The Ilocos Times

  Laoag City —In efforts to safeguard the hog industry from economic loss, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVet) is pleased to inform that Ilocos Norte remains free from the African Swine Fever (ASF) disease.   “Half of the provinces in Northern Luzon are ASF-affected. Ilocos Norte is one of the few provinces that are still safe from ASF including Ilocos Sur, Apayao, and four other provinces,” provincial government veterinarian Dr. Loida Valenzuela remarked.   On March 2, 2020, the Bureau of Animal Industry reported that the provinces of Cagayan, Kalinga, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, and Isabela in Northern Luzon have been hit with the highly contagious and deadly swine disease.   Since the occurrence of ASF in the country, the Ilocos Norte provincial government has imposed temporary restrictions on the entry of live hogs, frozen hog semen, and pork products from ASF-hit provinces.   Moreover, PVet is constantly coordinating with the city or municipal

  Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, in partnership with Globe Telecom, Inc., has launched its “Go Wi-Fi” service in key locations in the province to bring free internet connection and accessible communication services to Ilokanos.   Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc and Globe President and Chief Executive Officer Ernest Cu signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall Capitol Building on February 11, 2020 to begin the operations.   Cosignatories included Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, Globe Director for Business Development and Marketing Janis Racpan, Globe Senior Vice President for Enterprise Group Peter Maquera, and Globe Executive Vice President for Channel Management Bernard Llamzon.     At present, the free public Wi-Fi services are available at the Provincial Capitol Building, Aurora Park, Laoag and Batac City Halls, and San Nicolas IT Park.   Keen to boost the province’

Laoag City —The provincial government’s “Kadiwa Rolling Store”, also known as “Kadiwa Express” started to roam once again to provide basic and more affordable commodities to Ilokano families throughout the province. The ‘Kadiwa Express,’ manned by the employees of the Provincial Capitol headed to the municipalities of Adams and Dumalneg on April 1, 2020 to bring various commodities such as rice, local fruits and vegetables as well as instant noodles, canned goods, powdered sugar and coffee, among other, which are sold at much lower prices compared to prevailing market rates. This initiative serves as aid to farmers and local entrepreneurs as well as to residents whose access to basic needs are limited due to the enhanced community quarantine in the province, caused by the Corona virus (COVID-19). Adams Mayor Rosalia Dupagen rejoiced when she was informed that the ‘Kadiwa Express’ will set up in their town: “I am thankful to PGIN kasi malaking tulong ang pag -deliver ng mga a

By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY– The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) has certified its commitment for a long-lasting partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government after granting it the land utilization request for the construction of a permanent building for its provincial office personnel. On February 27, 2020, employees of the DILG both from the provincial and municipal levels are all smiles as they witnessed the signing of the deed of usufruct agreement between the PGIN led by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc and DILG Regional Director James Fadrilan at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall in this city. According to Mr. Fadrilan, employees of the DILG provincial office have long been longing for a permanent office building after moving from one place to another where there is space available for rent. “Today marks the beginning of a new and significant chapter in our organization. It is indeed a big bles

  By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor   CITY OF Batac—The president of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in this city declared on February 21, 2020 that the University “shall be an English-speaking university to strengthen the use of English as a medium of instruction and official communication in the University system”.   Mmsu President Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, an academician loaded with expertise in instruction and research, said this academic stand will attain its ultimate goal of developing the proficiency of the faculty, staff, and students in the English language.   “This is the university’s response to results of recent surveys and studies which show a decline in the English proficiency of Filipino students,” Dr. Agrupis said, adding that her main purpose is to “enhance the English competencies of our students, which is also one of the primary concerns of the Department of Education (DepEd).   “We encourage the MMSU community to master the English lang

By Leilanie G. Adriano  Staff Reporter  LAOAG CITY—Michael Opiña and six other families composed of 23 members from Bagong Silang, Caloocan City were stranded in a Laoag boarding house when Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc declared a total lockdown in the province on March 30, 2020.  Relying on their daily income from selling promo detergent powder which they sell from house to house in the city, Mr. Opiña said they are thankful for good Samaritans such as members of the Philippine National Police manning the village checkpoint near them who share their food whenever they have extra.  Seeing the plight of the stranded sellers along with their small children whom they brought along with them in the city made the Barangay Pila bypass road border control personnel sad as they are just among those families who are struggling for food in time of the COVID-19 crisis.  Police Staff Sgt. Randy Canonizado of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office and one of those assig