The Ilocos Times

Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Farinñs administers the oath of the new barangay officials in the city. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The city’s 53 rd charter day celebration on June 19, 2018 turned emotional as officials, led by Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas, remembered the late Laoag vice mayor Michael V. Fariñas, who died in car crash on June 6, 2018 and buried on June 15, 2018. Originally, the city’s celebration would have featured signing of sister-city accords with various cities. The late Mr. Fariñas personally visited the concerned cities earlier to forge initial agreements. Mrs. Fariñas disclosed that the cities’ officials have signified that they will personally attend the charter day celebration to sign the agreements. Among those include Del Monte in Bulacan, Baguio City and Vigan City, among others. Also schedule to attend were Telavi, Georgia officials to attend the event to formalize the union, which both the cit

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—A group of young Ilocano volunteers is making waves in the coastlines of Ilocos Norte as they attempt to protect marine resources and combat “plastic pollution”. Plastic pollution, they explained are the plastic packaging and bottles commonly used today. During their free time, they would gather near a beach and pick scattered plastic materials and bottles. They would also fun-dive and conduct underwater clean-up. Proudly calling themselves as “ocean patrollers”, these young individuals are part of greater environment advocacy group dubbed “Movement Against Plastic Pollution”, or MAPP in Ilocos Norte which aims to love, protect and educate people about their role stewards of nature. “Plastic pollution is every day’s problem. Plastics are everywhere, including in your own dinner table, in your own food. So be part of the solution,” said Patricia Dacanay, a young environmentalist from Currimao, Ilocos Norte

Micro entrepreneurs will be able to access P3 loans from more credit delivery partners (CDP) nationwide as the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) partners with fintech company CRIF Corporation to manage the loan operating system for the accelerated delivery of the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program. SB Corp President and CEO Ma. Luna E. Cacanando said that a new P3 loaning scheme is under way. The scheme intends to make the P3 funds more accessible to more micro enterprises in poor provinces and in other areas not yet sufficiently reached by formal lenders. “The agreement with CRIF will make borrowing from P3 easier for the micro enterprise. If in the previous P3 scheme, micro business owners get to borrow from cooperatives only if they are members, with the P3 scheme via fintech, borrowers can transact with any CDP. The plan is to set up CDPs within an hour commute from the micro enterprise communities. Moreover, the creditor directly releases the loan to the d

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The state-run Mariano Marcos State University in Batac City is set to host the Association of State Universities and Colleges-Solid North (ASCU-SN) summer Olympics slated next year. With MMSU President Shirley Agrupis as the newly-elected ASCU-SN vice president, she said the premiere university of the north is more than ready to host the event. Ms. Agrupis is also set to take over as ASCU-SN president upon the end of the term of the current ASCU President Dr. Eduardo T. Bagtang of Kalinga State University. ASCU-SN is composed of 23 state universities and colleges in Regions I, II, III, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. In time for the on-going ASCU-SN Summer Olympics at the Benguet State University in  La Trinidad, Benguet held June 18-21 , the member state universities and colleges unanimously voted for MMSU as host and venue for next year’s summer Olympics on June 19-21. This year, about 93 athletes

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government here employed 300 students from different schools in the city for this year’s 20-day Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES). The Laoag government funded the salaries of 140 students and 60% of the remaining 160 students. The Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE) funded the remaining 40% for the 160 students. Laoag City community affairs division chief Bernardino R. Rodillas said the city government paid the 140 students the amount of PHP7,754.60 per SPES beneficiary. Likewise, the city government also paid out PHP4,652.76 per SPES beneficiary for its 60% share. Mr. Rodillas added that the students personally received their cash salaries at the cash division. Relative to this, he also announced that the city government hired additional 11 SPES beneficiaries from two other Laoag schools with a different school calendar. Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas congratulated all the SPE

Education Sec. Leonor M. Briones during her visit to Laoag City. (LCDepEd photo) By Jennifer T. Pambid Contributor Laoag City —Dept. of Education Secretary Leonor M. Briones lauded the Schools Division of Laoag City for promoting the use of Baybayin even before the congress’ approval of House Bill 1022 declaring Baybayin as the national writing system. During the DepEd chief’s visit to Laoag City for a special meeting with DepEd Region 1 officials recently, Ms. Briones appreciated DepEd Laoag’s welcome streamer bearing her name with Baybayin script. “As you can imagine, this will take years because to translate an ancient script and language into the language of millennials, into the language of science and technology, literature and arts; it’s not going to be very easy,” she explained. In the first quarter of 2017, DepEd Laoag City Schools Division superintendent Dr. Joel B. Lopez initiated the use of the pre-Hispanic Philippine script primarily as a tool

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Paoay, Ilocos Norte —The Court of Appeals issued a 60-day temporary restraining order against the dismissal of Paoay Mayor Jessie Galano. Armed with the seven-page copy of the TRO dated June 21, Mr. Galano faced the press on saying he is just waiting for the Department of Interior and Local Government to serve the TRO to all concerned parties. On June 14, the DILG served the dismissal order from the Office of the Ombudsman against Paoay mayor and his municipal administrator, Bruno Dumlao for grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct and serious dishonesty. “This is just a trial on the part of the Paoayeños. What happened was just a simple neglect of duty and not corruption. It was procedural in nature and I thank God for helping me extend my public service,” said Mr. Galano. CA Associate Justice Stephen C. Cruz penned the TRO and concurred with by CA Presiding Judge Romeo F. Barza and Associate Justic