The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz;  Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government here is urging all 80 punong barangays to intensify awareness, prevention and response measures against leptospirosis to reduce infections during and after heavy rains. Laoag Councilor Justine Clarence Chua reminded barangay officials that Laoag’s frequent tropical cyclones and prolonged rainfall increase the risk of waterborne diseases transmitted through floodwaters and contaminated soil, including leptospirosis. He described the disease as a serious bacterial infection that can cause high fever, jaundice, kidney failure, meningitis and death, and warned that even a few cases can burden local health services and families. The City Health Office reports four confirmed cases since July 2025, including two from Barangay Bengcag and two fatal cases from Barangays 6 and 46. Chua said barangay health workers, working with punong barangays, are key to early detection, reporting, education and referrals that e...

  MORE AWARDS. Vintar Mayor Richard Agregado Degala receives two awards from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Sinagtala Award , and Timpuyog Award in a ceremony held in San Fernando City, La Union on June 11, 2026. The Sinagtala Award recognizes the mayor’s outstanding partnership and unwavering commitment bringing government services closer to Overseas Filipino Workers ( OFW ) and their families in Vintar. Through responsive governance and meaningful collaboration, LGU Vintar has served a vital bridge between OWWA RWO1 and local communities ensuring that programs, opportunities and assistance reach those in need. While the Timpuyog Award also recognizes the mayor’s exemplary commitment to promoting the welfare, protection and empowerment of OFWs and their families through responsive local governance and innovative public service. Through the mayor’s steadfast partnership with OWWA ROW1, LGU Vintar has strengthened family resilience, expanded opportunitie...

  By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter Solsona , Ilocos Norte—The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Solsona, led by Vice Mayor and presiding officer Jonathan De Lara , held the municipality’s first State of the Legislative Address (SOLA) on June 1, 2026, coinciding with the blessing and inauguration of the new SB session hall. De Lara marked the milestone as a chance to reflect on the SB’s first 365 days of public service and to report legislative accomplishments. He told constituents the body approved 975 resolutions and enacted 64 municipal ordinances in its first year, emphasizing that each measure was intended to promote good governance, strengthen public services, protect the environment, support education and health care, enhance peace and order, and stimulate local economic growth. All members’ accomplishment reports were presented via PowerPoint during the event. De Lara thanked fellow councilors for their professionalism and commitment, the executive department unde...

The Philippines is becoming increasingly vulnerable to global fuel supply disruptions as crude oil imports become increasingly concentrated in the Middle East , while its power grid continues to face tightening reserves, according to a study presented by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). The findings come as the government moves to strengthen national energy security, including plans to establish a Strategic Petroleum Reserve . Presenting the findings of “How Energy Secure Is the Philippines?” PIDS senior research fellow Adoracion Navarro said the Philippines remains energy insecure despite improvements in energy efficiency. “The short answer to how energy secure is the Philippines—we are insecure,” Navarro said. The study assessed the country’s energy security across six dimensions that go beyond traditional measures: sufficiency, reliability, resilience, affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. It found that fossil fuels still accounted for ...

One of the simplest, cheapest, and most practical solutions to flooding is something we often overlook: retention ponds . These man-made basins hold water permanently and manage stormwater before it wreaks havoc in our communities. And unlike mega- infrastructure projects that take years and billions of pesos, retention ponds are so easy to build that even our barangays can do them. In other words: Why aren’t we building more of them? A retention pond slows down stormwater, traps sediments, improves water quality, and prevents erosion downstream. It functions like a community-level buffer against the increasing intensity of rainfall we experience due to climate change . Unlike detention ponds —which dry out between storms—retention ponds always contain water. They look like real ponds, with vegetation around them, attracting fish, birds, and other wildlife. But what makes retention ponds truly compelling is how multi-purpose they can be. With proper filtration, they can becom...

MODERN society often associates addiction with alcohol or illegal drugs. Yet an increasing number of psychologists, pastoral counselors, and spiritual writers recognize another destructive addiction that has spread quietly through the internet and digital media: pornography. Available at the touch of a screen and often consumed in secrecy, pornography has become what many describe as the "new drug." Its effects reach far beyond the individual, damaging marriages, families, friendships, and one's relationship with God. From a Catholic perspective, pornography is not merely a moral failing but a distortion of God's beautiful plan for human love. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that pornography "does grave injury to the dignity of its participants" because it reduces persons to objects of pleasure instead of recognizing them as children of God created in His image (CCC 2354). Rather than fostering authentic love , pornography trains the mind ...

  Laoag Mayor James Bryan Alcid meets with barangays tanods and barangay officials headed by Laoag ABC President Rbee Ablan, Schools Division Superintendent Joan Corpuz, chief of police Lt. Col. Ryan Retotar and CDRRM officer Dr. Melvin Manuel for a stricter implementation of peace and order both in public and private schools in the city to avoid crimes and other illegal activities that might occur. ( Photo by Mr. Larry Pedralvez) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter Laoag City —To ensure public safety and protect residents from crime, the city government of Laoag has asked Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police, to deploy 106 additional police personnel to meet the ideal 1:500 police-to-population ratio and bolster security across 80 barangays and 64 schools. Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas said Laoag covers 12,747.35 hectares and comprises 80 barangays, 40 public schools and 24 private schools, all of which require ade...