The Ilocos Times

Today, November 10, I received the following e-mail from Barack Obama, which I believe is genuine since I have received emails purportedly coming from him, because according to the email I am an “Obama for America supporter”. [Full disclosure: I am for America but I am not for Obama]. Here’s a portion relevant to immigration. “Emmanuel—Two years. That’s all the time I have left as your president. I know what I’m going to be fighting for until I leave this office... If it’s... fixing our immigration system that fires you up, I need you to stand up for it... With or without help from Congress, I’m not done making real change for the American people. http://my.barackobama.com/Lets-Go. Thank you, Barack Obama.” My answer: “Dear Barack Obama: Do not change our immigration laws without the help of Congress. The power to make laws is vested in Congress. Your duty as President is to enforce the laws, not make laws. Thank you, Emmanuel Samonte Tipon” “Attorney, where is the amn

Fully charged . The 150-MW Burgos Wind Power Project, with at least 50 towering 80-meter wind turbines distributed across a sprawling 600-hectare forestland in Burgos, Ilocos Norte is now connected to the grid and is delivering wind power directly to the Wholesale Energy Spot Market (WESM) before it is plowed to power consumers across the country through distribution utilities. (Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Strong and steady winds continue to create a milestone in the country’s power generation as it hopes to blow away oil and gas-powered plants in the near future. Proving that clean and reliable energy supply is possible, the 150-megawatt Burgos wind project, the largest wind farm in Southeast Asia with 50 wind turbines situated in a sprawling 600-hectare forestland in Burgos just along the national highway has started to deliver at least 9 gigawatts (GW) of electricity worth approximately P40 million since its commissio

Although the Philippines is on track in achieving many of the health- related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), inequities in accessibility, availability and affordability of health services across the country still exists. Speaking at a regional forum on the Philippine Health Sector Performance in Cebu City, Dr. Celia Reyes, Senior Research Fellow of state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies said the recent economic gains have not translated to better and equitable social outcomes, particularly for health status. Using official data, Reyes and her team found that people from Luzon generally have better access to health services and facilities, thus, better health situation compared to their counterpart from Visayas and Mindanao. “In terms of hospital beds to population ratio for example, only one-third of the provinces are able to meet the required one bed for every 1000 people. Most of these hospitals are located in the National Capital region

IT’S good that from time to time we go into some kind of isolation. That would give us time and space for rest and some helpful reflections. We just have to remember that there are two kinds of isolation, a good one and a bad one. And we just have to make the proper choice.   The good one fosters our communion with others, first with God and then with all the rest. This is actually what is proper and ideal to us. It enhances our being persons who know how to be united with everyone, starting with God, from whom we come and to whom we belong, and with everyone else who is part of our human family. We have to make sure that whatever isolation we may be resorting to should make us to be more united with God and others. When that is not case, when we become more self-centered, wallowing in our comfort zone and even becoming more critical of others and cold toward God, let’s immediately react and correct the situation. The bad one simply grounds us deeper into our own selves, a

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte CITY OF LAOAG OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD WHEREAS, City Ordinance No. 2001-016 (Tax Ordinance 01-01), otherwise known as “AN ORDINANCE ENACTING THE REVISED REVENUE CODE OF 2001 OF THE CITY IOF LAOAG”, has defined “Gross Sales or Receipts” under Section 1B.01(h) as follows: “Gross Sales or Receipts” include the total amount of money or its equivalent representing the contract price, compensation or service fee, including the amount charged or materials supplied with the services ad deposits or advance payments actually or constructively received during the taxable quarter for the services performed or to be performed for another person including discounts if determinable at the time of sales, sales return, excise tax, and value-added tax (VAT); WHEREAS, because of this definition in our Revenue Code, Representative of the City Treasurer’s Office found a tax deficiency collectible

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte CITY OF LAOAG OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD WHEREAS, the Honorable Maria Imelda R. Marcos, Governor of the Province of Ilocos Norte has included the City of Laoag as a pilot area in her project which intends to ease the financial burdens and difficulties of pupils/students in the province of Ilocos Norte; WHEREAS, the Honorable Governor’s intention to make life easier and better for the Ilocanos and a manifestation of her sincere and deep concern for the development of the youth of Ilocos Norte with the established guiding principles and objective of “ONE ILOCOS NORTE”; and WHEREAS, the project proposal includes the use of two (2) E-jeepneys, two (2) buses and two (2) coasters that shall ferry high school students and pupils from remote barangays who are studying in the various schools and universities within the poblacion with the following proposed routes which are subject to

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte CITY OF LAOAG OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD WHEREAS, City Ordinance No. 2008-062, amended by CO 2010-029, declared the Laoag City General Hospital as an Economic Enterprise pursuant to law; WHEREAS, City Ordinance 2009-038 “created the Hospital Revenue Code of 2009” to provide the legal basis to charge and collect fees and charges for the services availed and pursuant to the mandate of local government units to create their own sources of revenue and to levy taxes, fees and charges; WHEREAS, the same hospital revenue code has been amended by CO 2010-007, CO 2011-001, and CO 2011-014 creating a situation which could result to difficulties or confusion as to which is to be used as an accurate point of reference; WHEREAS, there is a need to address such concern for which the only remedy is to legislate just one final Hospital Revenue Code of 2011; WHEREFORE, upon motion of t