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Ilocos Norte News

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Province of Ilocos Norte - Archived News

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Ilocos norte capitol 01.jpgIlocos Norte Provincial Capitol

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Laoag set to hire 200 student-workers for summer

LAOAG CITY- The Laoag City government is set to employ at least 200 high school and college students under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) this summer.

Vilma Rances, Community Affairs Division (CAD), said student-employees will start working in various city government offices from May 2 to 29 or equivalent to 20 working days.

“They are entitled to receive a daily wage that is equivalent to the minimum pay of a city hall employee which is P309.90 per day,” Rances said.

Rances, however, clarified that the city government will only shoulder 60 percent of the students’ salary while the remaining 40 percent will be paid by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The employment of students is mandated under RA 7323 or the law that seeks to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by providing them employment during summer or Christmas vacations.

Laoag Mayor Michael Fariñas considers the SPES as a priority program having in mind the need to support students whose parents are unable to send them to school.

Under the program, student-workers may be assigned in SPES-registered private firms, government offices or departments.

The CAD-Public Employment Services Office (CAD-PESO) will evaluate the applications based on the following requirements:

15 to 25 years old Enrolled during the present school year/semester immediately preceding the summer vacation or a school drop out who wants to enroll again. Parents’ income should not exceed P36,000.00/year No failing grades

Student applicants must also provide the following documentary requirements:

Registration Form with three (3) 1"x1"ID pictures Birth or Baptismal Certificate Form 138 (for high school students) Certified copies of grades from the School Registrar of the school where the student was enrolled during the previous semester (for college students) Income Tax Return (ITR) of parents for the previous year or Certificate of Exemption.

Laoag hospital promotes medical tourism

LAOAG CITY- Consistent with the government’s medical tourism campaign, the Laoag City government will soon offer a health and wellness center at the Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH).

At present, the city government has bought equipment that users can avail of from treadmills, stationary bikes, weights, elliptical trainers and other accessories. The center will also include a spa and sauna.

Laoag Mayor Michael Fariñas said the hospital intends to provide full medical care and health wellness to achieve a holistic health care program.

User policies for the center from membership and proper use of the facilities are now being finalized.

Trained personnel will be provided to assist and guide members and other users in determining the appropriate type of exercise depending on their needs.

The city government continues to allocate funds for the hospital’s improvement to attract more clients from here and abroad keeping in mind the number of Overseas Filipino Workers who frequently come home to avail of the country’s affordable medical care.

The LCGH has become Ilocos Norte’s show window for modern health care whose priority is to provide the poor with appropriate medical attention without having to spend exorbitant fees.

The Department of Health recently upgraded the LCGH as a level 2 hospital following a series of evaluation it conducted.

As a level 2 hospital, the LCGH is now allowed to conduct major operation procedures and apply for higher PhilHealth benefits.

Forum on traditional weaving set in Laoag

LAOAG CITY- The National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the country’s prime agency for arts and culture and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Committee on Culture and Information (Asean-Coci) will hold a forum on the plight of traditional weavers in Asean and China from March 20-23 at the Plaza del Norte this city.

Traditional weavers, traditional weaving scholars and delegates from the Asean member-states, China and the Asean secretariat are expected to attend the four-day event, which is supported by the Asean-China Joint Cooperation Committee.

The forum will focus on the challenges experienced by traditional weavers from dealing with existing government policy, to sourcing materials to production and marketing.

Weaving communities in Ilocos Norte are found in the towns of Paoay and Sarrat.

For hundreds of years, numerous traditions of handweaving throughout Asean has provided women with a channel to express their creativity and artistic skills that accorded them a status within the community and in recent past a source of livelihood.

The forum aims to provide a venue for the traditional weavers of Asean and China to share their experiences, including challenges that they face in the practice of their craft; to enhance mutual understanding among the traditional weavers of and related cultural workers from the concerned states; to explore possibilities on how the weavers could make their products competitive, thus making their craft profitable and sustainable and to come up with possible policy recommendations that would address the plight of the traditional weavers of Asean and China.

The forum includes lectures, workshops, exhibits and site visits.

NCCA chair Felipe de Leon, Jr. will serve as the keynote speaker.

Imee: More 'fan' in Ilocos

The new tourism brand “It’s more fun in the Philippines” fits Ilocos Norte to a T because “we have more fans in the province,” Gov. Imee Marcos said, referring to the giant wind turbines in Bangui town.

Marcos, who led the launching of Ilocos Norte’s tourism campaign “Paoay Kumakaway” recently, said Ilocanos can relate to the latest Philippine brand since the province is home to the biggest fans in the country.

