The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Kabataan Federated Association in Ilocos Norte bared plans to conduct its own investigation following the discovery of some 79 Laoag SK chairperson who signed a blank payroll while they attended a leadership training at a resort in this city. They were also allegedly made to sign a waiver authorizing the Laoag SK president to collect their travelling expenses. Ilocos Norte SK Federated President Rafael Medina confirmed this as several SK presidents of Laoag expressed their dismay when they found out that a total of PHP73,075 has been liquidated as their per diem after attending a three-day live in seminar on November 28-30, 2018, which they did not receive. Through a joint committee hearing of the committees on laws, youth and good government held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall on January 16, 2019, the investigation revealed that the Laoag city government through the Local Youth Development O

Producing job-ready graduates through industry-academe joint efforts. Laoag City —Out of 2,600 job fair applicants in 2018, a total of 1,178 were successfully hired on-the-spot, records from the Ilocos Norte Public Employment Services Office (PESO) showed. In 2017, only 256 applicants out of 1,090 (23.49%) were hired immediately during job fairs. A 93% increase in applicants instantly hired was seen in 2018. These are based on figures from the different job-matching activities held simultaneously during the Bicentennial Celebration in February and the Marcos Fiesta in September, as well as the annual Summer Job Fair, Millennial Job Fair, which caters to senior high school graduates, and the Year-End Job Fair. Anne Marie Lizette Bitancor-Atuan, PESO head, pointed out, “ Lumaki ang mga na -hire last 2018 kasi marami talagang gustong magtrabaho after senior high school (SHS)… May mga job opening tayo na talagang para sa undergraduate at SHS.” Mrs. Atuan added,

Laoag City —In light of their consistent and effective efforts to eliminate the use of illegal drugs in the province, the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) was given the 2018 National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Award by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) last month. In 2018, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) declared Ilocos Norte “54% drug-free,” specifically in the municipalities of Marcos, Carasi, Dumalneg, Adams, Burgos, Currimao, Banna, and Vintar, and another 279 barangays. In the last quarter of 2018, the INPPO conducted 75 drug-clearing operations which led to the arrest of 84 drug offenders, and seizure of 345 grams of marijuana and 154 grams of shabu .   According to P/Insp. Wilma Palting, Police Community Relations (PCR) officer, the award is proof of the INPPO’s strong drive to eradicate illegal drugs. She noted that this is seen in the decreasing number of cases related to illegal drugs that furth

New Laoag officer-in-charge P/Supt Mar Louise T. Bundoc pays a courtesy call to Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Farinas at the mayor’s office. ( Doms dela Cruz  ) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —With the midterm election coming in May, the Philippine National Police reshuffled police chiefs all over the country. In Laoag City, P/Supt. Mar Louise Bundoc was named the city’s police officer-in-charge. Mr. Bundoc paid a courtesy call to Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas as he reported for duty. After the courtesy call, Mr. Bundoc said in an interview that his priority programs in the city will be his “strong campaign” against illegal drugs and peace and order. To achieve this, Mr. Bundoc appealed for the cooperation of everybody, especially the barangay officials and tanods to report at the nearest police assistance centers or police outposts any illegal activities or crimes that transpire in their respective barangays. However, Mr. Bundoc also

No quorum. A near empty Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall welcomed the council’s January 14, 2019 regular session as the seven-member majority bloc were absent with only the five-member minority bloc attending the said session. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The lack of a quorum stalled deliberations on the city’s proposed 2019 annual budget during the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s January 14, 2019 regular session. The majority bloc, which earlier rejected the passage of the annual budget on January 3, 2019, were all absent: councilors Handy T. Lao, Portia Pamela R. Salenda, Ferdinand Domingo, Edison Bonoan, Roque Benjamin Ablan, Justine Chua and Michael M. Keon. The five-strong minority bloc, composed of councilors Roger John C. Fariñas II, Shirley O. Sin, Edison Siazon, and ex-officio members Liga ng mga Barangay Laoag President Mary Michelle Louise “Mikee” V. Fariñas and Sangguniang Kabataan federated president Faye Lao, howev

Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Angelo Barba leads the opening of the OTOP hub at the Laoag International Airport. (Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the One Town, One Product Philippines Hub (OTOP PH Hub) at the Laoag International Airport on January 17, 2019, giving more opportunities for micro and small enterprises in the region to showcase their products. Held at the departure area of the airport, DTI-Region I Director Florante Leal said the opening of OTOP PH hub in Laoag provides local entrepreneurs “more access to market” and eventually increase their income. “We thankful for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines because they have acceded to our request and gave us the venue for free,” said Mr. Leal citing locally-manufactured products now are not just seen in local markets but also in big shopping malls and also at the airport. Initiated by DTI in 2002, OTOP Philippines

Lima . Numero a saan unay a dakkel ngem saan met unay a bassit. Masansan, daytoy ti bilang a kaus-ustuanna laeng. No ad-adu ngem lima, agbalin a makasuya. No met nababbaba, amanganta nakurang ti anagna. Kas iti panangibislin kadagiti kapanpanunutan, no nasursurok ngem lima ti ilimogmo, agtungpal a makaulaw. No met nababbaba ngem lima, agtungpal a kawaw. Iti daytoy nga isyu, intay rugyan a pagraramanan dagiti naduma-duma a putarmi a listaan dagiti “lima” – dagiti listaan a mabalin a pagsarmingan. *** Lima a rumbeng nga aramidem no adda buhaw iti asidegmo: 1. Mangsarakka ti natibker a pagkaptam tapno saannaka a maipurwak ti alipugpogna. 2. Umadayoka kadagiti nalaka a marpuog wenno matumba. Amanganta matupakanka no mawagwag dagitoy gapu iti kinapangasna. 3. Saanmo nga ikankano ni buhaw. Ngamin no madlawna nga adda “audience”, ikarkarona ti   panagpug-awna. 4. Saanmo a dengdenggen dagiti puyotna. Amanganta sumgar dagita dutdotmo ket mapasubsubam isuna. Si