The Ilocos Times

Batac mayor Jeff Nalupta By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —The city government here is expecting a multi-million peso increase in its 2015 annual budget after the passage of their new revenue code. The local finance committee however is still finalizing the consolidated estimated local revenues and expenditures as of the second week of November. Batac mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta is hopeful they would complete and pass the budget in time for its approval by the Sangguniang Panlungsod. He disclosed that next year’s budget would be higher that this year as the forecasted increase in revenues from the newly amended revenue code has been factored in. The Ilocos Times learned that the delay in the finalization of the proposed budget was due to the new revised revenue code, which the local finance committee waited for. The approved revenue code however will still need the final approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Batac officials howev

THAT gospel story about Bartimaeus, the blind man who unashamedly begged Christ that “I may see” (ut videam) (Lk 18,35-43) is a story worth reiterating since it contains precious lessons for all of us. First is that we, like Bartimaeus, should acknowledge our own blindness. Though we may enjoy good vision at the moment, we have to realize that to be able to see things properly and completely, we simply do not rely on our eyes nor any of our senses. Our eyes and senses can only capture a little part of the whole reality that governs us. They can only perceive what are called the sensible realities, still light-years away from the intelligible, not to mention the spiritual and supernatural aspects of reality. Still what they get and gather are very useful and in fact are indispensable, since the data they give are like the raw material that will be processed by our more powerful faculties of intelligence and will. In this sense we can already consider ourselves as suffering

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —All local government units (LGUs) in the province are in the thick of preparations for the coming 4 th Tan-ok Festival of Festivals set on Nov. 29, 2014. Tan-ok showcases all the festivals of Ilocos Norte’s municipalities and city. Laoag set to defend title Laoag City mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas said the city will continue the story of Pamulinawen Festival, last year’s grand champion. Ms. Fariñas said the Pamulinawen Festival tells the story from Laoag’s discovery up to the present. She said the choreographers have conducted auditions for dancers, which primarily would be from elementary and secondary schools. Ms. Fariñas disclosed that the city government has allocated P1 million for their participation for this year’s Tan-ok. She related that the big budget would be for participants, which would include drummers, their meals and snacks, honoraria for trainers and choreographers, and for costumes, props and

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Sangguniang Panlalawigan members have initiated the conduct of field visit of an alleged sub-standard farm-to-market road in the remote upland Brgy. Isic-Isic, this town. Led by SP member Vicentito M. Lazo in his capacity as chairperson of the committee on ways and means and ex-officio board member Domingo Ambrocio, federated president of the Philippine Councilors League-Ilocos Norte chapter, a coring test was conducted on Nov. 4 by the Department of Public Works and Highways in the province’s first district. A coring test is usually performed using a machine to determine density or cracks on a road pavement. Result of the field visit will be presented to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Early this year, the Isic-Isic farm-to-market road project worth P24.2 million was funded by the Department of Agrarian Reform through its agrarian reform communities program. There is also an on-going road widening and can

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City, Ilocos Norte—The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the Department of Education organized a province-wide education summit cum Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) congress on Nov. 11 to explore the major issues and challenges faced by Ilocano families today. Attended by educators, government workers, church leaders, parents and youth organizations, the first of kind PTA congress and education summit brought to the fore a public discussion affecting every family household such as incidence of teen pregnancy in Ilocos region, migrant parents, depression and suicide including drug problems. Dubbed “Pasingkedan ti kinasinged ti pamilia dagiti Ilokano (Strengthening Ilokano family ties),” as theme of the whole-day congress, different resource speakers talked about these major issues affecting Ilocano families and how  can this be addressed with the help of good parenting, counselling and awareness of the children’s

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—“The earlier, the better”. This was the statement of Dingras vice mayor Jeffrey Saguid after the Sangguniang Bayan passed the P101,963,867.80 2015 annual budget on Nov. 3. The annual budget includes the 20 percent development fund as the highest amount allocated particularly on the economic, social and other services. The maintenance of street lights, water supply program, improvement and upgrading of day care centers and the improvement of Gulayan sa Paaralan are under the social services. Mr. Saguid also said that the municipality also allocated an amount of P800,000 for tourism development as one of the pet projects of Ilocos Norte Gov.  Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos. As an agricultural town and “rice granary” of the province, the municipality also allocated P1.2 million as assistance to farmers and about P250,000 for agrarian reforms support in the municipality. Construction and maintenance o