“It’s more fun in the Philippines aptly describes Ilocos Norte, because we have the biggest fans, as in electric fans – the windmills,” she said. Marcos, accompanied by her celebrity son Borgy Manotoc and her balikbayan family, unveiled the province’s new tourism slogan meant to encourage more local and foreign tourists to spend their summer vacation in the province.

“Ilocos Norte is a land that basically has it all, from natural to man-made attractions, sumptuous food offered by warm and fun-loving people,” said Marcos during a press conference yesterday in Quezon City.

She said the 22 towns in her province are offering various tourist attractions.

“On top of the list are the white beaches – Saud White beach and the Blue Lagoon at the northern tip of Pagudpud. The beaches can still provide a calming and stress-free stay because they are not crowded,” Marcos said.

“One can enjoy the sand and water without fear of invading the personal space of tourists. Noise is kept at minimum so one can lay back and enjoy the beach without distractions.”

Marcos noted that adventure and sports in Ilocos Norte are also unique compared with other adventure hubs in the country.

She added that the province is also proud of its 84-square kilometer sand dunes, known as the Sahara of the North and the only desert-like barren region in the Philippines, which is best for sand boarding and 4x4 off road adventure activities.

“Ilocos Norte is also rich in heritage sites. We have the famous baroque type St. Augustine Church located in Paoay which was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993 and the architectural and engineering milestone of its time – the Cape Bojeador (Burgos) Lighthouse overlooking the West Philippine Sea, a national historical landmark and a national cultural treasure,” Marcos said.

She said Ilocos Norte is also dotted with various architectural structures and engineering wonders from pre-Spanish up to post World War II artifacts. Another attraction, Marcos said, is the Patapat viaduct, a concrete coastal bridge that stretches over a kilometer, considered the fourth longest bridge in the country.

“Ilocos Norte is also a part of the rich Philippine political history since one of its locals was once the president of the country. To know more about the late former President Ferdinand Marcos, a trail dubbed as ‘Marcos Trail’ was established, exploring olden times at the Marcos ancestral house and viewing the president’s preserved remains,” she said.

Marcos added she is also proud of the province’s delicacies, including empanada, kornik, longganisa, bagnet, and pinakbet. “Tourists can also eat the dishes in Kangkang Café like the poki-pokie, utong, cabatiti. These are not bad words but are innocent vegetables,” Marcos said, laughing.

NGCP bats for expansion to make llocos Norte’s power system more reliable

LAOAG CITY- The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has started expanding its Laoag sub-station to improve power supply in the province.

Benjamin Saraza, head of the NGCP’s Operations and Maintenance in the Ilocos Region, said the expansion program will increase Ilocos Norte’s voltage level from 115 kv to 230 kv resulting in a more reliable power system.

The program involves expansion of the substation lot covering two hectares and construction of additional transmission lines. The project is expected to be finished by 2014.

“Right now, power passes from La Union, Ilocos Sur up to Ilocos Norte. Whenever there is power interruption anywhere between La Union and Ilocos Norte, we (also) experience power outage here,” he said.

The NGCP also plans to link up Ilocos Norte’s power grid to Tuguegarao in Cagayan Valley so that the province will have an alternate power source when there is a power line interruption from the La Union-Ilocos Sur-Ilocos Norte loop.

The upgrading of the province’s grid is also in preparation for the entry of two more wind farms in Burgos and Pagudpud towns.

The Energy Development Corp. has signified its intention to put up a 40-mw wind power plant in Pagudpud while the UPC-Asia intends to build its 86 mw wind farm in Burgos town.

Power that will be generated by the wind farms will be fed through the NGCP grid.

“At present, the grid is not capable to accommodate more power from these proposed wind farms. We are obligated to ensure a reliable transmission system when these wind farms start generating power,” Saraza said.

The NGCP grid is currently utilized by the Northwind Power Development Corp. owner of the first wind power plant in Bangui town.

Local media go on tourism adventure to promote Ilocos

LAOAG CITY- Members of the Laoag City Press Corps experienced first-hand the new adventure spots offered here during the recently conducted media day celebration.

According to Ramon Formantes, the city government’s public information officer, media members need to undergo the adventure themselves so that they could truthfully describe the experience.

The media group was given a briefer and a moment to try out a fast-rising sports adventure, the sand boarding in the La Paz sand dunes.

“It’s a new experience. The previous years, we would only conduct indoor parties. Now we get to experience and enjoy the beauty of Ilocos,” Formantes said.

The group also enjoyed native dishes when they were treated to authentic Ilocano cuisine.

Formantes said that it is also their way of promoting tourism by experiencing it and writing about it.

