The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—In time for the annual celebration of National Autism Consciousness Week, the Autism Society of the Philippines-Laoag Chapter has prepared a series of activities to prevent discrimination and promote inclusivity of persons with autism. Earlier, a bazaar for children with autism opened at the Dap-ayan center where preloved items, shoes, bags and others are sold to the public. Triscia Alexandra “Trixie” Ablan, ASP public relations officer said the bazaar for a cause will last for four days or until January 24. “The registration fees of participants will go to ‘ausome angels’ and this is in partnership with the Rotary Club of Laoag Metro Ilocos Norte and the Sirib Ilokano Kabataan Association,” said Ms. Ablan saying she developed her fondness for children with autism when she had a chance to seat in a classroom with them and she found ‘peace’. Since then, Ms. Ablan met with other volunteers in Laoag as they advocate

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government here has begun construction of a new multi-million computerized slaughterhouse. The said facility is located at Brgy. Camangaan, this city, near the City Agriculture Office. City engineer Roy Tomas said the new city government-owned slaughterhouse will be computer-operated and will have the newest equipment and machines from the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC). The city’s counterpart for the project is the lot and the construction of new building. Phase 1 of the project started last year with a funding of PHP1.5 million. Currently, the project is on its phase 2 with a funding of PHP3.3 million. The impasse on the city government’s 2019 budget, however, may delay the project’s phase 3. Phase 3 has an allocation of PHP5 million under “capital outlay” in the 2019 budget. “ Ket inggana a saan a maaprubaran tay 2019 budget ket saan met a masagid daytoy a pondo isu nga on hold

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Chinese nationals continue to dominate foreign tourist arrivals in this northern gateway of Luzon. Of the more than three million recorded day-visitors in Ilocos Norte in 2018, thousands of Chinese tourists registered the most in terms of international tourists’ arrivals, according to Xavier Ruiz, Ilocos Norte tourism operations officer. Other foreign visitors include Americans, Europeans and Koreans among others who visited the province’s major tourism attractions. In 2018, the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) reported 3,003,963 day-visitors, or an increase of 34% tourist arrivals compared to 2017. “This is the sweet fruit of labor and the solidarity of all tourism stakeholders,” said Mr. Ruiz as he commended all tourism stakeholders and local government units (LGU) in the province for helping gather the number of tourists visiting their respective jurisdiction. Latest record of the INTO shows the U

Saan a nakapapati ngem pudno! “Untouchable” dagiti traysikelan ditoy ciudad ti Laoag! “Nalabes kay unay nga agsarita”, mabalin a kunayo. Ngem padasenyo a sintiren ti garaw dagiti tricycle driver. Makitayo nga adu dagiti buong ti ulo nga abusado ken bastos! Ngem iti likod ti binunton a reklamo dagiti pasahero, kas man awan opisyal a makaitured a mangipursigi ti umno a pannakadisiplina dagiti traysikelan. Awan ti makaitured a mangsagid kadakuada! Ala, aguni dagiti makaitured! Addan sa ketdi bukod a paglintegan dagiti traysikelan, ta dagiti laeng kaykayatda ti ipakpakatda iti pannakatratar dagiti pasahero, panagpila ken uray pay iti estilo dagiti sidecar. Isu nga intay man pagraramanan ti listaan dagiti “misteryo” dagiti tricycle sidecar iti lugartayo. Kalpasanna, intayto pagsinamit daytoy naputarmi a listaan dagiti “10-year challenge”. *** Lima a “misteryo” maipanggep kadagiti sidecar dagiti tricycle ditoy Laoag: 1. Apay ngata a no ngumato ti plete ku

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved an anti-littering ordinance on January 28, 2019, which penalizes violators with stiffer penalties. In view of this, the Movement Against Plastic Pollution (MAPP), a group of young environmentalists in the province has lauded the main sponsor, senior Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc for pushing the said ordinance meant to observe proper waste management in the province, city, municipal and village levels. “We thank sir Matthew for the passage of the ordinance which includes the banning of the releasing of balloons and sky lanterns,” said MAPP in their official Facebook page on the same day it was passed. With the passage of Provincial Ordinance No. 2018-07-051, Mr. Manotoc urged concerned government authorities “To intensify the campaign on proper waste disposal to prevent ecological and environmental degradation and instill discipline, social responsibilit

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—At least three senior citizens from Ilocos Norte received their centenarian gift on January 22, 2019 courtesy of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte. Of the PHP4 million budget allocation for 2019 as provincial government counterpart for centenarian benefits in the province, at least PHP15,000 each were turned over to Mauricio P.   Rosqueta from Valdez, Marcos; Nicolas P. Abaro from Fortuna, Marcos; and Doroteo R. Rivera from Talugtog, Solsona. “The gift checks were delivered personally by a team from the PSWDO to the beneficiaries,” said provincial social welfare and development officer Lilian Rin. Under Provincial Ordinance No. 2018-10-063 approved on December last year, less fortunate senior citizens who struggle with the financial burdens of medical and funeral expenses get cash incentive. This is apart from the centenarian gift of Php100,000 each one will receive from the national government under Repub

  Inrakurak ni Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Vic M. Ines a maysa ti DAR Ilocos Norte kadagiti nabigbig a 2018 Top Performers ti Department of Agrarian Reform iti intero a paguilian. (Jorge Richard P. Guerrero) Laoag City —Nabigbig ti DAR-Ilocos Norte a kas maysa kadagiti 2018 Top Performers ti Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) iti naangay a 2018 Year-End Summative Assessment and 2019 Planning Conference ti DAR idiay Iloilo City itay napan a lawas, Kuna ni provincial agrarian reform program officer II Vic M. Ines, iti benneg ti representation in quasi-judicial cases, top 1 ti legal services division ti DAR-Ilocos Norte. Itay napan a tawen, 100% ti accomplishment ti DAR Ilocos Norte iti panangirepresentar kadagiti mannalon iti Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB). Inpalgak pay ni Mr. Ines a top 2 ti DAR-Ilocos Norte iti benneg ti organizational development and strengthening of agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs