The Ilocos Times

LAOAG CITY—Following the construction of community fish landing centers (CFLC) in the province, the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has proposed the collection of unloading fee for fishery products. Arthur Valente, fishery regulatory coordinator of the Provincial Agriculture Office said they are now conducting public consultation with coastal communities here to solicit their support. Pegged at one peso per kilo of freshly caught fish unloaded at the CFLC, Mr. Valente said whatever amount collected from the fishermen will return to them in the form of government projects and services. In Ilocos Norte, the government has already constructed seven fish landing sites to monitor fishery catch here. They are in Laoag City and in the coastal towns of Badoc, Paoay, Pasuquin, Bangui, Burgos and Pagudpud. Mr. Valente said data collection is very important to determine the right government intervention to improve the socio-e

Piddig , Ilocos Norte—Carabao, or water buffalo, was once a farmer’s best friend in Ilocos Norte. Farming families highly depended on it for draft. But as heavy infrastructure developments and agricultural modernization took place, the carabao industry has waned over the years. In Piddig town, the local government unit here is trying to save water buffalo from extinction. Recognizing its potential as a local source of milk and meat, Piddig mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen believes the need to develop and conserve water buffalo production. “We need carabaos, not just to help farmers to plow the land but they also give us milk and meat. They exist to balance our ecosystem,” Ms. Guillen said in an interview. As baby steps to revive the industry, the Piddig local government moved to conduct an inventory of the remaining water buffalo in every rural village here. Under the animal health program here, the local government unit will focus on the health welfare of water bu

Leveraging the compact car maker’s SUV heritage, equipped with features Suzuki Philippines’ new subcompact SUV encourages individuality, personalization, safer driving and fuel efficiency.   Pioneer compact car maker Suzuki Philippines launches the all-new Vitara in the PH market during an event at the Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig City on November 9. (From left) Suzuki Philippines (SPH) managing director and treasurer Norminio Mojica, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) Asia automobile department general manager Shigeo Takezawa, SPH president Hiroshi Suzuki, SPH general manager for automobile Shuzo Hoshikura, SMC global automobile planning department general manager Nobutaka Suzuki, SPH assistant general manager Cecil Capacete. MANILA, Philippines—Leading compact car maker Suzuki Philippines (SPH) finally ends the wait today with the official launch of the new Vitara. Designed to match the growing automotive market in the country, the new-generation Vitara encapsulates the

Sarrat mayor Remigio Medrano and Pagudpud mayor Marlon Sales. (Berong Ver) By Bernard Ver Contributor Manila —Sarrat mayor Remigio B. Medrano and Pagudpud mayor Marlon Ferdinand T. Sales graduated in the Agribusiness Executive Program of University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P) on November 11, 2017. Dr. Rolando Dy, Center for Food and Agribusiness- ‎ University of Asia and the Pacific ‎ executive director administered the commencement exercises. A total 46 students completed the six-month Agribusiness Executives’ Program (AEP). UA&P conducted three-day classes every month, from Thursdays to Saturdays. The school designed the program to develop the managerial, analytical and strategic thinking skills of executives and managers in their own community in collaboration with agribusiness industry practitioners and experts. Both content and design are based on a comprehensive needs analysis and innovative design process done in collaboration with agri

By Dominic Dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —With still over two months to go, the city government here has begun preparations for next year’s Pamulinawen Festival. Over-all festival coordinator Lilian Abijero announced that next fiesta’s theme is “Transcending”, as unanimously approved by all fiesta committees. Ms. Abijero explained that the theme must be continuance of what was “ Achieved ” , which was the theme for the 2017 edition. “Kasi no naka achieve kan, siyempre you don’t rest on your laurels. You keep on moving forward. Transcending means you can break barriers. You can overcome problems and struggles. You address challenges, ” Ms. Abijero expounded. Ms. Abijero also confirmed several changes for the fiesta, foremost is the removal of “street pageantry” as a fiesta highlight. She said it is because it is only a redundancy of the province’s “Tan-ok Festival of Festivals” which also features dance parades. The Tan-ok Festival is set for Febru

Keyboard-of-Japanese-language (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Ilocanos wanting to improve their knowledge and skills for better work opportunities here and abroad may consider learning a third language. In Laoag, a company is set to inaugurate a one-stop shop language center by January next year to offer Nihongo, German and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) review. The language center will rise in the city’s business district. Initiated by a Piddig-born specialist nurse who is now based in London, United Kingdom, the Talaytayan Language Center-Laoag branch is now ready to accept new enrollees. “The world is changing in a way that familiarity of a foreign language is needed before deployment for work abroad. And the people of the north should not [fall] behind compared to other parts of the country,” said Riza Tongson-Espe, a technical consultant of Bison Management Corporation and the current manag

Map of the Philippines with Ilocos Norte highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) L AOAG CITY—With the continuing implementation of Ilocos Norte’s cash-for-work program, hundreds of residents who are looking for additional source of livelihood are taking advantage of it. In Vintar town, Arlene Rosario, a full-time mom of three growing children said was trying to figure what to cook for lunch when she learned a roving team from the Capitol Express was at the town’s gymnasium offering various government services. Out of curiosity, she checked on the list of services and tried to apply for a cash-for-work, a continuing program of the Ilocos Norte government in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Initially, the program is meant for calamity victims. Then it expanded to marginalized earners or indigents. For a few hours of rendering community service in their respective barangays, they receive cash based on the prevailing regional wages in