The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —"The    Ilokano    community    truly    values    our    relations—a    partnership    that    was    kept productive through our joint efforts.   Indeed, we are unified by our common goals and values, and with these, we look forward to a new era of greater harmony,” Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Marcos-Manotoc remarked in his speech during the opening program of the Shandong International Friendship Cities Conference for Cooperation and Development (SIFCCCD) in Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China (PCR) on October 15, 2019. Marking the 40 th anniversary since Shandong began to form sister-city relations with international cities, the five-day event was co-sponsored by the Shandong Provincial Government and Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Almost 900 delegates from 33 countries attended the SIFCCCD’s series of activities in the cities of Jinan and Qingdao. The conference aims to further boost trade coop

The city government of Batac in partnership with the Mariano Marcos Memorial and Medical Center hold its quarterly bloodletting activity at the City Hall. The activity manifests the city government’s commitment to provide safe and steady supply of blood for Batacqueños. A total of 82 individuals donated blood for the said activity held September 24, 2019. (Doms dela Cruz)

The Laoag City Palarong Pamasko 2019 opens with a parade within the city proper participated in by the city’s 80 barangays for the junior category and various tricycle associations, city hall offices and local and national agencies who will compete in basketball and volleyball games. The highlight of the opening parade was the Search for Mr. & Miss Palarong Pamasko 2019 and Miss Gay Palarong Pamasko 2019. (Doms dela Cruz)

BATAC  Mayor Albert D. Chua spearheads the distribution of PhilHealth cards to 4,961 beneficiaries for its commitment in sustaining its effort to alleviate the burden of high cost of medical services. The distribution was held from September 21 to 22, 2019 at the Imelda Cultural Center. (Doms dela Cruz)

The Federation of Non-Government Organizations headed by Mary Ang fetes Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon on his birthday last month. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—A relatively new city government-owned building, which houses souvenir items for tourists visiting the city, was demolished on November 7, 2019 as it was located within the sidewalk of the Laoag City Public Market. The Pasalubong Center, built during the time of former Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas is just one among the commercial establishments in Laoag downtown which must be demolished to clear all road obstructions as directed by the Duterte administration to be implemented nationwide. “We cannot do anything but to follow the directive of the president,” said Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) First Engineering District Engr. Ma. Venus Torio. For current Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos-Keon, he explained there had been no proper zoning laws in Laoag and the road clearing has affected a lot of people.   “We must follow the President’s order. Laoag City has lost so much business because of the road cle

San Fernando City , La Union—The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) recently concluded the regional selection and awarding of the 2019 Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA) wherein two families were named as this year’s Region 1 Model OFW Families. The awarding ceremony took place on October 3, 2019 in this city. During the awarding ceremony the family of OFW Pacita Calano Gorgonio of Dingras, Ilocos Norte for the land-based category while OFW Rey Gerdan Biteng and Family of Sta. Cruz Ilocos Sur for the sea-based, were declared as winners. Both families will be representing Ilocos Region in the MOFYA National Awarding to be held on December 5, 2019 at the Malacañang Palace. A total of five families were nominated for this year’s regional MOFYA, three for the land-based category and two for the sea-based category. Aside from the two winners, the other nominees were Jeffrey Dungca Javier and Family of Bangar, La Union who was awa