The Ilocos Times

DPWH-IN2 is most eco-friendly. DPWH regional director Engr. Ronnel M. Tan hands over the trophy to DPWH Ilocos Norte 2nd Engineering District Engr. Mathias L. Malenab for placing first in the Environmental Excellence Award for 2018 DPWH Ecofriendly District Engineering Offices (Environmental Management Programs Sustainability). The award is in recognition of their exemplary compliance to the environment programs/policies and efforts on environmental protection and conservation. The awarding coincided with the DPWH 120 th  Anniversary and held at the DPWH regional office in San Fernando City, La Union on June 23, 2018. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—The Dept. of Public Works and National Highways-Ilocos Norte 2 nd Engineering District based in this town won as the region’s 2018 Most Environmental Management Programs Sustainability Office. The award is in line with the national government’s effort to protect and c

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—To mark the end of plastic free July campaign, resort owners in this town called on volunteers to join a beach clean-up activity on July 28, 2018. In a public statement, organizers said they will conduct a morning walk and clean-up drive at Saud beach here. They added the Habagat (monsoon) winds over the past few weeks may had blown debris and plastic wastes in the shoreline which needed to be removed particularly on the northern end of the cove. Meanwhile, Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc proposed a “plastic-free” Ilocos Norte in a Dept. of Environment Natural Resources event. “Our province turned 200 years old this year. In this new century, let us turn over a new, greener leaf,” urged Mr. Manotoc at the 31 st Founding Anniversary Culmination Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on July 6, 2018 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, Laoag Cit

Members of the Department of Agrarian Reform Employees Association (DAREA) in Ilocos Norte plant at least 500 seedlings and saplings in Carasi, Ilocos Norte. Carasi , Ilocos Norte—Pushing for environmental concern as one of its core initiatives, the Department of Agrarian Reform Employees Association (DAREA)-Ilocos Norte held a tree planting activity in Carasi on June 21, 2018. Planning officer II Rommel R. Aquino, DAREA-Ilocos Norte president, said they planted at least 500 seedlings and saplings of narra , rain tree and bittaog . “This is our annual activity in support of the National Greening Program of the government which aims to enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation,” Mr. Aquino said. In the past years, the group have conducted tree planting activities in Bacarra, Nueva Era and Batac City. DAREA-Ilocos Norte is also busy preparing for the upcoming semestral review and planning session (RPS) and employees’ day of DAR Ilocos Norte. (Jopo Guerrer

Provincial agrarian reform program officer II Vic M. Ines (right, standing) poses with the national awardees of Gawad Parangal, the culminating activity of the 30 th  anniversary celebration of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) . An agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organization (ARBO) and an agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) under the Department of Agrarian Reform-Ilocos Norte bagged national awards during the Gawad Parangal held at the DAR Central Office on June 28, 2018. The Gawad Parangal is the culminating activity of the 30 th anniversary celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) implementation in the country. Awarded as the most outstanding ARBO is the Bagnos Multipurpose Cooperative of Banna, Ilocos Norte, while Jose I. Lopez of Damilian Agrarian Reform Community of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte landed as first runner up in the Best ARB division. Said ARBO and ARB received citations and cash awards for

IN  celebration of the National Nutrition Month, the Federated Day Care Parents Association of Laoag City battled with sumptuous recipes in a cook fest featuring nutritious foods made from avocado, banana blossom and cassava in front of the DSWD Laoag office on July 26, 2018.  ( Doms dela Cruz)

Committed to offering Filipinos the latest automotive technology, Suzuki Philippines unveils top-class upgrades for the sedan and hatchback to ensure optimum driving experience   ( from left ) SPH Managing Director and Treasurer Norminio Mojica, SPH President Hiroshi Suzuki, SMC Chief Engineer Masao Kobori, SMC Group Manager of Asia Automobile Group 2 Keiichi Suzuki and SPH Vice President and General Manager for Automobile Shuzo Hoshikura lead the joyous launch of the all-new Dzire and Swift. Manila —Pioneer compact car distributor Suzuki Philippines (SPH) closes the first half of the year with the back-to-back launch of the much-anticipated all-new Dzire and Swift. The grand launch, held at Marriott Hotel, Pasay City and attended by over 500 media, bankers and dealers nationwide, introduces not only the latest upgrades on two of Suzuki’s popular vehicles but also the revolutionary Japanese technology behind these newest innovations. “We are grateful for the stron

By Bernard Ver Contributor General Santos City —The Piddig municipal government fronted by Mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen shared their own ingenuities in a forum on good governance and convergence project the Provincial Government of Sarangani hosted on July 24, 2018. The forum is about the “inclusive business” approach in local government that sets models and plans for private investments as part of the enduring programs of Sarangani Governor Steve Chongbian Solon. Engineer Eddie Guillen, former Piddig mayor and now a consultant for his town, shared expertise he experienced in agribusiness, especially the remarkable convergence project of the town focusing on coffee production and how the Piddig made it as a tool for sustainable development of the town. Mr. Guillen first discussed the major problems in an LGU: increasing poverty rate, lack of medical assistance, poor disaster response, peace and order, untapped land resources, food security and low product