The Ilocos Times

  Atty. Leilani Carmelita R. Magbanua (3rd from left), Provincial Adjudicator for La Union and Abra, gave a lecture on mediation and alternative dispute resolution to the legal division staff of DAR Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. In order to further enhance the capabilities of its legal division manpower, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) held a lecture on mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) on October 9-12, 2018 at the Aureo Resort Hotel in San Fernando City, La Union.   In the said activity, the important provisions of Republic Act 9825 or The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004 were fully explained. The lecture was conducted by the Legal Services Division of DAR Regional Office 1, headed by Atty. Armi Christie C. Pe Benito. Atty. Leilani Carmelita R. Magbanua, Provincial Adjudicator for La Union and Abra, stressed that mediation is a voluntary process in which a mediator, selected by the disputing parties, facilitates

By Bernard Ver Contributor Laoag City —After finishing as runners-up in the last two years, the Ilocos Norte government finally won the “Pearl Award” as the best tourism-oriented province in the Philippines. The Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) held the awarding ceremonies on October 5, 2018 in Cagayan de Oro City. The search recognizes exceptional practices, projects and innovations in every local government’s tourism office in the Philippines as well as the men and women behind this great contribution in creative works and exceptional services and its cause. After the two runners-up finishes, Ilocos Norte tourism officer Aian B. Raquel said felt challenged, which he said made them work harder and the result was satisfying. “Since we started, we have accomplished the fundamental requirements for a well-functioning LGU in terms of tourism. We have legislations such as tourism code, investmen

Laoag City —The Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Laoag City has issued a donation through the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) for relief of victims of typhoon “Mangkhut”. The donation comprises 10 tons of premium rice valued at P480,000.00 and various grocery items such as sardines, corned beef, and meat loaf valued at P297,000.00, to be distributed during the “Paspas Takder” relief operations. Chinese consul Wang Jianqun represented the consulate, while Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Domingo Ambrosio Jr. and Atty. Donald Nicolas accepted the donation on behalf of Ms. Marcos and the provincial government. According to Mr. Edwin Cariño, head of the Provincial Sustainable Development Center (SDC), the consulate had originally committed to donating only 10 tons of rice, but decided on adding canned goods worth P297,000.00 in consonance with the lucky Chinese numbers: 7-7-7. “We ar

Piddig, Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here of Piddig led by Mayor Georgina Salazar-Guillen in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed cash incentives to social pensioners here on October 9, 2018. The social pensioners’ incentive funds came from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) share of the national government. Each pensioner received PHP200 per month, or a total of PHP2,400for 2018. They will receive the same amount for three years aside from their monthly pension amounting to PHP500. Five of the town’s 23 barangays benefited: Brgys. 1, 2, 3, 20, and 21. They were the last barangays to receive the said amount due to technical error from the provider’s system. Mrs. Guillen said, “These amounts are useful for pensioners’ daily consumption. Medical care is already provided by the municipality thru Piddig Cares 24/7 where they can ask for medicines and assistance, or an ambulance if needed.”

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—In time for the World Teacher’s Month celebration, around 5,000 teachers from the 21 towns and two cities of the province were gathered Tuesday at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, this city for a simple tribute to all educators here. After a thanksgiving mass officiated by Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba, a simple program and electronic raffle draws followed suit in honor of teachers. “Teachers are probably the most underappreciated sector in the society. They sacrifice so much yet they receive so little. You all deserve a day and a month of appreciation,” said Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc during the October 2, 2018 province-wide celebration for teachers. As chairperson of the committee on education, Mr. Manotoc assured teachers of his full support to the education sector as he cited the Ilocos Norte government’s continuing efforts to promote quality education by expanding its scholarship pr

Ilocos Norte-Apayao Road By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—The Dept. of Public Works and Highways 2 nd Engineering District and local government units reported more damages sustained in their respective areas from typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong). DPWH second engineering district engineer Mathias Malenab said they are still receiving reports of more damages in infrastructures. As of press time, Mr. Malenab reported initial damages ranging from PHP700-800 million. He added that subsequent reports may increase the damages to PHP900 million. He, however, emphasized that they will conduct a re-inspection of the damages whether they were just aggravated by previous typhoons and the weeklong monsoon rains. The DPWH II reported estimate damages of at least PHP74 million in national roads from the monsoon rains. Bungcag, Dingras, Ilocos Norte Mangkhut, meanwhile, damaged flood control projects, school buildings, bridge approache

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Batac City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here passed a measure that calls for the posting of deceased persons’ full names on a billboard in front of the City Hall. Batac councilor Bernardo Marders said the measure allows the public to check the veracity of those who have indeed died. Mr. Marders explained further that the posting of the deceased persons’ names will last up to seven days provided that consent is granted by the person who received the official death certificate. The basis of the publication will be the date of issuance of the death certificate by the civil registry office.