Ilocos Norte is now on its extensive campaign on promoting tourism.

Last week, the provincial government’s television ad dubbed as ‘Paoay Kumakaway!’ was officially launched locally and internationally showcasing Ilocos Norte’s finest tourist destinations.

This summer, promos like free ‘barkada’ getaway awaits tourists who wish to live and breath Ilocos sceneries.

Ilocos Norte's mango growers to get subsidy from prov'l gov't

LAOAG CITY- The provincial government has assured mango farmers of subsidies to rehabilitate their trees that have suffered due to climate changes.

The association of mango growers in Ilocos Norte recently met with Gov. Imee Marcos to get her support in reviving their tree farms which have been suffering from low fruit yield due to lack of capital to rehabilitate them.

Ricardo Tolentino, association president, said they got Marcos’ assurance that she will provide fresh funds to help farmers revive their tree farms.

Tolentino, one of the top mango exporters in Region I, has been helping farmers with capital inputs and encouraged them to continue spraying their mangoes.

“Because of the climate change, farmers experienced low yield. Before, we were sure of the weather pattern. But it has become unpredictable because it rains even in December,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said farmers were discouraged to go to mango spraying because of the low fruit production the previous years.

Mango spraying using chemicals such as potassium nitrate has become effective in inducing the trees to produce more flowers uniformly in contrast to the traditional “smoking” technique.

“Very few farmers continued spraying their mango trees because they fear that they will lose more if they continue producing lesser mangoes,” Tolentino said.

He said the Department of Agriculture likewise assured mango farmers of the DA’s assistance in putting back mango as a priority product of the Philippines so that growers would be provided assistance in terms of capital and market support.

Tolentino said he foresees an improving market for mangoes because mango processors have signified their intent to increase their fruit demand.

“It is also comforting that mango prices now are higher than the previous period. It is natural under the principle of supply and demand. Since there are fewer mango products, the demand is high resulting in higher prices,” he added.

Lectures, free lab work ups for pregnant women in Ilocos Norte conducted

LAOAG CITY– In support to the National ‘Buntis’ Day on Saturday, the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City conducted free lecture and laboratory work-ups for pregnant women where knowledge were shared on how to take care of their pregnancy.

Chief of Hospital and President of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS)-Region 1 Dr. Ma. Lourdes Otayza said the lecture was a simultaneous activity throughout the country as the POGS is making an attempt at the Guinness World Record for Largest Prenatal Class in multiple venues.

“We joined the nationwide effort and we encouraged pregnant women in the province to join in the activity,” Dr Otayza said.

“Those who have participated the event were given free prenatal examination, urinalysis, and other laboratory examinations. We raffled off the free ultrasound tests and we gave gifts such as milk, vitamins and medicines. We also gave free immunizations to those who need it,” Otayza said.

But more than the free laboratory work-ups and fun, according to Otayza, the participants were given lectures about safe and healthy pregnancy.

Otayza said, the common cause of maternal death is infection due to lack of information or education of expectant mothers.

He said POGS continuously advocate women’s health and the child inside the womb.

The theme for this year’s Buntis Day was ‘Maabilidad na Pinay, Malusog na Nanay.’

1,810 families receive cash grants under 4Ps in Laoag City

LAOAG CITY- Some 1,810 families received cash grants under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Aquino administration in Laoag City.

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Aurora Corpuz said 1,400 beneficiaries received their first pay-out for the months of November and December, while 727 got their cash grants for January to February.

The 4Ps is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0-14.

Beneficiaries of the program receive P500/month for health and nutrition expenses and P300/month per child (a maximum of 3 children) for educational expenses.

The families are identified under the data base system created by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.

“They will receive cash grants under the program for 5 years after which they will be assessed. This is to show that the government is not simply giving dole-outs but actually investing in human capital,” Corpuz said.

Pay-outs, according to Corpuz, will be given through the Land Bank.

“If they already have their own ATM cards, they can go directly to the bank to withdraw. If, however, they still do not have it, they will get their grant from us,” she said.

Laoag City Mayor Michael Farinas advised the beneficiaries to safeguard the cash grants they are receiving and avoid the practice of accepting money offers from loan sharks in exchange for their grants which they have yet to receive.

The 4Ps helps to fulfill the administration’s commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals ofEradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger; Achieving Universal Primary Education; Promoting Gender Equality; Reducing Child Mortality; and Improving Maternal Health.

More senior citizens in Laoag gets social pension

LAOAG CITY- More Senior Citizens are now beneficiaries of the Social Pension Program (SPP) of the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) in Laoag City.

