The second day featured the discussion on data science and other topics from Japan for the Philippine Tech Leap represented by Professor Renzo Tan. Professor Neriza Sato, meanwhile, discussed the possible areas of engagement with Filipino-Japanese Community since she has been part of the Philippine Community Coordinating Council in Japan. The group al

What are the current problems of agriculture in the Philippines? The Philippines has become a rice exporter since 1976, but the poor consumers who buy rice have not been benefited. The price of rice has not stopped increasing, because the prices of fertilizers and other farm inputs which are made by multinationals keep on increasing. Even the Filipino farmers are still poor. Thus, it has been claimed by expert observers that only the multinational corporations and their representatives in the Philippines reap the benefits. What are other factors that contribute to our agricultural problems: corruption, smuggling, mismanagement, inflation, 5 calamity. So, what possible recommendations or suggestions can we provide to correct these problems or at least improve our agricultural sector. The issues mentioned regarding agriculture in the Philippines are indeed significant and multifaceted. Here are some additional factors that contribute to the agricultural problems in the country:

The law requires municipalities, cities and provinces to appoint representatives of Indigenous Cultural Minorities (ICMs) to the municipal, city and provincial councils if there are enough of them who are living within their jurisdictions. This is a wonderful provision in the law, but it seems that its implementation is not uniformly or consistently done all over the country. At the outset, I would say that the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are the agencies that should take the lead in implementing these laws, but it seems difficult to gather compliance data about which jurisdictions are abiding with the laws and which ones are not. Aside from the two NGAs and the three levels of LGUs, I believe that the role of NGOs in the overall implementation should also be recognized, including the many churches-based organizations (CBOs) that are helping the ICMs everywhere. Counting everyone, there should be a three-w

The Netherlands and Bhutan are two countries that do not have oil deposits, and yet they are net exporters of energy. The Netherlands because they tapped their natural gas deposits, and Bhutan because of their hydropower plants. Although I could only cite two examples, that is already sufficient proof that a country could become a net exporter of energy, even if it does not have oil deposits. But what about the Philippines? Could we possibly become a net exporter of energy? I would say that in theory, we could become one, but on the condition that we decrease our oil imports and increase our own local power generation. That might sound like a tall order, but we do have the assets that could make it happen. There are many countries that are now net exporters of energy, simply because they have oil deposits. By comparison, we do have oil deposits too, but the difference between these countries and the Philippines, is that they have tapped their deposits, and we have not. At least, not e

In the Philippines , the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) is subject to rules and regulations that govern the proper use of SK funds to ensure transparency, accountability, and responsible financial management. The SK is not allowed to withdraw any amount from their SK funds without following specific provisions and controlling factors. Here are some important points to consider regarding the use of SK funds and oversight of SK functions:   Guidelines for SK Funds : SK funds are governed by the Local Government Code of 1991 and its subsequent amendments, as well as the SK Reform Act of 2015. These laws provide guidelines on the allocation, disbursement, and utilization of SK funds for youth development programs and projects.   Budgeting and Approval Process: The SK is required to prepare an annual budget that outlines proposed expenditures for youth programs and activities. This budget must be approved by the SK Council through a majority vote and endorsed by the barangay council.

For so many years now, many LGUs have been trying to implement waste recycling programs in their own localities, but very few seem to have succeeded. By the looks of it, many local officials seem resigned to the idea of doing the same thing repeatedly, and expecting different results, which is Einstein’s definition of insanity. Is it therefore the time now to try something different? So that we could have different results? Instead of just having one type of garbage truck picking up both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste materials, why not have two separate trucks to do that, with two separate schedules? That way, the biodegradable waste, which is mostly food waste, could be brought directly to a biodigester facility, where these could be composted and converted to organic fertilizer. Without the biodegradable waste, it would be easier to sort the non-biodegradable waste, which is mostly recyclables. Better still, we should make it compulsory to sort or segregate the non