The Ilocos Times

  By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Employees and visitors going to the Ilocos Norte Schools Division Office (INSDO) in this city may feel a new vibe upon entering the old government compound with its refreshing look both inside and out. Located at the heart of the city next to other national government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mariano Marcos State University-Laoag campus, vibrant colors of ornamental plants along a patio and a cactus garden greet visitors just beside a newly-established guard house where you have to log in in a blue book before you could make any transaction inside the building. They also relocated an old grotto, left unattended in previous years, which is now more visible in its well-lit altar inside an open kiosk turned as a sanctuary for believers with offertory candles and fragrant flowers. Inside the offices of the INSDO are comfort

By Bernard Ver Contributor LAOAG CITY - The Department of Agriculture (DA) High Value Crops and Rural Credit in cooperation with the DA Region 1 field office kicked off the first Ilocos Region Garlic Summit at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on March 14, 2018. Nearly 1,000 farmers attended the summit; they came from different provinces of Region 1: Ilocos Norte; Ilocos Sur; La Union and Pangasinan. The keynote speaker was DA undersecretary Evelyn Laviña, Head, High Value Crops and Rural Credit in lieu of DA secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol. The first garlic summit’s theme: "Crafting of the 5-Year Roadmap for the Philippine Garlic Industry Development." “The Department of Agriculture will intensify garlic production in the whole Region 1… [a]nd the conference is in response to the marching order of secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol to conduct field trials in all regions,” Ms. Laviña said During the summit, DA distributed farm machineries, equ

( From left) IPC President Hajime Koso, ICI General Manager Steve Gingco, ICI President Manny Aligada, IPC Division Head for Administration Myrna Valle and IPC Division Head for Sales Joseph Bautista. Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) recently held a ground-breaking ceremony for what will be its new site in Minglanilla, Cebu. On March 8, IPC President Hajime Koso together with Isuzu Cebu Inc. (ICI) President Manny Aligada and ICI General Manager Steve Gingco lead the ceremony. “This relocation is part of our continuing goal to strengthen and widen the service of Isuzu to our valued clients. We are proud that our dealer groups, like ICI is among those that is continuously working towards extending their reach by bringing our products and services closer to their sales area, and now here in southern Cebu,” said Koso. Located in Barangay Calajoan, Minglanilla, Cebu, the new site will replace the existing outlet Isuzu in Talisay. With more than 3,500 sqm

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—The National Electrification Administration (NEA) ordered the postponement of scheduled election for Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative directors scheduled this April. INEC set the district elections earlier for Districts VIII on April 14, 2018; III on April 21, 2018; and V on April 28, 2018. NEA Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong signed the deferment order upon the request of INEC board president Reynaldo “Rey” M. Lazo. “Considering the circumstances, this office approves the deferment of the said district elections for two (2) months pending the approval of the proposed deferment of elections by the NEA Board of Administrators, Thus, you are enjoined to conduct elections not later than June 2018,” Mr. Masongsong said in the order. According to Mr. Lazo, he requested the postponement because the INEC district elections will encroach into the barangay and Sangguniang Kab