The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan proposed amendments to an existing ordinance on the consignment of drugs and medicines in government-run provincial and district hospitals here. The consignment system is a “method of assuring availability of stocks wherein a consignor places its goods with the Provincial Health Office and/or the pharmacies of the provincial and/or district hospitals for sale, and the former being paid by the latter for only the actual quantity consumed using the money generated from the sale of the consigned goods within the agreed period of time.” Under the proposed amendment, Dr. Roger Braceros, the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital officer-in-charge, explained that any consignment deals with accredited suppliers shall no longer pass through the Bids and Awards Committee as there is no “cash out” involved. From the original 30 days needed to settle the consignment of drugs and med

City elections officer Atty. Julius Balbas assists Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Farinas and city administrator John Michael V. Fariñas in filing their respective COCs for mayor and vice mayor, respectively. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —Incumbent Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) on October 11, 2018 for her third and final term. Her running mate is her son, current Laoag City government administrator John Michael V. Fariñas. Prior to her official filing, they had a mass at the Laoag City Basketball Court, which non-government organizations, barangay officials and the public attended. In her speech after the mass, Mrs. Fariñas thanked incumbent Laoag councilors Roger John Farinas and Shirley O. Sin; former Laoag councilors Sonia B. Siazon, Joseph Tamayo, Yvonne Ranada, Derick Lao, and new face Jardin O. Sin, son Mrs. Sin. She also stressed that they will not resort to substitution a

  OWWA officials process the calamity assistance for Ilocos Norte members at the Provincial Capitol cafeteria. (OWWA ) San Fernando City, La Union—After typhoon Mangkhut [Ompong] hit Ilocos Region last month, the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) gave Calamity Assistance to OFW-OWWA members and their qualified dependents who were severely affected by the typhoon. OWWA, through its Welfare Assistance Program (WAP), gave assistance amounting to PHP3,000 for active OWWA members and PHP1,500 for inactive members. Since the whole region was placed under a state of calamity during the typhoon, OWWA RWOI together with the local government of each provinces has to identify the top municipalities and cities that were hardly hit by the typhoon thus giving priority with the calamity assistance. In Ilocos Norte, the processing for the calamity assistance was held on September 25-28 and October 4-6, 2018 at Provincial Capitol Cafet

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —In a bid to encourage more Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) involvement and participation in their barangays’, as well as the city’s affairs, Laoag councilor Roger John Fariñas proposed an ordinance that will provide SK kagawads, secretaries and treasurers a monthly PHP1,000 allowance. In his proposal, Mr. Fariñas cited Section 13 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution which emphasizes and recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and likewise promotes and protects their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. Mr. Farinas said the SK is one of the government institutions wherein the youth have an active participation spearheading activities and endeavors of promoting the youth development and empowerment. The city government should therefore recognize the youth’s involvement and participation in the city’s social and development programs and projects. He however, stressed that th

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here unanimously approved a resolution adopting the Filipino American Maharlika Association (FAMAS) as partner organization of the city government. Laoag councilor Portia Pamela R. Salenda said this is the first Filipino organization so far to come out openly to advocate gender equality focusing on the rights and plight of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, women and children. Ms. Salenda, who sponsored the measure, learned that several members of the FAMAS traces their roots to Laoag. The same organization earlier donated funds for the Ilocos Norte Medical Association to help in the puericulture centers and at the same time conducted medical missions in the province. FAMAS desires that the city allows them to prioritize projects for the city aligned with their advocacies for quality health care for the women and children’s welfare and gender quality. The

  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