The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) has officially received its requested units of ambulance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), in front of the Provincial Capitol Building in this city on April 7, 2020. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph  M. Manotoc, along with the heads of hospitals in the province who are recipients of the donation, witnessed the arrival of the first two out of four patient-transport vehicles, which the PCSO earlier pledged. The receiving hospitals will primarily use the ambulances as additional transport services addressing coronavirus-related concerns. “ Gusto naming magpasalamat dahil dumating na ang  request  ng  provincial government.  Wala pang mga  medical equipment  at instruments sa loob  [ambulance]  kaya  magdadagdag tayo ng mga kulang at kailangan para maging  full-pledged ambulance  ang mga ito . ‘ Yung  next two ambulances  ay parating na rin , so we really thank our friends from PCSO,” Mr. Manotoc ex

  Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc inspects the donation of the Chinese Consulate in Laoag City. (Alaric Yanos) Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), through the initiative of Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc allocated PHP19.5 million for the procurement of medical oxygen machines and for the construction of a warehouse.   The allocated amount for medical oxygen is among the listed projects in the Supplemental Budget No. 1 of the province, which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed and approved by Mr. Manotoc   The provincial board sourced the funds from the unappropriated surplus budget from the previous year.   “The Provincial Government allocated PHP18 Million for the medical oxygen machines and PHP1.5 Million for the medical oxygen warehouse. With these, we will be able to produce our own medical oxygen. Our governor is hopeful that through this initiative, we could soon provide medical oxygen to government hospitals and even to

  By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor   San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Ilocos Norte 2nd District Engineering head Mathias Malenab stressed that they in full support of President Rodrigo R. Duterte's “Build, Build, Build” project.   In supporting the said project, he said they vow to maintain the organization's standards for various programs and services planned and those that they will soon introduce to the province.   Apart from that, Mr. Malenab said he is highly appreciative of the President for deploying additional nine new engineers who took the oaths of office on March 10, 2020 as a part of the president's jobs undertaking as well.   DPWH, he noted, is very supportive of the government's goal towards sustainable development and immeasurable services.

By Consul & Head of Post Zhou Youbin On June 9, 1975, former President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos from Ilocos Norte paid a successful state visit to China that opened the door for exchanges between China and the Philippines. President Marcos and China's Premier Zhou Enlai jointly signed a communique which established the diplomatic relations between the two countries, and over the past 45 years, this bilateral relation have gone through ups and downs but kept moving forward. Since 2016, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Rodrigo Duterte, China-Philippines relations have witnessed a turn-around, consolidation and elevation, and entered a new golden era. The two countries have elevated our relationship into one of comprehensive, strategic cooperation. And through practical cooperation, fruitful results have been yielded bringing benefits to both countries and their peoples. Moreover, the exchanges and cooperation between the

Laoag City —The city government here hiked tricycle fare to PHP20 for the first kilometer and an additional PHP2 for succeeding kilometer. The fare adjustment is part of the "new normal" as only one passenger is now allowed per tricycle. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, the city fare was at PHP12 for the first kilometer and an additional PHP2 for the succeeding kilometer. The new fare rate for persons with disabilities is PHP18. Senior citizens and students were not mentioned in the ordinance. The new fare rates will last until the general community quarantine is in effect; provided the GCQ lifting will also result in the rescinding of the one-passenger rule. Those who voted for the new fare rates are Laoag councilors Juan Conrado A. Respicio II, Handy T. Lao, Justine Clarence G. Chua, Edison U. Chua, Roque Benjamin C. Ablan, Jaybee G. Baquiran and Edison H. Bonoan. Voting against the ordinance were Laoag councilors Roger John C. Fariñas, Derrick B. Lao, and Jason

Laoag City —Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc considers easing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) protocols to allow the resumption of business operations in Ilocos Norte after the extension period of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on April 30, 2020.   “Hopefully, after this Luzon ECQ, we can resume business not as usual but with certain adjustments,” Governor Marcos Manotoc said in a press conference last April 13.   In doing so, he ensured to implement necessary precautions to avert the possible “second surge” of COVID-19, noting the stern measures in provincial borders to prevent the unnecessary entry of any individuals.     “We have more than two weeks until that time. If we don’t have any new suspect cases coming from Metro Manila, abroad, or other infected areas in the next few days, we’re hoping that after April, we are giving ways for freedom and create our own version of quarantine,” he explained.   However, Governor Marcos Ma