The Ilocos Times

  Laoag City —The Ilocos Norte provincial government through the Ilocos Norte Trade & Investment Office (INvest) now provides support to the micro, small, and medium enterprises that are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the new ‘Buy IN’ project. Inspired by the unique “bayanihan” culture of the Filipinos, “Buy Ilocos Norte” or “Buy IN” is the digital platform of the provincial government to regulate and promote potential and existing local businesses in the province by providing them e-marketing strategies and consultations. “ Dahil sa pandemiya ay nag -shift ang mga local entrepreneurs natin from doing their business in a physical store to digital market or e-commerce. Kaya dito sa ‘Buy IN’, tutulungan natin ang mga entrepreneurs sa pag-promote ng kanilang mga produkto hindi lang sa probinsiya kundi pati rin sa labas . We will also offer free marketing consultations to them as to how to position their products, set prices, determine the appropriate packaging, and

  Can people wear masks while exercising? People should NOT wear masks when exercising as masks may reduce the ability to breathe comfortably. Sweat can make the mask become wet more quickly which makes it difficult to breathe and promotes the growth of microorganisms. The important preventive measure during exercise is to maintain physical distance of at least one meter from others. The prolonged use of medical masks* when properly worn, DOES NOT cause CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency The prolonged use of medical masks can be uncomfortable. However, it does not lead to CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency. While wearing a medical mask, make sure it fits properly and that it is tight enough to allow you to breathe normally. Do not re-use a disposable mask and always change it as soon as it gets damp. Medical masks (also known as surgical masks) are flat or pleated; they are affixed to the head with straps or have ear loops.   Can shoes spread the COVID-19 virus?

  Laoag City —The Ilocos Norte provincial government’s Sustainable Development Center (SDC) continues to provide loan assistance to Filipinos around the world through its Overseas Filipinos Remittances for Development (OFs-ReD) Program. Launched in 2011, OFs-ReD is a loan assistance program of the Provincial Government, in partnership with the Migrant and Development (MnD) Council compose of the Provincial OFW Desk, Ilocos Consolidated Cooperative Bank (ICCB), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), and North Western University (NWU), to assist former and active OFs and migrants who own and manage a business. “ Ang loan assistance na ito ay hindi lamang para sa mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) kung 'di pati rin sa mga migrants. Kailangan na ang mga loan applicants ay may existing business at kompleto ang mga permit . Maaari silang mag-submit ng requirements dito sa SDC office na isu -submit namin sa ICCB upang i -evaluate ang feasibility at qualifications ng mga ap

  DTRA and USAID staff meet with Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi (left), and deliver a donation of more than Php3.6 million in PPE (right) . Manila —The United States, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), distributed PHP14.8 million (US$300,000) worth of regionally-manufactured personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and COVID-19 treatment centers across the Philippines.   This latest donation brings overall U.S. government assistance to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response efforts to nearly Php981 million ($19.8 million).   U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said, “This delivery of PPE demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Philippines to stop COVID-19.   During this month, which began with a commemoration of Philippine-American Friendship Day, we are honored to support our Filipino friends, partners, and allies with

  Senator Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos has sought to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign-made medical supplies by boosting their local production, especially of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and other frontliners. Ms. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, has filed Senate Bill 1708, or the “Healthcare Manufacturing and Pandemic Protection Act,” to exempt local manufacturers from certain taxes and continue applying export incentives even on their output for domestic consumption. “We need to guarantee that our health workers and frontliners have the medical supplies they require. Shortages of PPEs and other requisites caused infections resulting in the inexcusably high death toll among doctors, nurses and other frontliners,” Ms. Marcos explained. “At the onset of the pandemic, we were unable to procure supplies from China, Singapore, Japan, and Korea, themselves struggling against the virus. We could not bid against

  Laoag City —To ensure the  accessible delivery of quality education amidst the pandemic, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) allotted PHP25 million for the procurement of desktop computers for public school students and teachers. “Last week, [Ilocos Norte] Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc asked the Provincial Treasury Office to allot PHP25 million for the procurement of desktop computers. We hope that we can purchase it before the opening of classes and distribute it to identified clustered areas,” provincial education office chief Dr. Dany Daquioag said. According to Mr. Daquioag, the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte (SDOIN) will assist in the identification of recipients, particularly schools in remote communities, of the desktop computers that they will use for downloading and printing of learning modules. The provincial government is also requesting donations from business process outsourcing (BPOs) companies based in Ilocos Norte to augment learning equipment

  By Leilanie G. Adriano  ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City --Residents here and other areas of Ilocos Norte have started buying face shields in preparation for the implementation of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) order on mandatory wearing inside public transport beginning August 15, 2020. Sales of face shields increased as the provincial government encouraged residents to wear one apart from a face mask to further lessen the risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). On August 1, 2020, LTFRB issued a memorandum circular issued stating that they now require drivers, conductors and passengers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in areas across the country that are under general community quarantine (GCQ) to wear a face shield, on top of the mandatory wearing of face mask. The circular also said commuters' failure to wear a face mask and face shield or eye protector is reasonable ground to be disallowed in any PUV. Since the memorandu