The Ilocos Times

San Fernando City , La Union—Since 2016, the Cash for Work on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CFW-CCAM) program has reforested and protected at least 4,500 hectares of forest lands in Ilocos Norte. CFW-CCAM has also preserved rivers, riverbanks, coastline barangays and provided temporary jobs in partnership with Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO). Aside from continuous tree planting, ‘kaingin’ or burning of trees for charcoal making has ceased in many parts of the areas where assigned barangay ranger officers (BROs) have maintained and protected seedlings planted through CFW-CCAM and guarded the mountains from any grass fire or man-made fires. In Saguigui, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, tribal chieftain Emiliano Rabago is maintaining at least 4 hectares of forest land planted with fruit-bearing trees and coffee. During CFW activities, everyone in the community participates to include

QC Mayor Herbert Bautista and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos taste the Ilocos Norte empanada (Alaric Yanos) By Jesus Antonio P. Tacorda Contributor Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), through its Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEi Office brought local products to an open trade fair in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on June 24 to July 1, 2018 in response to a vegetable shortage in the said province. The trade fair was part of the Aggao Nac Cagayan Festival and allowed the showcase and promotion of products coming from nearby provinces. In addition to answering Cagayan’s vegetable shortage, it was an opportunity for Ilocos Norte enterprises to increase profit. According to Edison Natividad, administrative officer IV at the SME office “[T]he purpose of this project is to eradicate the middleman, to directly sell the product of our SMEs to consumers; so ibig sabihin, maalis yung middleman sa proseso kasi kung mayroong middleman, liliit yung

Add caption By Bernard Ver Contributor Laoag City —Peter Matthew Toribio Fowler of Mapua Institute of Technology-Manila and a resident of Brgy. Darasdas in Solsona, Ilocos Norte topped the recent chemical engineer board examination with a rating of 83 percent. Mr. Fowler graduated with a double degree in BS Chemistry, cum laude; and BS Chemical Engineering, cum laude from Mapua/. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) disclosed that 296 out of 636 examinees passed the Chemical Engineering Licensure. De La Salle University (DLSU)-Manila was the top performing school with a passing rate of 96.55. In an interview, Mr. Fowler said we have many resources in the country but we are not properly using them. “We have so many resources in the Philippines—some are over-utilized, but many are still under-utilized, such as biomass,” he said. “It’s because funds are very limited for research, so I’m hoping na ma-step up yung game ng research in th

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Ilocos Norte farmers have long been praying for rain and with the prolonged rainfall brought about the southwest monsoon, or “habagat”, Fiel Camacho’s face lit up with excitement; he can now till the once dried up farmland that is dependent on rainwater. For a week now, farmers here are busy preparing their farms as they take advantage of the rainwater. “We are glad rain has finally come so that we can start planting,” said Mr. Camacho as he prepared his equipment for his rice field in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte on June 14, 2018. The first rain of June is also an opportunity for other farmers to earn extra income as they enjoy catching exotic frogs and sell it in their neighborhood or in the market. Pegged at least PHP250 per kilo, the demand for exotic foods is high as some balikbayans mostly based in Hawaii and mainland United States even bring it along with them for family and friends craving for a taste of thes

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here shuttered at least 20 homestays for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act. Pagudpud mayor Marlon Sales confirmed this as he reported that they formed a joint inspection team from the local government unit and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to closely monitor the implementation of the Clean Water Act and other related local ordinances. Specifically, Mr. Sales said they found some homestay establishments which are directing their kitchen wastes to the sea. “Let’s help make Pagudpud clean. This is for all of us to ensure a sustainable tourism and environment,” Mr. Sales said citing these homestay establishments and restaurants will not be able to operate again if they will not comply with the provisions of the law. Depending on the gravity of the offense, said the local government closed tourism establishments ranging from 15 to 30 days. The LGU gave t

By Iryn D. Cubangbang Cotributor San Fernando City , La Union—The Dept. of Social Work and Development (DSWD) Region I, as the lead agency on response, early recovery, and rehabilitation of disaster victims in Region 1, trained 40 employees—the pioneer group—on basic Incident Command System (ICS), a standardized approach to emergency incidents.   Led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 1, other subject matter experts came from Department of Health and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)-La Union. At the start of the three-day training, DSWD Region I director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo emphasized the importance of the ICS in disaster operations ̶ for the staff to get a good grasp of the activities done at the local level so they will have the expertise to provide technical assistance or expertise at any given time. “The Philippines is enlisted among the top 10 disaster-prone countries; thus, the ICS is very important, esp

Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Ilocos Norte-Laoag Council president Atty. Corazon J. Ruiz-Abad, signs the memorandum of agreement with the Laoag City government. The MOA gives the GSP usufructuary rights to a parcel of land owned by the city government for a period of 50 years. Both parties officially signed the MOA on July 2, 2018 with Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Farinas representing the city government of Laoag. (Alwin Formantes photo)