The Ilocos Times

  Displaced PUV drivers line up as a beneficiary of the provincial government's recovery program for displaced workers. To become part of the program, they must ensure they are fit to work and meet the minimum health protocol. (Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —As the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic rages, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc called on the public anew to stop discriminating patients and their relatives as well as people working on the frontline against COVID-19. “It [discrimination] is something that is very sensitive but let us try to be very understanding, especially to our frontliners,” Mr. Manotoc appealed during his virtual press conference. Despite the recognition they receive for their heroic sacrifices, health workers face social stigma, harassment, and denial of service, among others. On April 20, 2020, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Provincial Ordinance (PO) No. 22-2020, as amended by P

  By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—An idyllic cove with crystal clear waters at Sitio Pagetpet, Brgy. La Milagrosa in Badoc, Ilocos Norte is gearing up for a much-needed facility improvement while tourists are not yet allowed to visit here due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, the town of Badoc that hosts the La Milagrosa Cove and the Minor Basilica of Saint John the Baptist had drawn foreign and local tourists for devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. To keep up with a growing interest in faith tourism under the new normal, the Ilocos Norte government through members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved a total of PHP5 million as additional funds for tourism facility improvement. According to provincial tourism officer Ianree Raquel, "part of the improvement includes the establishment if at least five comfort rooms for female and four for male.” In addition, there will also be three urinals for male. "Both male and female comfort

Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua leads the blessing, inauguration and switching on of the newly installed BLISS Water System at Sitio 3 Bliss at Barangay Camandingan, City of Batac on July 31, 2020. The water system caters to 55 residential houses. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Batac City —Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua led that blessing and inauguration of the city’s new water system project at Brgy. Camandingan, Sitio Bliss, this city on July 30, 2020. The water project will benefit at least 55 residential houses in the area. This project is among the city’s “pet projects”, the basic need for water. In 1995, when the mayor entered politics, he already noticed an old inoperable old water tank at Sitio Bliss in the said barangay. “And now that I’m back as mayor, I, together with the present set of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, found ways and funding in order to revive and rehabilitate the water system,” Mr. Chua disclosed.     He said his administration is “t

  Laoag City —To support a wider demographic of residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) has created an emergency livelihood and employment program for Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs). Through the “IN na NEGOSYO sa KARITON ni Manong MATT” program, PGIN will provide a working capital of Php 2,000.00, a business cart or “ kariton” , and an entrepreneurship training to 50 qualified recipients. According to Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager Lizette B. Atuan, the project will cater to displaced ROFs who will stay in the province for good. PESO will accept applications from August 17 to August 21, 2020. Applicants must first write a letter of intent to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, fill-out an application form available at llocos Norte PESO Facebook Page, and send it to ilocosnortepeso2020@gmail.com for assessment.   Chosen ROF-beneficiaries need to submit the following requireme

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Batac City —With the influx of temporary residents in this city, the city government here has required all residential leaseholders, lessors and landlords to register at the Residential Leasehold Council (RLC). Records show that Batac has a total population of at least 50,000, who are residents and non-residents resulting in an uncontrollable demand for housing, boarding and accommodation. Batac councilor Giancarlo Angelo Crisostomo said leaseholders, lessors and landlords are advised to register to ensure their safety as well as the safety and security of their tenants. All leaseholders, lessors and landlords should register in their respective barangays with a lease/rent contract of agreement. The RLC is composed of Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua as chairperson; Batac vice mayor Windell Chua, the ABC president, the council’s committees on public safety and dangerous drugs, public works, Infrastructure, housing and urban barangay and dev

T raining programs for farmers covered by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) under the Rice Tariffication Law will continue while ensuring healthy and safety practices in its activities to minimize COVID-19 risk. “There will be modifications in learning approach and delivery to optimize learning under the new normal. It is going to be different and difficult for the implementing agencies and the trainees but we need to fulfill our mission,” said Dr. Rosana Mula, chair of RCEF-Rice Extension Services Program (RESP) Technical Working Group (TWG) and Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI). Dr. Mula said the Farmers’ Field School (FFS) on the production of high-quality inbred rice and seeds, and farm mechanization conducted by farm schools was redesigned to minimize number of contact days while ensuring that rice production principles and practices at critical growth stages are taught, including financial literacy. She

  Laoag City —The Provincial Veterinary Office, together with the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), inspected four animal shelters to examine the facilities' level of disaster preparedness in case a strong typhoon hits Ilocos Norte. “ Kasama namin ang PEO sa pag -inspect ng mga animal shelters. Sinuri namin ang mga ito bago i -turnover sa mga local government units (LGU). Ayon sa memorandum of agreement, ang mga LGU ang bahala sa management ng mga animal shelters pagkatapos itong i -turnover sa kanila ," provincial veterinarian Dr. Loida M. Valenzuela said. The provincial government constructed animal shelters in four towns: Badoc, Currimao, Dingras, and Solsona. " Sa Dingras, due for turnover na. Sa Solsona naman, ang counterpart ng LGU ay ang pagpapalitada ng daan papunta sa shelter. Habang sa Badoc, may kaunting repair pa na kailangan gaya ng mga rain gutter sa building. At sa Currimao, ongoing pa ang construction ng animal shelter,"