The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —"We would like to see Ilocos Norte as a walkable, bikeable, and livable province. Integrating the places for living, working, and playing in a proximate distance with each other,” Architect–Urban Planner Felino “Jun” A. Palafox Jr. remarked during the presentation of the Ilocos Norte development masterplan at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium, this city on February 3, 2020. Part of the 202nd Founding Anniversary celebration’s “Open Capitol: Ilokano Creatives Fest” was the “New Ilocano Infrastructure,” the launching of “2020 Ilocos Norte Masterplan Project” and a presentation of the “Big 3” infrastructure projects of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN). Born in Bacarra town, the multi-awarded Mr. Palafox revisited and discussed the “Ilocos Norte Development Masterplan.” “Ilocos Norte has so much development potential. If you look at the topography, we have the lowlands, midlands, and the highlands. Each of the 23 towns and cities can be

Manila —The United States Embassy in the Philippines announced on March 17, 2020 that the US government has committed more than PHP139 million (US$2.7 million) to support the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) in its response to COVID-19 in the country. The US government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will collaborate with Philippine government counterparts to establish and implement internationally-recognized infectious disease threat prevention and response strategies, and enhance infection control. US assistance will strengthen specimen transport systems and laboratory capacity to accurately and rapidly detect cases. The assistance also will help protect health workers and patients by ensuring that hygiene products, masks, waste management supplies, and other necessary commodities are available, delivered, and managed appropriately. More broadly, the U.S. government supported programs will expand communities’ disease preparedness and

Newly crowned Bb. Marcos 2020 Cris Maria Catherine Ortega of Brgy. Lydia (center), 1 st  runner-up Crystal Lynette Reyes of Brgy. Fortuna (left) and 2 nd  runner-up Lorvin Mae Baradi of Brgy. Imelda (right). The coronation was held at municipal auditorium on March 11, 2020 as the featured event of this year's 3 rd  Mannalon Festival. (Doms dela Cruz)

Laoag City —The two coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) have recovered. MMMH&MC discharged the two patients on April 12, 2020, or on the celebration of the Catholic religion’s Easter Sunday. According to the MMMH&MC public advisory posted online on April 11, 2020, two patients’ repeat swab (PCR) tests conducted by the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center have tested negative. Currently, the patients are no longer showing COVID-19 symptoms and are in both in stable condition. The provincial government, however, urged the local government units in charge of the two patients to prepare an isolation area for the two’s 14-day self-quarantine. “With no new confirmed transmission of COVID-19 in almost two weeks since the province’s first cases, we have flattened the curve and have so far contained the virus,” the Ilocos Norte provincial government announced through a public adv

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Intermediate students in this town no longer need to share books during classroom discussions as they enjoy watching high quality video and photos flashed on screen while their teachers discuss the presentation. For a teacher like Flordeliza Domingo of this town, she said they feel so lucky to enjoy the benefits of a 21 st century school as the local government unit of Vintar is giving priority to the needs of their students. Sourced from the town’s Special Education Fund, the municipal government here allocated about PHP940,000 for the purchase of 114 cameras to all schools in this first-class municipality. The cameras, AverVision U50 5.0 megapixel features an auto focus lens up to 25-30 FPS live video capture, which students and teacher can use to project materials such as textbooks and other visual aid. It can also shoot clear pictures and videos. “We are thankful to the local government unit

Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Vicentito Lazo speaks during an outreach regular session at Barangay 38-B Mangato, this city on March 11, 2020. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod here proposed the relocation of their office from the City Hall old building to the ABC building at Brgy. 2, this city. During their last outreach session at Brgy. 38-B Mangato, Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Vicentito M. Lazo announced the proposal during the “Chairman’s Time”.   In an interview, Mr. Lazo admitted that they did not notice that the SP session hall’s ceiling’s materials have started falling. During an inspection, the City Engineering Office said there is a PHP1.5 million fund available for the rehabilitation of the said session hall. Aside from the PHP1.5 million, Mr. Lazo also learned that there is another PHP1 million fund surplus for the purchase of motor vehicl

Laoag City —To address the suspension of public transportation services due to the national government's efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC), in partnership with the Provincial Resiliency Office of the Ilocos Norte Government now provides free transportation services for health personnel and medical patients starting March 21, 2020.   The medical transportation service of the PGIN is free. However, only patients from the province who undergo dialysis and chemotherapy treatment are allowed. The Provincial Government encourages persons with medical needs to reach the MINC Office at telephone number: 772-1212 (loc. 166), or mobile numbers: 0910-812-1758 (Smart) and 0917-116-0004 (Globe) for the arrangement of schedules. ( Stewart C. Ocampo )