The Ilocos Times

Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), a nationwide climate justice coalition expressed its appreciation for the latest Climate Change Commission resolution calling for the review of the Philippine energy policy and harmonization of regulation on new and existing coal plants “in accordance with a low carbon development pathway. “    "This resolution is consistent with the Philippine commitment to contribute to the global effort to keep temperature to below 1.5 degrees, and a significant development in the face of the long standing demand by many communities and peoples’ organizations in the Philippines to shift away from coal energy,” commented Ian Rivera, the National Coordinator of the broadest climate justice coalition in the Philippines. The Philippines led the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group of governments from 20 countries, in successfully pushing for the inclusion in the Paris climate agreement of the aspirational goal to limit global temperature rise t

By Abraham V. Llera Contributor I don’t know how the incessant attacks by Rodrigo Roa Duterte will play out, but of one thing I’m certain: he will miserably fail if it’s the destruction of the Church he is after.   From the word go, the Catholic Church has been buffeted by tempests of all kinds from all sorts. Heretics from her own ranks from the infamous Arius to various Roman emperors messed up with her. Paradoxically, it was the best Roman emperors who were also her worst persecutors: Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimus Severus, and Decius, not counting the madmen Nero and Domitian. And it was brilliant theologians who were a constant thorn on the side of the early Church: Arius, Eusebius, Nestorius. But the Church triumphed. Today, the faithful number 1.2 billion. She is in more countries than ever, united in an uncontested and popular hierarchy, proclaiming the Good News to all corners of the world. Mr. Duterte will deal the local Church a serious blow. C

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter PINILI, Ilocos Norte—Once used as a hideout and training ground of the Sandatahans formed by rebel priest, Monsignor Gregorio Aglipay who founded the Aglipayan Church, this town now also boasts of a new garlic museum. The opening of the garlic museum solidifies this historic municipality’s place as the garlic industry center of the Philippines. Located along the national highway at Brgy. Darat, or about 38 kilometers from Laoag City, the Pinili Garlic Center houses a new museum featuring the multiple uses of garlic acclaimed for its medical benefits and a main ingredient in various culinary delights. Adorned with baskets of harvested garlic as the centerpiece of the museum, other arts and crafts and memorabilia that describe the traditional Ilocano way of life are also on exhibit. Freshly-harvested garlic, onions and other high value crops and processed agricultural products including garlic chips, salt, vinegar, bagoong

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —This city’s Sangguniang Panlungsod ranked 6 th overall in this year’s best Local Legislative Awards (LLA) search. Representing the Ilocos Region for the second time, Batac topped the 2015 Region I Best LLA search; besting San Fernando, Dagupan, Alaminos, Vigan, Urdaneta, San Carlos and Candon Cities. The cities of Kabankalan, Tacurong, Dapitan, Ilagan and San Fernando in Pampanga took the top five places in that order. Batac, Bislig, Dasmariñas, Calapan, Tabuk, Gingoog and Mati took 6 th to 12 th places, also in that order. Outgoing Batac Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Ronald Allan M. Nalupta said he was happy for their placing sixth in the national search. He said this is a testament to their hard work at the council by besting bigger and more progressive component cities. Mr. Nalupta stressed that this award is one of his major accomplishments in his nine years as vice mayor. Mr. Nalupta thanke

RA Form 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Ilocos Norte Municipality of Badoc NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION           In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that PABLO MARQUEZ REYES has filed with this Office a petition for change of first name from PABLO EDGARDO to PABLO in the birth certificate of PABLO EDGARDO M. REYES who was born on July 14, 1956 at Badoc, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are DAMASO V. REYES and EPIFANIA R. MARQUEZ.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than June 13, 2016. (SGD) PABLO M. REYES Municipal Civil Registrar May 30-June 5, June 6-12, 2016*IT _______________________________________________________ Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL AND CITY SHERIFF Marcos Hall of Justice Laoag City SUMMIT BANK (RURAL BANK OF, TUBLAY (BENGUET), INC.,

  Clyde Rosqueta affirms that his experience as a tourist aide of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte boosted his self-confidence leading to his personal development and growth. (John Michael Mugas) By John Michael Mugas PGIN-CMO In the past five years, Ilocos Norte’s tourism industry reached a growth that translated to more investment and meaningful jobs for Ilocanos; and Clyde Rosqueta, 19, of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte shared how this brought not only financial assistance to him and his family but also gave him a chance explore Ilocos Norte. Mr. Rosqueta, a working-student taking up BS in Civil Engineering student at Mariano Marcos State University, was hired as a tourist aide of the Paoay Kumakaway! Employment Program of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) last year. As the province’s tourism industry continues to grow, INTO hires part-time students, out-of-school youths as well as health practitioners to serve as tourist aides, utility personnel and p

By Alfredo C. Garvida, Jr. Contributor The vice presidential race in the May 9, 2016 elections may live in history as the greatest highway robbery that ever occurred on the Philippine soil. Vice presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos was ahead by almost 900,000 votes over Leni Robredo, his closest rival, at about 12 a.m. of May 10th in the vote quick count. At 3 a.m. his huge lead disappeared and Robredo inched ahead and steadily gained grounds in huge numbers while Marcos' votes remained constant. This unusual movement of the numbers were challenged by a political scientist and a college professor on statistics as highly suspicious and anomalous, contending that even with Ms. Robredo's huge surge upward on the statistical graph during this crucial three-hour span, Bongbong's numbers should have moved up likewise on the graph and not remained constant, as the canvassing quick count results were showing. Ms. Robredo tried to rationalize her sudden jump—in jus