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MRI @ Laoag City General Hsopital

Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Farinas and VM Michael V. Farinas lead the inauguration and blessing of the  city-owned—and first in Ilocos Norte—magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at the Laoag City General Hospital on August 26. (Doms dela Cruz)

CHED warns SUCs against discrimination of students with romantic relationships

By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor Batac City —The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has warned the leaderships of state universities and colleges (SUCs) across the country against prohibiting romantic relationships between male and female students saying that higher education institutions (HEIs) have no right to intrude into such personal affairs. CHED Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan made the announcement on August 22, 2016 to all SUCs nationwide after she called the attention of the Golden Heritage Polytechnic College (GHPC) in Cagayan De Oro City over a reported school poster prohibiting relationships between male and female students that was put up alongside the road fronting the college. The school bans romantic relationships between its students in attempt to prevent teen pregnancy. The poster was put up after a year when six GHPC students were allegedly expelled for violating such policy. Thus, the CHED ordered its regional office in Region X to investi

Laoag BJMP holds graduation rites for 17 ALS graduates

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —Showing that the country’s correctional system may still work, the Laoag City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology celebrated the graduation of 17 detainees from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency Program of the Dept. of Education. Jail Chief Insp. Herminigildo Rivera congratulated the graduates for SY 2015-2016 during the graduation exercises held at the city jail’s therapeutic center on August 19. Four detainees graduated for the elementary level, while 13 finished their secondary equivalent education. Mr. Rivera said ALS is open to all inmates. He thanked the Laoag education officials for the program, which he said gives detainees the opportunity to better themselves through education. He also thanked the “mobile teachers” for their “unending and continuing” support. Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Ilocos Times learned this year’s graduation is already

Laoag council on Sangguniang Panlalawigan invite snub: Probe done, forwarded

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —After most of its members were a no-show at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Laoag vice mayor explained that an investigation on the missing P85 million has already been done by the Laoag council. He added that the results have also been forwarded to the higher sanggunian for their “information and guidance.” Mr. Fariñas spoke during his “Chairman’s Time” in the last council session where he explained that he already sent a letter to the provincial board. In the said letter, he asked that the council members be excused from attending since they have already finished their own investigation on the issue. The investigation he was apparently referring to were the two executive sessions the council called where all those involved in the issue were called. The main person though, former Laoag treasurer Ma. Elena Asuncion, remains missing. He stressed that the results of the executive sessions were forwarded to the Sanggu

Ilocos Norte government gears up to sustain ISO re-certification

  Ilocos Norte governor Imee R. Marcos leads the distribution of loans for women. (Alaric Yanos) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Sustaining its lead as the Philippines’ first province fully compliant to International Organization for Standardization, Ilocos Norte is again gearing up preparations for its re-certification, this year. Over the past three years, local and foreign investors continue to expand business in this northern gateway of Luzon. Among these include the construction of more wind and solar power plants, Business Process Outsourcing and expansion of shopping malls that defines the new lifestyle of modern Ilocanos. All these developments, according to provincial treasurer Josephine Calajate could have been attributed to the province’s ISO-accreditation and the strong leadership of Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa R. Marcos. In a two-day training held at the Provincial Capitol recently, deputy management representative Miri

Imee in DILG’s top 10 governors in fighting drugs

  Ilocos Norte governor Imee R. Marcos By Mizpah Grace G. Castro PGIN-CMO Recognizing the efforts of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) cited Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos on top of an honor list containing 10 governors, highlighting their support against illegal drugs. DILG Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said, "They have proven to be very good administrators and very good governors," elaborating that the list was based not only on the effects of the governors' anti-drug programs and operations, but rather on a holistic evaluation of provincial security, including disaster preparedness, transparent governance, and business competitiveness. "The first requisite of development is peace and order," Ms. Marcos said in her 2015 State of the Province Address. In the past year, she strengthened PGIN's partnership with the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPP

Cancellation of removal for certain nonpermanent residents

It is not only lawful permanent residents (green card holders), as discussed in a previous article, but also certain nonpermanent residents (without a green card) who are placed in removal (aka deportation) proceedings are eligible for relief known as cancellation of removal if they meet the requirements prescribed by the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), and case law. An LPR who obtained such status by fraud or mistake and was barred from applying for cancellation for lawful permanent residents under INA § 240A(a) may apply for cancellation of removal as a nonpermanent resident under INA § 240A(b), provided it is timely. See Obioha v. Gonzales, 431 F.3d 400 (4th Cir. 2005) Statutory eligibility INA § 240A(b)(1) [8 USC § 1229b(b)(1)] provides: “The Attorney General may cancel removal of, and adjust to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, an alien who