The Ilocos Times

Batac City government administrator Windell D. Chua (top photo) welcomes the participants and guests during the first school of the Mamamayan Ayaw Sa Anomalya Mamamayan Ayaw Sa Illigal na Droga (MASA MASID) orientation. The Department of the Interior and Local Government in partnership with the Batac government, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Health conducted the first (MASA MASID) Orientation participated om by MASA MASID Teams (MMTs) of Brgys. Valdez, Cangrunaan, San Julian, Aglipay, Baay, Baligat, Maipalig, Payao, Naguirangan, Camangan, and Dariwdiw. The punong barangay, the Sangguniang Barangay committee on peace and order chairperson, representative from faith-based Organization, non-government organization, and other volunteer groups, NGO members of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council and Barangay Peace and Order Council compose MMTs. The orientation aims to capacitate the Masa Masid Teams on their roles in the

Former Piddig mayor, now consultant, Engr. Eddie Guillen showcases his town's best practices. (Berong Ver) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Piddig , Ilocos Norte—When Engr. Eduardo Guillen, former Piddig mayor initiated a peaceful revolt to end hunger and poverty in his town, little did he know that he would be travelling far to share this goodwill to others. The historic town of Piddig is known as the home of “Basi Revolt”, an uprising led by heroic Ilocanos here against wine monopoly by then Spanish colonial government. As Piddig’s municipal consultant to his wife, Piddig mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen, the former mayor is among the most sought-after speaker in terms of local governance initiatives and farm consolidation. In time for the 29 th anniversary of the Local Government Code, Mr. Guillen served as one of the presenters in the “Festival of Best Practices” organized by the Manila-based Local Government Academy to highlight the best practices of loc

Recognizing the value of leadership and cooperation among its personnel, Laoag City P/Supt. Edwin Balles receives a plaque of recognition from P/Director Gen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa as Best City Police Station in Region I at the Police Regional Office 1, Camp Oscar Florendo, San Fernando City, La Union. This is in celebration with the 116 th  Police Service Anniversary themed “Buhay ng Pulis Handang Ibuwis Para sa Katahimikan at Kaayusan ng Bayan". With him receiving the award is SPO4 Clarito Bilango. This is a manifestation of the unwavering dedication to the PNPs Mission Statement "To Serve and Protect" that will give the people the safest community they deserve.  ( Doms dela Cruz)

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Diocese of Laoag has called on its faithful to surrender cursed rosaries circulating in the province. Father Philip Anthony Dimagiba, Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office Chaplain said the presence of cursed rosaries here shocked him. According to Fr. Dimagiba, some parishioners surrendered some of these items to him. When asked about the indicators of a cursed rosary, he explained, “No INRI symbol, the Luciferian sun is present, four actually, the sun is the symbol of Lucifer, the angel of light before he rebelled versus God, there is a snake at the back of the crucified Lord, again the snake is the ancient serpent, the dragon who is Satan in the garden of Eden, who tempted men to disobey God not to eat the fruit.” Should a Catholic believer encounter any of these “diabolical” rosaries, he said they should surrender them to parish workers for destruction. “The object is cursed because it was offered in pr