The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —In coordination with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) rolled out the OWWA Rebate Program (ORP) on September 25-27 at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium, this city. The OWWA Rebate Program is in compliance with Section 67, Rule IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10801 which aims to recognize the long-time members through granting of rebates and financial assistance. Alongside the ORP, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas led a mobile Pre-Migration Orientation Seminar (PMOS) and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS). OWWA granted assistance almost 40,000 qualified recipients in Region I alone. Beneficiaries received up to PHP13,000, depending on the total amount of contribution of the member-claimant. ( PGIN-CMO )

Tapno masursuruan dagiti kooperatiba a mangiwayat kadagiti naurnos a taripnong, maysa a serye ti parliamentary procedure training ti inisponsoran ti Department of Agrarian Reform-Ilocos Norte. Nangiwayat ti Department of Agrarian Reform-Ilocos Norte ti maysa a serye ti training seknan ti parliamentary procedure . Kuna ni agrarian reform program officer II Jocelyn M. Basilio, ti nasao a training ket naipaay kadagiti kooperatiba nga imanmaneher dagiti agrarian reform beneficiaries iti probinsia. Inbatad ni Ms. Basilio a gagem ti parliamentary procedure training a masursuruan dagiti opisial dagiti kooperatiba iti umno a wagas ti panangiwayat kadagiti taripnong ken nadumaduma pay nga aktibidad. Karaman kadagiti nagbalin a topiko iti training ket dagiti sumaganad: konsepto ken proseso ti parliamentary procedure ; panangipakat ti parliamentary procedure kadagiti taripnong; ken panangiwayat ti nabunga a meeting . Iti daytoy maikadua a semestre ti tawen, sangapulo

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —Better late than never. After one year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has approved PHP56,504,000 for the repair of infrastructure damages wrought by typhoon “Ompong”. The DPWH-Ilocos Norte Engineering District I (INED-I) made the announcement. INED I district engineer Maria Venus Torio identified the damages as the flood control structures at Brgys. Bago and Tamdagan and Sitio Baldi in Vintar; Tulnagan Bridge in Pasuquin; flood control structure in Dumalneg; and flood control structure of Brgy. Ganagan in Bacarra. Originally, the total damages assessed amounted to PHP66 million but this was reduced after a rigid evaluation and validation by the DPWH. As this developed, Ms. Torio said the project is now published for public bidding. “The cause of the delay maybe because of a series validation and revisiting on the program of works,” Ms. Torio added.

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor LAOAG CITY—The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino [Filipino Language Commission] joined the celebration of the National Teachers’ Month (NTM) and honored teachers for their unique ability to teach and use the national language. Amongst the five college teacher-nominees, Maria Eliza Lopez of the Mariano Marcos State University bagged the “Ulirang Guro sa Filipino 2019 [exemplary teacher in Filipino]” in the recently concluded “Gawad Ulirang Guro 2019 held at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila on October 1, 2019. Mrs. Lopez bested the other 139 teacher-nominees from all over the country. The commission recognized her for her dedication in teaching the Filipino language, as well as the promotion of the indigenous language and culture in their homelands. The recognition activity is part of the commission’s ongoing drive to promote and develop the Filipino language through incentives, grants, and awards to the noblest profession in

LAOAG  Mayor Michael M. Keon administers the oath of newly installed OSCA president Ernesto Tamayo in the presence of other OSCA officers and Laoag Vice Mayor Vicentito M. Lazo. (Photo courtesy of Laoag gov’t)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here passed a resolution imposing the total ban of black sand mining in the city. Laoag councilor Edison Bonoan said black sand mining “undoubtedly causes damage to environment”. Mr. Bonoan, who sponsored the resolution, said the council resolution is in support of Provincial Resolution No. 016-2013, “Resolution Banning Black Sand Mining in The Province of Ilocos Norte, Enjoining the Issuance of Permits, Urging the Recall of Permits Already Issued and Voiding All Favorable Endorsements by Local Government Units to Mining Applicants”.       He added that “it is but proper echo the provincial resolution in order to emphasize the concerted efforts of all Laoagueños in protecting the environment”. He further disclosed that this is the main reason the city government disapproved an application of an unnamed Chinese national who applied for a 100-hectare sand mining permit for Brgy. La Paz i

The Department of Agriculture (DA) urges individual farmers to enlist in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and join organizations to access agriculture-related programs and services including the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Under the Rice Tariffication Law (RA 11203), eligible RCEF beneficiaries include farmers, farmworkers, and their dependents who are listed in the RSBSA—an electronic database containing basic information of farmers and fisherfolks, and members of DA-accredited farmer organizations (FOs) such as multipurpose cooperatives, irrigators’ associations, and people’s organizations. Farmers who are already enlisted in the DA-updated RSBSA will be prioritized this 2019 dry season. Meanwhile, those who have just registered will be included in the seed distribution in the succeeding planting season. “The program does not only aim to reduce the cost of production and increase farmers’ yields, but it also intends to strength