The Ilocos Times

For decades , we looked at plastic as the villain of modern life — polluter of oceans, killer of turtles, clogger of esteros. And rightly so. Traditional plastics last for hundreds of years, break down into microplastics , and only a tiny percentage ever gets recycled. So, the logic was simple: replace plastic with something biodegradable — seaweed, bagasse, hemp, rice straws, bamboo woods, anything natural. But what if what’s better than plastic… is also plastic? Out of nowhere comes a new material called Lyfecycle , a proprietary “self-destructing” plastic. At first, rumors claimed it was made of seaweed. But as it turns out, it is plastic after all — but the good kind, if there is such a thing. Developed by UK-based Polymateria , Lyfecycle behaves like regular plastic during its useful life. It’s strong, durable, recyclable, and compatible with existing waste systems. But the magic lies in the additive built into it. If it escapes collection —meaning if it ends up as waste, i...

VALUE-ADDING. Judy Viernes shows his pickled garlic at the Garlic Incubation Center in Laoag City , Ilocos Norte on Wednesday (July 22, 2026). He is among the first garlic incubatees being assisted by the Taiwan Te chnical Mission in the Philippines to help revitalize the local garlic industry . (Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—Garlic growers and processors benefit from a microfinancing program supported by Taiwan, providing farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs with greater access to capital to improve productivity, expand operations and enhance the competitiveness of the local garlic industry. Eric Pin Yu Chen , representative for the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Philippines, told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that at least 10 garlic incubatees have been selected so far this year for the grant. "Each incubatee received PHP240,000. The amount can be used to start their business or to improve it,” he said in an interview at the Garlic Incubation ...

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr (DND file photo) City of Batac —Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has called on Filipino youth to become defenders of truth and active partners in protecting the country's sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), stressing that national resilience begins with an informed and united citizenry. Speaking before students, youth leaders, government officials, and security stakeholders during the Ilocano Dialogue on the West Philippine Sea in the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte on July 18, 2026, Teodoro said the country's ability to withstand external threats depends not only on military strength but also on public awareness and national resolve. “We will rely on you to be the future of our organization, be the future of the national economy, be the future public leaders,” Teodoro told participants. The dialogue, organized by the Ilocos Norte Model ASEAN Meeting (INMAM), focused on strengthening public understanding of the WP...

At your service, anytime, anywhere. The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation ( PDIC ) took another significant step toward building a digitally empowered organization and reinforced its commitment to public service with the launch of its enhanced website and the MyPDIC Portal . The launch of these initiatives served as the highlight of its 63rd Anniversary Program held on July 1, 2026, at the PDIC Chino Building in Makati City . Leading the launch were (right to left) DICT Undersecretary for E-Government David L. Almirol, Jr., PDIC President and CEO Roberto B. Tan, PDIC Board Director Imelda C. Tiongson, and PDIC Vice President Jose G. Villaret, Jr. (Corporate Affairs Group). The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) officially launched its enhanced corporate website and its first electronic portal (e-portal), MyPDIC, during the Corporation's 63rd Anniversary Program on July 1, 2026, at the PDIC Chino Building in Makati City, marking a significant milestone in its d...

Laoag City —For the first time, the city of Laoag has emerged as a national winner in the 51st Gawad Saka Parangal sa Natatanging Magsasaka at Mangingisda, earning recognition at the Department of Agriculture ’s annual search for outstanding contributors to the agriculture and fisheries sectors. Held June 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center, the Gawad Saka awards honor farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers, extension managers, local government units and other partners whose work has helped strengthen food security and rural development across the country. Laoag’s national victory marks a milestone for the city’s agri-fishery sector. City Agriculturist Sheila Marie Opelac said Laoag submitted six entries this year, three of which advanced to the national finals: Outstanding Corn Farmer Geoffrey Santiano Pascual , Outstanding Agricultural Extension Manager Sheila Marie N. Opelac , and Outstanding Local Government Unit, Laoag City. She said the city’s finalist...

  As the southwest monsoon (Habagat) continues to bring heavy rains across the country, a new Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) study has found that routine rainfall reduces the number of hours Filipinos work each week, with day-to-day and short-term workers bearing the greatest impact. In the discussion paper “When Rain Falls, Work Slows: Rainfall Variability and Working Hours in the Philippine Labor Market,” PIDS research specialist John Joseph Ocbina and Senior Research Fellow Dr. John Paolo Rivera analyzed nationally representative Labor Force Survey (LFS) data alongside regional rainfall records from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The findings suggest that frequent rainy periods—not only major storms and typhoons—can add up to meaningful productivity and income losses across the labor market. “At the aggregate level, rainfall exerts a statistically significant but modest negative associa...

By Carlos V. Cornejo Any pursuit on worldly things such as money, fame, power and pleasure will always end up making the pursuer wanting for more but never getting satisfied.  On the other hand, pursuit for knowledge, skills and loving others makes us full and would happily still want more.  With the former it makes the pursuer unhappy.  The latter makes the pursuer thankful.  What’s more the latter gets to multiply his joy because what he additionally acquires feels like a bonus.  In contrast the former may get more but feels he still has less.  This reminds me of Bill Gates , Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk .   They are all very famous people and have altered the world with their inventions.   They too are all very rich.    They’re worth billions and yet they have not retired.   They could have just stopped working, went on a world tour, savored everything that money could buy and still have much money left.   But they are ...