The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano & Bernard B. Ver Laoag City —The Ilocos Norte Tourism Office said the province welcomed an estimated 483,778 domestic and foreign day visitors during the Holy Week. The INTO figures represent a 5.3% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year. A Few weeks before the Holy Week, tourism stakeholders in various parts of the province has already beef up their supply for the expected influx of tourists. Report from the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) showed a total of 483,778 visitors. These were monitored by tourist aides assigned in more than 42 tourism destinations of Ilocos Norte. “Our tourist arrivals for the Holy Week is another blockbuster considering other new destinations that we promoted this year,” said provincial tourism officer Aian Raquel referring to the sunflower farm in Piddig and the newly-inaugurated Siwawer Eco-Tourism Nature Park in Vintar which features extreme sports adventure and the

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The Vintar road construction in this city is now 90% complete. This was announced by construction section chief Engr. Romeo Bartolome of the Department of Public Works and Highways-1 st Engineering District. Mr. Bartolome explained that the project, which began in 2018, was delayed until this year because of heavy traffic and the rainy season. The 700-meter Vintar road project starts from General Luna Street to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building and includes the replacement of a bridge. The project was funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) by the national government with a PHP25 million amount. The said project also includes 16 solar lights. Mr. Bartolome appealed to the public to be more cooperative due to traffic congestion brought out by the construction. The Ilocos Times learned that this road has been a perennial problem for motorists due to its destroyed conc

Like a dizzying maze So complex, so paradoxical Hard to figure Where it's going Never an easy way out Does she really want out Or rather find her safe haven Inside, whereby she can curl up Like an unborn child Safe in tacked In her mother's womb Where nothing can go wrong Sometimes she wants to scream To the God of the Universe Why me, why me Don't you think I had enough But she won't dare For He has been kind She keeps her faith Unbroken and stalwart She would rather weep Hoping her tears reach the Heavens She's a Rock But she opted not to fight Instead she embraces death Her choice to escape The chaos of the mind and heart She welcomes impugning energies To freely run through her being Thrashing deep She preferred to bleed Allowing everything to flow Till she's drained and empty Purging every grain of memories To a deep slumber Perhaps never to wake Her untended heart A runaway, she

  Seated, from left to right: Supreme Court Associate Justices Rosemari Carandang, Andres Reyes Jr., Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Antonio Carpio, Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, Associate Justices Mariano Del Castillo, Marvic Leonen, Alexander Gesmundo, and Amy Lazaro-Javier.  Standing, from left to right: Court Administrator Midas Marquez, U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT) Technical Advisor Felix Camerino, U.S. DOJ Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) Senior Digital Investigative Analyst Daniel Ogden, CCIPS Cybercrime Lab Director Ovie Carroll, OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor David Bragdon, and OPDAT Legal Specialist Guia Montealto. Manila —The United States of America embassy in the Philippines, through the US Department of Justice (US DOJ) Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), coordinated with the Supreme Court Sub-Committee on Commercial

Laoag City -- a bid to further decrease its poverty rate, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) distributed a total of 338 cattle among Ilocano farmers within the first quarter of the year. In 2010, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos established the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Office to conform to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) MDGs. It was later renamed to Sustainable Development Center (SDC) in 2015. The PGIN patterned and localized the SD goals set by the UNDP in ending poverty likewise fighting inequity and injustices tailored for the province.    Likewise, SDC head Edwin Cariño stressed that the provincial government has been very attentive to the needs and requests of its constituents. “It is just one of the programs that reduced poverty. Together with other immediate programs, itong cattle dispersal program ay sumusuporta sa mga indigent residents natin na kailangan ng additional income. Halimbaw

Laoag City —Ilocos Norte will be expecting around 1,500 tourism officers coming from different local government units (LGUs) in the country to attend this year’s Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) 20 th national convention on October 2 to 5. According to Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) head Ianree Raquel, the province underwent an “extensive process” to be chosen as the venue of the annual national convention, explaining, “First, we signified our intent to host. There was a site inspection and interview presentation together with the tourism officers from the different municipalities.” This would be the first time for the province to hold the biggest annual tourism convention in the country, and it will serve as an avenue for the different LGUs to exchange insights on best tourism practices. Mr. Raquel added that INTO is still planning with the ATOP national board for the finalization of the program and list of speakers, as well as coordinating

  The DPWH-Ilocos Norte Engineering District II’s Lakbay Alalay center in-front of their district office in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte gives assistance to motorists who needed of help during the Lenten Season. Other Lakbay Alalay stations were located at the welcome arc of Ilocos Norte at the boundary of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and Badoc, Ilocos Norte and at the Apatot Bridge boundary of Badoc and Pinili. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—Welcoming the influx of local and foreign tourists during long weekend Holy Week celebration, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) second engineering district put up three stations for its annual “Lakbay Alalay”. “Lakbay Alalay” aims to help motorists should they encounter vehicular troubles, and give them directions to their destinations, among others. DPWH 2nd engineering district officer Engr. Mathias L. Malenab said they usually mount this operation during special ho