The Ilocos Times

Engr. Rudy G. Acacio (third from left), chief administrative officer of the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Ilocos Norte, leads the reorganization of the Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) at Brgy. Salsalamagui, Vintar. Among the functions of BARC is to mediate and conciliate parties involved in agrarian disputes at the barangay level. DAR Ilocos Norte is set to reorganize and strengthen the BARC in all barangays in the province. (Jorge Richard P. Guerrero)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City --The city government here recognized 2019’s outstanding Laoagueños at the City Hall Auditorium on February 23, 2019. The awarding was part of the month-long Pamulinawen Festival Year XXIII. Education In field of education, the city recognized Dr. Dexter R. Buted of Brgy. 15 San Guillermo Laoag City, currently the University President of Pangasinan State University and formerly the Vice President of Lyceum of the Philippines in Batangas City for higher education. Dr. Buted is the son of Mr. Federico Torres and Mrs. Felicitas R. Buted. Dr. Buted was awarded as Most Outstanding Educator of the Philippines 2005 by the Golden National Leadership Award; Outstanding Educator of the Philippines (Dangal ng Husay at Galing); Ginintuan Gawad Sulo ng Bayan for Outstanding Educator by the Golden Torch, CCA Philippines in 2015 (National Level); olden Key National Teacher’s Excellence Award; Diploma of Excellence (Technical

By Bernard Ver Contributor Laoag City —Superbrands Marketing International, Inc. (SMI)recognized Laoag City councilor Handy T. Lao as an Outstanding Local Legislature in the Philippines. Mr. Lao as a political newcomer gained many achievements in quality governance in this city, focusing on business welfare as a member of the city council. One of his successful contributions is City Ordinance no. 2017-041 Series of 2017: An ordinance protecting the consumers in purchasing second-hand or used cellular phone devices by the seller requiring them to provide valid documents as means to identify the identity, the source and the details of the seller and the device. The ordinance is one of the revelations now of the recent law signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the Republic Act (R.A.) 11202, or the "Mobile Number Portability Act", which requires mobile service providers to provide nationwide mobile number portability to subscribers Mr. Lao is a me

By Bernard Ver Contributor Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlalawigan issued a “show cause” order on February 26, 2019 against several Laoag City government department heads in relation to the alleged missing Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) funds. releases ‘Show Cause’ order to several Laoag City Department heads on the alleged missing funds of the city government worth PHP 73,075. SP member Vicentito M. Lazo said that the order is in accordance with the law for those concerned individuals to shed light on the issue and to explain their process of liquidation, and provide documents of the SK seminar that transpired in Laoag City in November 2018. The Laoag government employees invited for the hearing are Diomedes Gayban, Edgar Pascual, Hipolito Salva, Visitasion Rabago, Shiela de Leon, and Lowelyn Acain. The provincial board gave the city government 15 days to bring the needed documents at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. The committees on laws, local government, and youth

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Health personnel from the Department of Health are making rounds in various schools and local communities in the province to conduct massive vaccination particularly among athletes participating in the Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet. For the safety of participants, Ilocos Norte’s hosting of the R1AA has been moved to March 6-11, 2019 instead of March 3-8 to give time for the athletes to be vaccinated against measles first. In a press conference held at the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte on February 28, 2019, Dr. Edwin Monis, medical officer V of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Region 1 and area supervisor for measles outbreak response team for Ilocos Norte said Region 1 has already recorded a total of 536 cases of measles with the most number, or 456 cases with 14 deaths in Pangasinan, 45 in La Union, 22 in Ilocos Sur and 13 in Ilocos Norte. To boost the immunity of the community

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Vic M. Ines ( first from right, first row ) leads the signing of memorandum of agreement with the beneficiaries of Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Project   (CLAAP). CLAAP is a joint program of the Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Social Welfare and Development which aims to increase the household income of farmers by developing and improving their agri-business enterprises. Seven agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations in Ilocos Norte received assistance from CLAAP. (Jorge Richard P. Guerrero)

REPEAT . Brgy. 23 (San Matias) Punong Barangay Primo Jay S. Ramos (center) accompanied by his fellow Brgy. 23 officials receive the PHP75,000 check as prize for repeating as the Cleanest, Greenest and Safest Barangay under the Urban Category for CY 2018 on February 21, 2019 during the ABC Night in time with the Pamulinawen Festival 2019 celebration. (Doms dela Cruz )     By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —This city’s Brgy. 23 (San Matias) led the winners for the annual search for the cleanest, greenest, most Productive and safest barangays for 2018 during the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Night held at the LC Multi-Purpose Hall on February 21, 2019 as part of the celebration of the city’s Pamulinawen Festival 2019. The search is in line with the city’s Oplan Dalus, a pet project of the city government. Laoag Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Mary Michelle Louise “Mikee” V. Fariñas, in her welcome address, thanked all