The Ilocos Times

  The Ilocos Norte DepEd office By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Department of Education (DepEd) earmarked a total amount of PHP315 million for the improvement of schools in Region 1. Elmer Sabado, DepEd regional director confirmed this on May 28, 2018 as various education stakeholders from the four provinces of Region 1 shelled out financial support for the successful implementation of Brigada Eskwela 2018. Under the Adopt-a-School Program of Republic Act 8525, private entities that will join the Brigada Eskwela will have a reward of recognition and 50% tax-incentive entitlement from the government. “We are grateful to all volunteers and those who donated to the schools,” said Mr. Sabado referring to the PHP243 million in kind donation plus an additional PHP72 million worth of services for the cleaning and fixing of schools in the entire Region 1. Compared to last year, the amount generated had increased more than three times, or to PH

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) launched the new number of its Text Center to make rice information more accessible to farmers. Farmers can now reach the PhilRice Text Center (PTC) through 0917-111-7423. The Text Center agents are available to answer queries about rice seeds and modern farming practices from Monday-Friday, 9 am-5pm. A digital platform, PTC provides daily consultation services to rice farmers around the country through call and SMS. It will also regularly send farm advisories, rice technology updates, market information, and other farm insights to the registered farmer-clients. Originally launched as Farmers’ Text Center by the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture in 2004 with 28 users, the PTC now has more than 35,000 registered clients. Currently, it receives an average of 200 SMS every day. “Our top queries are usually related to seed quality and varietal information, pest management, seed availability, and nutrient manage

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —Atty. Fidel Gines, Laoag election officer from 2004-2007 returns to his old post effective June 4, 2018. Mr. Gines, however only reported on June 9, 2018 due to an illness. He transferred from Candon City, Ilocos Sur; the same post former Laoag election officer Atty. Julius Balbas now occupies. In his return, Mr. Gines was in time for the submission deadline of the statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) for the recent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. He explained that the SOCE is a “thorough and comprehensive report about the campaign contributions and expenditures of all political parties that took part in the May 14 elections. The SOCE submission deadline was on June 13, 2018. Citing his stint in Candon, Mr. Gines said the winning candidates must have the certificate of compliance from the Commission on Elections before they formally assume their offices. “ Daytoy iti p

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here unanimously approved a resolution that creates an administrator post for the city’s 80 barangays. The council passed the unnumbered resolution unanimously, with Laoag Liga ng mga Barangay president and council ex-officio member Mary Michelle Louise “Mikee” V. Fariñas moving for its approval on May 21, 2018. Laoag vice mayor and council presiding officer Michael V. Fariñas suggested the measure. According to the former Laoag mayor, if municipal and city governments have administrators, he said believes barangays can also have their own. Mr. Fariñas added that barangay administrators “would be a great help and big participants for the betterment of the barangay’s programs, plans and activities”. Laoag councilor Franklin Dante A. Respicio, committee on laws chairperson, agreed with the vice mayor; he however suggested they invite city interior local and government officer Andres Vend

Dr. Elisea dela Torre, Chief of Tagbilaran City's Curriculum Implementation Division and Dr. Casiana Caberte, Bohol's Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, review USAID-do nated learning materials at the completion ceremony for USAID's Php1.9 billion Basa Pilipinas project. Manila —The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) completed its five-year, Php1.9 billion Basa Pilipinas project, which improved literacy and reading comprehension among more than 1.8 million students from kindergarten to grade three.   USAID partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement the project in eight school divisions in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cebu, and Bohol, and the cities of Mandaue, San Fernando, and Tagbilaran. The Basa project strengthened the reading skills of more than 1.8 million students from kindergarten to grade three, trained more than 19,000 teachers and school heads, and provided more than

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Teachers, parents and other concerned groups banded together in this year’s Brigada Eskwela to prepare schools all around the province for the new school year. At Burgos Agro-industrial School (BAIS) in this town, the school is now all set to welcome more than 800 learners on June 4, 2018 with its well-polished classrooms, newly-painted walls, clean playground and re-energized teachers after they went through a series of self-mastery and capacity building. On May 25, 2018, almost a thousand Brigada Eskwela volunteers both from public and private sectors gathered at the Burgos school as they removed dust and cobwebs in school classrooms, arranged cluttered chairs, pruned trees and cleaned pathways. In an interview, BAIS principal Josephine Pascual, said she is very thankful for the show of solidarity and volunteerism among the entire community of Burgos including other stakeholders who shared their ti

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Badoc , Ilocos Norte—This town unveiled a marker of the pontifical coronation of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc on June 29, 2018. Just like during the pontifical coronation of the blessed Mother, Cesar Jade Raquel, Badoc municipal tourism officer said the unveiling ceremony drew hundreds of Catholic faithful from the different towns of the province and in nearby provinces. With the unveiling of the marker at the St. John the Baptist Parish, the church containing the enshrined La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, Mr. Raquel expressed optimism the number of visitors here will further increase due to the so-called ‘faith tourism.’ Gifted with heritage churches and natural landmarks, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte through its Ilocos Norte tourism office acknowledged there is a growing interest in faith tourism here as several travel agents are offering some tour packages regarding this purpose. As this developed, Mr.