The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City —The high cost of farm inputs has yielded to increasing demand for organic fertilizers among Ilocano farmers here. Like the state-run Mariano Marcos State University in Batac City, Dr. Floramante Pastor, head of the bio-organic fertilizer production located at the back of the university library said they are flooded with orders from farmers engaged in the production of rice, corn and other high value commercial crops. Pegged at P250 per bag weighing 50 kilos, a farmer can save by more than triple the amount of commercial fertilizer pegged at P1,300 per bag. Through a continuous conduct of farmers’ school and field visitations of organic farming demonstration sites, traditional farmers here are now shifting to the use of organic fertilizer. Aside from its cheaper cost compared to inorganic fertilizer, it likewise increases the physical and biological properties in soils, thus, mitigating the risks of over-fertilization,

And, incidentally, some other people He is not quite a character, and thus does not attract attention to himself. That’s my impression on US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg who made a three-day visit to Ilocos Norte last week. But he does have a shy and sweet schoolboy smile that brings his charm on a totally different class compared to predecessors Kristie Kenney who got giddy with some dance crazes then and Harry Thomas who is so charismatic, you want to hug him like a teddy bear. Compared to Kenney and Thomas, Goldberg seems more the intellectual type. I heard him speak on three occasions, twice at MMSU and at the reception dinner at the Malaca ñang of the North. He briefly delved on a wide range of issues but he expressed strong concern for the environment, particularly on climate change. He visited the MMSU College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology on Sept. 4 to open an exhibit of various researched-based products. The next day, he proceede

Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Angelo Marcos Barba leads the ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 3 during the inauguration of Ilocos Norte's newest green building and latest tourism landmark. Also in photo are: Piddig Mayor Eddie Guillen, Father Lorenzo Torreflores of St. Anne Parish, Piddig Vice Mayor Generoso Aquino, ABC president Gina Guillen (also the mayor's wife), and members of the municipal council. Shows the before and after transformation of the old and new municipal hall of Piddig. By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Piddig , Ilocos Norte—A two-storey multi-functional building on a hill side surrounded by tall trees overlooking the Dingras river and sprawling rice fields and majestic mountains became the latest addition to Ilocos Norte’s tourism landmark, this time located in the eastern portion of Ilocos Norte.   Attended by local officials and heads of national agencies, the new and modern municipal hall building of Piddig was i

Duri ti pagilian Daniw ni Leonardo Rosqueta Agunoy sika a lislisan ken dapandapan sika ti aw-awaganda a duri ti pagilian sika ti punganay-biag ti amin nga agrusing a bin-i ti taraon ti sangapagilian sika ti kamang da salladay-isem sika ti kamang biag a kasapulan sika ti kamang a pagsammakedan taraon dagiti umili kuminnit a darang ti Init tumulang a lam-ek duririam nga agmalmalem ti kusilap-paludip ti langit tapno laeng daras a maileppas pangted bin-i nga inka intukit iti masanguanan, agsalumpayak da isem ken namnama inton bunga ti narnuoyan kadagiti maadi-adi a kinelleng…

On August 25, twin 7 year old children were reportedly playing with a cigarette lighter when they started a fire in the Makakilo area in Honolulu. Fortunately no homes were burned but the forest behind the homes continues to burn a week later. Their father appeared on television looking contrite and apologetic. We have received a number of calls on the potential civil liability of the parents for the misconduct of their children. If parents can vicariously claim an honor like “Parents of the Year” for the achievements of their children, should they not be held vicariously responsible for the tortious acts of their children? State law governs parental responsibility for children’s misconduct. For a link to the Parental Responsibility Laws in all 50 States, see http://www.mwl-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/parental-responsibility-in-all-50-states.pdf Hawaii is a pioneer in legislation on parental responsibility. As early as 1846, when Hawaii was still a kingdom ru

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—After failing to receive an answer to a resolution the Ilocos Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan addressed to the Apayao provincial board, SP member Atty. Vicentito M. Lazo has proposed the filing of a petition for mandamus, compelling the latter to thresh out issues regarding a long dragging boundary dispute between two provinces. According to Atty. Lazo, a resolution was sent to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Apayao through its Vice Governor Hector Pascua but said officials failed to act on it even after a period of 60 days, the latter was expected to send a reply. “A verification made with the secretariat revealed that this resolution of ours was received by the SP of Apayao in May 20, 2014 and more than 60 days has lapsed but still there is no action on the part of the Apayao SP,” Atty. Lazo explained. Based on the Local Government Code, a boundary dispute involving two provinces must be endorsed to the Sangg