The Ilocos Times

The recently released 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that roughly one in ten Region 1 women aged 15-19 have begun childbearing: 10 percent are already mothers (ranks 4th among the 17 regions) and another 3 percent are pregnant with their first child (the highest among the 17 regions). The survey also revealed that the overall percentage of currently married women age 15-19 not currently using any contraceptive method is higher (64.2%) than the users of any contraceptive method (35.8%). In a report by the Department of Health Region I, the incidence of teenage pregnancy rate in Region 1 increased from 10.06% in the 2nd quarter of 2017 to 10.29% in the 3rd quarter of 2017. The cities/municipalities of Laoag, San Fernando, Alaminos, and Narvacan have the highest incidence of adolescent birth rate in the region for 2017. The Philippines is the only Asian country with an increasing teenage pregnancy/adolescent bi

Laoag City —Young and still active, Mrs. Myrla Pilar C. Ambanta, a 63-year-old resident from Dingras is one of the nine senior citizen tourism ambassadors the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) hired for this year’s summer employment program. “We can still acquire more talents and skills, which we can later on share to other people. We still have time to learn and love Ilocos Norte even more [through this summer program],” she said. Mrs. Ambanta is a retired registered medical technologist who worked at the Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos Memorial Hospital for 25 years. Regardless of the big shift and difference from her usual duties in the hospital, she said that her innate talent of being a conversationalist served as an advantage on her job as a tour guide at the Taoid Museum of the Ilocano Cordilleras located at Laoag City. Coming from a business-oriented family in Delfin Alabano, Isabela, she has memories working at a very youn

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Vaccinators from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) are reaching to Ilocos Norte’s rural barangays to ensure all dogs get an anti-rabies shot. Amid the Holy Week season, Dr. Jeneveve Suliva of the PVO said they have a fully booked schedule this month and early next week for the massive dog vaccination drive. On March 27, 2018, a team from the PVO conducted border control in Badoc town, said PVO chief Dr. Loida Valenzuela. Until the end of March, the PVO is offering free dog vaccination and neutering at the PVO laboratory office. This is in line with the declaration of the rabies awareness month through Executive Order No. 84 signed on March 13, 1999, by then President Joseph Estrada. The massive dog vaccination and neutering is among the services of the PVO to achieve a zero-case of rabies by 2020. Records from the National Rabies Prevention and Control progr

  Laoag councilor Justine Clarence Chua (second from right) receives a plaque of recognition from mayor Chevylle V. Farinas (third from right) for being one of the top 10 taxpayers under the local-owned business. Witnessing the awarding are (from left) treasury OIC Diomy Gayban, BPLO’s Dr. Melvin Manuel, licensing division chief Chona Gantala and Laoag councilor Dr. Edison Siazon. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government here announced the top 10 business taxpayers for 2017. City treasury officer-in-charge Diomedes Gayban said that the top taxpayers paid the highest business tax and at the right time. Under the national-owned businesses, the city government identified Wilcon Depot Incorporated which paid the highest business tax in the amount of PHP3.5 million; followed by Super Shopping Market, Inc., Sanford Marketing Corp., Globe Telecom Inc., Puregold Price Club Inc., Jollibee Foods