The Ilocos Times

  MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis (second from right, foreground), shows some of the apparatus inside the newly-inaugurated NBERIC building. ( Reynaldo E. Andres) By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor CITY OF BATAC—First, it was an ambitious dream to put up a modern facility to produce high grade bioethanol to fill up the shortage of bioenergy in the country and to tap other potential energy sources to reduce the dependence on fossil fuel gas and oil reserves in the region. That dream has become a reality on January 23, 2020 with the formal inauguration and start of operation of the first National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) based in the main campus of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in this city. The construction of the building started in January last year after a groundbreaking ceremony led by Rep. Dennis Laogan [Ang Kabuhayan Party List], who expressed support to this project. The inauguration of the building was led by MMS

  Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua turns over the PHP3 million check as medical trust fund to MMMH-MC chief Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on January 30, 2020. (Doms dela Cruz) By Leilanie G. Adriano and Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporters CITY of batac —The city government here turned over on January 30,2020 a check for PHP3 million which is intended as medical trust fund to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) for indigent patients from this city in need of assistance when they are treated at the government hospital. According to Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua, the city medical trust fund aims to provide immediate assistance to hospital bills, medicines and/or diagnostic procedures to less fortunate in-patient and out-patient residents of Batac. “We will prioritize indigent or needy residents with hospital expenses which are not covered by the PhilHealth,” said Mr. Chua. With a readily available amount, resid

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—A massive river clean-up along the stretch of the Padsan River is being eyed to bring in better opportunities among Ilocanos through sand extraction. For five years starting this year, the China-Philippines Unified Enterprises Inc. (CPU), a Philippine-based consultancy firm that assists Chinese clients find business opportunities in the country will be extracting sand along the heavily-silted Padsan River for construction use. While introducing the new company and its planned operation to host villages in Laoag, Martin Araneta, CPU external vice president said in an interview they have already secured an open quarry permit and the extraction of sand will commence after consulting local residents in the area. “We are here to bring in better opportunities and to serve the Ilocanos. Rest assured that whatever undertaking we may have will be in accordance to the law,” Mr. Araneta said following a video presenta

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) generated PhP240.5 million from the sale of 548 closed banks’ properties via seven public biddings held in Manila and a regional public bidding held in Davao City from January to September 2019. Collectively, the public biddings yielded an aggregate premium of PhP60.2 million over the total minimum disposal price of PhP180.3 million. Proceeds from the sale of closed banks’ properties are added to the pool of funds of these closed banks to help increase the chances of creditors and uninsured depositors to recover their trapped funds. Settlement of creditors’ claims is in accordance with the rules on concurrence and preference of credits. The sale proceeds of PhP240.5 million for 548 properties represented 46.4% of the aggregate disposal price of PhP518.8 million. This is higher by 44.7% compared to the total sale proceeds of PhP166.2 million and 258% more than the 153 properties sold in the public biddings held in the same p

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The city government here has institutionalized the system in recognizing and providing incentives and awards for the search for Best Performing Barangays, now dubbed “Masigasig, Mapagkakatiwalaan at Matapat para sa Kaunlaran (MMMK)”. The Sangguniang Panlungsod passed an ordinance that officially creates the best barangay search. Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos-Keon certified the bill as “urgent”, and the council members present during the December 10, 2019 session unanimously approved the measure. Laoag councilor Roque Benjamin Ablan, the ordinance’s author, said the competition will focus on the exemplary performance of all the city’s 80 barangays in their duties and functions that is aligned to the aims of the new administration under the new Laoag mayor. The new administration envisions every barangay to be more strengthened in order to upgrade continually the quality of local leadership and to provide awards and

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor Laoag City —The Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) officially launched its “Magkasangga [One Team]” Facebook Live program at Camp Valentin S. Juan, this city. The said project is a result of a collaboration between the Provincial Community Relations spearheaded by acting chief, P/Maj. Rely T. Layug and the INPPO Press Corps. The “Magkasangga” program tackles different police news, public affairs issues and discusses social matters and services towards the police’s clientele. INPPO Press Corps President Rolando Jose and other police officials serve as the program’s anchors. Gracing the project launching were INPPO provincial director P/Col. Cesar R. Pasiwen and P/Lt. Col. Rafael Lero, Provincial Operations & Plans Branch chief. The INPPO program airs every Tuesday and Friday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.

  Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua and MMSU President Dr. Shirley P. Agrupis sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the Pasilaw and Planu Pro-Poor Program on February 3, 2o20. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter City of Batac —With the goal of improving Bataqueños quality of life, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and the city government here formally signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the “Pasilaw and Planu Program” at the City Hall Session Hall on February 3, 2020. MMSU President Dr. Shirley P. Agrupis and Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua personally signed the MOA. The “Pasilaw and Plano Pro-Poor Program” aims to energize all residential houses and to help beneficiaries who cannot afford to hire the services of professional for the preparation of architectural, civil, structural and plumbing plans. The Sangguniang Panlungsod here earlier passed this program with Batac councilor Bismark Angelo Quidang as main sponsor. Dr.