A total of 128 indigent senior citizens are now receiving monthly social pension, an additional of 26 beneficiaries from last year’s 102.

According to Adelina Asuncion, focal person of the senior citizens desk of the City Social Welfare Development Office, each pensioner receives 500 pesos monthly stipend.

The stipend is a big help to the poorest senior citizens because they have money to buy food, medicine and for their other personal needs, said Asuncion said.

The SP program of the national government intends to serve indigent senior citizens who are frail, sickly and disabled.

Beneficiaries of the program are senior citizens 77 years old and above, without any regular source of income and/or support from any member of the family, and not receiving other pension benefits from government and private agencies, Asuncion explained.

The beneficiaries came from the list of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the DSWD, which is the database identifying who and where the poor are.

The social pension program is provided under Republic Act No. 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act (ESCA) of 2010.

Feature: Fire safety always starts with you

LAOAG CITY- Yes, fire safety always starts with you! You must be informed and involved in fire safety and prevention.

This month of March the nation observes Fire Prevention Month during which fire prevention activities are done by the Bureau of Fire Protection, local government units, other agencies and various sectors. March was chosen as the month since it marks the beginning of the hot, dry season during which most fires occur.

The observance began in 1967 under Proclamation No. 115-A issued by President Ferdinand Marcos on November 17, 1966.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Makiisa, Makialam at Makipagtulungan upang Sunog ay Maiwasan.”

All activities of the BFP in observance of Fire Prevention Month are aimed at promoting awareness and knowledge in fire safety and prevention.

Laoag City Fire Marshall Bonifacio Sacatrapos reminds you of some fire prevention measures:

Do not smoke in bed. Or when you are drowsy. Crush your cigarette butts thoroughly before discarding them. Or put water on butts before discarding them. Do not throw lighted cigarettes into waste baskets because there could be other flammable materials such as paper, plastic inside. Also, provide large and deep ashtray for smokers.

Keep lighted candles, oil or gas lamps away from curtains, fabrics and other objects that easily catch fire. And never leave them unattended. Many fires had been caused by unattended lighted candles during brownouts.

Keep matches and lighters away from children’s reach. Teach children that these are not toys to play with.

Do not use open flame decorations in the house.

Be careful when cooking. Never leave cooking unattended. If you must attend to other matters in the house, make sure there are no flammable substances or items near the stove. And be sure, too, to check what you are cooking from time to time.

If a pot catches fire, cover it with a lid to smoother the flames and turn off the stove immediately. After cooking, extinguish all lighted charcoals and embers and turn off the burner.

Kerosene and gas stove should be checked for leakage and regularly cleaned.

Make sure the kitchen is inspected before retiring at night. Check on the stove, sockets, electricity, among others.

Check regularly your electrical installations, and have all frayed wiring, damaged sockets, switches and other defective electrical fixtures changed or repaired by a qualified electrician.

Do not overload your electrical circuits by profusely putting extra lights and appliances.

And if you can afford it, install and maintain smoke alarms to warn you of a fire.

Remember, there is a lot you can do to prevent a fire.

More tourists expected as Ilocos Norte’s tourism brand draws attention

LAOAG CITY- The provincial government is bullish about Ilocos Sur’s tourism industry this summer season following promotion activities at national and global levels.

Governor Imee Marcos said today that last week’s launch of media spots from billboards and television ads generated the attention that the province sought to achieve when tourism planners were still on the drawing board.

“We expect more tourists and balikbayans (overseas Filipino workers) to come in when summer sets in because of the tourism brand that we had launched,” she said during Monday’s traditional flag-raising service.

The campaign brand “Paoay Kumakaway” made its debut in the National Capital Region using billboards that captured Ilocos Norte’s tourism landmarks. The billboards were posted along Light Rail Transit routes and major thoroughfares like Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda and Recto Avenue.

Negotiations are under way for the placement of similar ads at the South Luzon Expressway and the Metro Manila Skyway.

Television spot commercials have been aired in national and international audiences such as Cinema One, The Filipino Channel, Star Movies and Solar Sports.

Similar spots are running on four screens of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s east and west arrival concourse of Terminal 1 and at the arrival concierge of Terminal 2.

On top of investing on tourism promotions, the provincial government has been setting in place facilities and businesses to complete the requirements that any destination must offer to visitors.

Last year alone, business centers were put up around the capital city of Laoag to catch tourism carry-overs. The Department of Tourism made its share of strengthening tourism services from training and promotions to build the capabilities of locals in opening their doors to tourists.

The tourism brand is initially focused on courting the domestic and OFW market. The province hopes to recapture the Chinese market which thinned out since 2010 as a result of the botched Luneta hostage crisis.

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