The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —Intensifying its protective measures against COVID-19 spread, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), will purchase additional protective gears through the Quick Recovery Fund. Listed on the purchase to be delivered this weekend or early next week are 500 complete sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), 500 vials of flu vaccines, 300 bottles and 20 gallons of alcohol, 115 bottles of disinfectant, 300 boxes of face mask, and 150 hyposol. According to Task Force Salun-at the province also has ample supply of relief packs and medicines on standby, if needed. It assured that PGIN is closely coordinating with the Bureau of Quarantine by equipping the Laoag International Airport with temperature scanner and competent health personnel. Moreover, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc convened all the city and municipal mayors and health personnel to tackle the necessary actions in preventing the possible entry of COVID-19 in the province o

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Some male employees of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) gave women a few minutes of good vibes on the morning of March 2, 2020 as they joined the first ever “Taray Sapatos de Takong [Running in high heels]” to usher the women’s month celebration this March. Organized by the Gender and Development Office under the PGIN, around 20 male Capitol workers representing the different departments dressed like females and ran wearing high heels in front along Rizal St. all the way to the Provincial Capitol building. “The wearing of high heels by our male colleagues is like putting their shoes in women. It is symbolic as we usher the women’s month celebration,” said Janet London, focal person of the Gender and Development Office in an interview. People who witnessed the event said they are delighted to see the male participants who gamely showed their support to women activities in the province. Ilocos Nor

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Good news to all scholars of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte. Starting the second semester of this school year, the 560 academic and technical and vocational scholars of the provincial government scholars will receive stipend increase of PHP2,500 to PHP3,850 each. This came following the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s approval of the Integrated Provincial Scholarship Ordinance which aims to unify all the six classifications of scholarships offered at the Ilocos Norte government. These scholarship grants include those who excel in academic, youth leaders, technical and vocational students, athletes, medical students and senior high school students Owing to the increasing prices of basic commodities and living allowances, Carolyn Agcaoili, education research assistant I of the Provincial Education Office said that for academic scholars, they will now be entitled to receive a stipend of PHP20,000 each per semes

  Mister Laoag 2020 winners sign their contract with the Mister Laoag Organization after winning the tile for 2020 while Laoag councilor Handy Lao, as the overall organizer looks on. The signing of contract was conducted right after the press conference. Mister Laoag 2020 Cyrax Miguel (center) will join the nationwide search for the Misters of Filipinas 2020 representing the city of Laoag in September while the other winners will compete in their respective national pageants later. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —Mister Laoag 2020 Cyrax Miguel is set to join the nationwide search for Misters of Filipinas on September this year representing this city. Laoag councilor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan ex-officio member Handy Lao made the announcement during the first press conference with the Mister of Laoag 2020 winners held at the Vertext main office. Mr. Lao said the Mister Laoag organization will always support the winners rega

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Dingras , Ilocos Norte—Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos announced that power rates continue to decrease starting in November last year up to the present. INEC records show that electricity rates for residential consumers decreased by PHP 0.65 from PHP9.07 to P8.42 from October to November billing last year.   Likewise, INEC reported another decrease from PHP 8.42 to PHP 7.84, or a decrease of 58 centavos from November to December billing.    INEC also recorded another decrease of 49 centavos for the December to January billing from PHP 7.84 to PHP 7.34. “ Makagapu ket nababa iti presyo iti kuryente nga agdama iti Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) ken iti kinababa latta tay kontrata tayo iti AES Philippines ket sapay la kuma ta agtultuloy a bumaba kasi naawat in tay preliminary bills iti daytoy a bulanen, ” Mr. Agdigos explained. As the power rates decreas

  MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis (seated, right) and Ilocos Norte BFAR chief Arthur Valente (seated in red shirt) inspect the tilapia fingerlings as initial stocks for the newly-established Biodiversity Park Pond. (Photo by Perry B. Dafun Jr) By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor CITY OF Batac—The Mariano Marcos State University-College of Arts and Sciences (MMSU-CAS) in this city launched on January 8, 2020 the Biodiversity Park Pond as one of the components of the MMSU’s Coordinated Agribusiness, Research, and Extension Strategies (CARES) program. CARES is a newly established program of the University that involves technology promotions, utilization, and transfer of modern farm technologies to farmers and various stakeholders for increased productivity. The launching began with the stocking of 1,000 GET-EXCEL tilapia fingerlings provided by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG). G

Laoag City —Ilocos Norte is now officially one of five tactical pilot provinces in the country to lead collaborative extension services in agriculture and fisheries after component institutions signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, Laoag City on February 28, 2020. Officially known as the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (INAFES), it will strengthen and synergize the provincial and municipal extension systems of the province by engaging a pool of professionals who will provide technical and business advisory services to farming and fishing communities and related sectors. Department of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew J. Marcos-Manotoc led the MOA signing. Other signatories include Mariano Marcos State University President Shirley C. Agrupis, DA-Regional Field Unit I Regional Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources- Regional Field Office I Re