The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte provincial government’s cash-for-work (CFC) program being implemented to generate more employment among Ilocanos will continue to stay with a total budget allocation of P15 million until the end of this year. Estrella Sacro, Environment and Natural Resources Office project manager confirmed this, saying the program covers the highly vulnerable areas of the province that were hardly hit by typhoon. The said office is under the provincial government. Since the implementation of the program, over 15,000 beneficiaries, who are in need of additional income, were hired by the provincial government to plant indigenous trees and other fruit-bearing trees in public lots of the province especially those who are near the river banks and mountains from Badoc to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. By schedule, the program beneficiaries received at least P3,000 per month as stipend by planting more trees within the so-called “G

By Imelda A. Cabello Contributor The Department of Trade and Industry in Ilocos Norte joined the National Consumer Affairs Council (NCAC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, as host agency, in the celebration of the 2016 Consumer Welfare Month. The theme for this year, “Consumer Protection: A Shared Responsibility”, emphasizes the importance of government agencies and the business sector working together in ensuring that consumers are given the protection they need. As an initial activity, the government as well as the business sector showed their support by hanging their own streamers in their office and establishment premises. As “Standards Week” is celebrated on the second week of October, monitoring and enforcement of the Standards Law was implemented in Laoag City through the inspection of Christmas lights in the different department stores. Destruction of uncertified Christmas lights was done in front of the DTI-Ilocos Norte Provincial Office. Likewise, m

THE WAR against illegal drugs in the country became serious when President Rodrigo R. Duterte assumed office. Since then, it has escalated in both rhetoric and lethalness; soon enough thousands lay dead. The past two weeks saw another escalation when two mayors were killed. Both were included in Mr. Duterte’s so-called “narco list.” But the way they died was questionable at best—one allegedly died while engaging the police in a shootout in a checkpoint; the other died while also engaging the police in a shootout inside a jail cell. Datu Saudi-Ampatuan (Maguindanao) mayor Samsudin Dimaukom was killed along with his bodyguards at 4:30 am of October 28. The police said they were tipped off that the mayor was transporting large amounts of shabu [methamphetamine hydrochloride]. Apparently, the mayor and his men opened fire at the police officers manning the checkpoint. This prompted the police to fire back, the report said. The results, however, is not only mystifying but more so,

Publication Notice R.A. 10172 Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Ilocos Norte Municipality of Bangui Office of the Municipal Civil Registrar CCE-0049-2016 RA 10172                                                                  November 3, 2016           In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172), notice is hereby served to the public that Milagros A. Brebonia has filed with this Office, a petition of correction of the date of birth from “November 18, 1954” to “November 8, 1954” in the Certificate of Live Birth of Milagros Aquino at Bangui, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are Alfredo Aquino and Maria Soliva.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this Office not later than November 23, 2016. (SGD) GLORIA B. AMUD

By Domini B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —City mayor Albert D. Chua confirmed that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-Batac officials visited him to present their proposed expansion. Mr. Chua said the proposal states that a BSP branch should have at least 5,000 square meters. Currently the BSP office here sits at 2,200-square meter office. The neophyte mayor said the proposal will be discussed at the Sangguniang Panlungsod for councilors to have their comments and suggestions on the proposal. He added that the lot expansion could be through donation, deed of usufruct or outright purchase. Mr. Chua disclosed that there is an empty lot behind the BSP office. He added that the only discussion may be on the agreement between the Batac government—through a council resolution or ordinance—and the BSP. Earlier, BSP Batac head Buenafe Alinio said that the BSP Monetary Board tackled the possible relocation of BSP Batac to Vigan City in Ilocos Sur. Ms. Alinio ex

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter BATAC CITY—Lettuce is known as a cool-season plant that grows well in a cold climate like Baguio in the Philippines. Who would think that growing this high value crop is quite easy and sustainable for a young farmer engineer who left a promising career in an established firm and followed his dad’s footsteps that is farming.  For almost a year now, the Romaine Organics which specializes in organic farming, gourmet and hydroponics continue to inspire local farmers here to go beyond traditional and become techno-savvy. John Lei Ganiron, 27, a graduate of Electronics and Communications Engineering at the Mariano Marcos State University is a pioneer in soil-less farming or the so-called hydroponics in Batac City. In just a span of two weeks, his hydroponics lettuce grown on a 15-square meter green house, which he set up beside their Batac residence is now ready for harvest. Mr. Ganiron said Romaine Organics is using automated hydr

  Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee R. Marcos greets students and parents after her SOPA. (Alaric Yanos photo) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO Emphasizing the importance of access to higher education, Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos announced that the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) will seek to provide free college education for Ilocano youth. “ Ang pangarap ko bilang gobernador ay makapagbigay ng libreng college education… Free college is possible, and all poor but deserving students can graduate,” she said during her State of the Province Address (SOPA) On October 28. The implementation of the said program will make Ilocos Norte as the first province in the Philippines to provide free college education. “ Daydi tatangko, ni Apo Presidente Ferdinand Marcos, nangi-libre iti high school, sapay koma ta siyak nga anak na iti mangilibrento met iti kolehiyo !” she added. The governor revealed that PGIN, together with Mariano Marcos