The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —"In Unity There Is Power”. In view of this, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) hosted the Regional Electric Cooperative Association Fellowship at the Laoag City Centennial Arena on October 26, 2018. INEC board president Enrico Ruiz welcomed the nine electric cooperatives from the entire Region I for the whole day fellowship event. Mr. Ruiz said the fellowship was a team building activity for unity to all electric coops in Region I in order to provide more efficient service to all its member consumers.   Other activities aside from fellowship were competitions for the “Singing Got Talents”, “Search for Mr. & Miss Front Liners” and the “Lux Awarding”. INEC got the most number of attendees award during the recently concluded Annual General Membership Assembly meetings of INEC. The award was given by the RECO I board.

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—In a gathering of Indigenous Peoples here, various IP organizations and tribal councils in Region 1 crafted and signed a manifesto of support to the proposed federal form of government being pushed under President Rodrigo Duterte administration. According to Atty. Jesus Agbayani, Provincial Officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Ilocos Norte said they convened a dialogue among the leaders and members of the Indigenous Cultural Communities here for them to fully understand the basic provisions of the federal system of government particularly and how this will create on impact on the lives of IPs. “After a thorough study and exchange of ideas using our customary mode of decision-making, we are of the view that amendment of revision of the existing form of government is absolutely necessary to address the sad plight of the IPs and further strengthen the rights it already conferred to the ICCs/IPs,” said

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