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Ilocos Norte News March 2012

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Ilocos Norte Province

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
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.

CJ prosecutor takes a break, learns how to ride bike safely with family

WITH the impeachment hearing of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona on a break until May, one of the lead prosecutors, Ilocos Norte (1st District) Representative Rodolfo C. Fariñas has done what could be almost impossible for a 60-year old man like him: learn how to ride a big bike with his family the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group way.

On Monday, the long-time former Ilocos Norte governor and mayor, his daughter Ria Christina; sons Baba, Juni, Jr., Carlos, Baby Boy and Rudy and cousin, Laoag City Mayor Michael V. Fariñas began a grueling HPG Executive Motorcycle Riding Course that will make them better motorcycle riders, with safety as their main concern.

PNP-HPG director, Chief Superintendent Leonardo A. Espina opened the special HPG motorcycle riding course for the Fariñas family when he visited officers and men of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 1 headed by Senior Supt. Magno S. Biag to personally inspect their summer vacation preparations to ensure a safe and secure travel in Ilocos-Pangasinan region.

Rep. Fariñas told the Journal Group that it has been his and his family’s long-time wish to become a certified HPG Rider, complete with a Rider’s Badge that will authorize each of them to wear the special badge.

“This means much to me. This is also part of our dedication to enforce the law in Ilocos Norte and abide with all traffic rules and regulations in the province and elsewhere in the country,” said Fariñas as he led his kids and cousin in performing the standard HPG Riders’ exercises, dropping to the ground and banking left and right and performing the motorcycle crash.

The routines are inculcated in the mind of the trainees in order to protect them from accidental falls or crashes that may maim or kill an ordinary motorcycle driver. All HPG Riders are trained to hold tightly on their motorcycle in case of a crash since the vehicle’s crash guards will protect them.

“Ipit tangke. Walang bibitiw. Walang paa o kamay na tutukod,” course instructor, Supt. Bonifacio L. Bosita barked at his famous students.

The lawmaker said he will use his new-found skills in launching a massive motorcycle safety program and road discipline project in the province and other parts of the country if possible. Not bad for a city where the Helmet Law is strictly implemented by the local police and Mayor Fariñas’ men.

Elected as mayor of Laoag City at the young age of 28, Fariñas recounted that he launched a massive peace and order drive in the city under a program called DOC or ‘discipline and order campaign.

“I saw to it that all traffic rules and regulations will be enforced in the city, particularly the helmet law and driving without license or under the influence of liquor,” he said.

Fariñas even showed copies of old Land Transportation Office traffic citation tickets issued to his office when they were deputized by the agency to strictly enforce all traffic rules and regulations in their area.

MOA strengthens establishment of Migrant Desk Offices in Ilocos Norte

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration – Regional Welfare Office 1 signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the towns of Carasi, Dumalneg and Pinili in Ilocos Norte to complete their 21 Migrant Desk Offices (MDOs) target.

The MOA aims to strengthen partnership with the local government units through the establishment of MDOs in cities and municipalities to cater to complaints of migrants and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

According to Amapola Z. Villar, labor communications officer of OWWA-RWO1, their office is set to complete their MDO targets in the three other provinces of the region.

For La Union, only two municipalities out of 17 have yet to establish their MDOs.

In Ilocos Sur, 14 municipalities and one city have complied while in Pangasinan, 37 municipalities and the cities of Alaminos, San Carlos, and Urdaneta have also put their MDOs.

Meanwhile, the local government units ensured their support for speedy delivery of services to OFWs and their families.

They also guaranteed full cooperation and coordination in terms of extending assistance and implementing projects or programs for their OFW constituents, Villar said.

Ilocos Norte dominates athletic meet

Ilocos Norte regained the top spot as it unseated defending champion Pangasinan II in the Region I Athletic Association held at the Urdaneta National High School here from March 18 to 24.

Ilocos Norte school division, the perennial winner, conquered most of the sporting events amassing 617.17 points at the end of the week-long games.

Coming in second was unseated champion Pangasinan II with 522.25 points, followed by Pangasinan I with 387.75 points.

Regional Sports Coordinator Bartolome Teneza of the Department of Education -Regional Office I, said the point system varies in every event thus point equivalent of gold, silver and bronze medals varies in the group games, ball games and individual events.

Completing the top five are La Union in fourth place with 255 points followed by San Fernando City with 163.67 points. The other finishers in descending order are the city schools division of Laoag, Dagupan, Urdaneta, Ilocos Sur Division, San Carlos, Alaminos, Candon, Batac and Vigan.

Teneza said it has not been decided yet as to what school division will host the R1AA next year but Urdaneta City, thru Mayor Amadeo Perez III, promised to improve the UNHS playing field by building a swimming pool, grandstand and rubberized track oval, he said.

As the R1AA is a prelude to the Palarong Pambansa which the Pangasinan will host on May 6-12, Teneza said there will be 500 athletes from Region I to compete in the national games and a total of 600 delegates to include coaches and advisers.

Teneza told the Philippine Information Agency that a special games for differently- abled school children is also integrated as part of the Palarong Pambansa where the Ilocos Region is a consistent participant together with Cebu and Davao.

“We are the defending champion in this category for special athletes,” he said.

12,256 families receive cash grants under 4Ps in Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte- A total of 12, 256 families from Ilocos Norte have received their cash grants under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Aquino administration.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development officer Lilian Rin said the families who received cash grants were from the 13 towns and a city of the province, namely, Dumalneg, Burgos, Paoay, Banna, Solsona, Dingras, Badoc, Sarrat, Piddig, Vintar, Bacarra, Pagudpud and Laoag City.

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 zero to 14.

Beneficiaries receive P500 a month for health and nutrition expenses and P300 a month per child, with a maximum of three 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 five years. They are monitored and evaluated regularly by our municipal links if they comply with the education, health, family development and nutrition aspects of the program. This is to show that the government is not simply giving dole-outs but actually investing in human capital,” Rin said.

The 4Ps, according to Rin, helps to fulfill the administration’s commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals namely Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger; Achieve Universal Primary Education; Promote Gender Equality; Reduce Child Mortality; and Improve Maternal Health.

Golden fruit yields dividends for ‘Mango King’

LAOAG CITY—Back in the day when it was fashionable for Ilocanos to become seamen, Ricardo Tolentino was sure he would be one of them after he earned his degree in marine transportation.

But fate had something else brewing for him.

After graduating from college, he worked for his uncle’s die cutting business in Metro Manila hoping to save up for his future. It was there where he met a mango exporter who helped him shape his path into becoming Ilocos Norte’s “Mango King.”

Tolentino relates that Robin Tan, who runs an export business, arrived in his uncle’s shop one day to order boxes for his mango exports.

“I saw a sample of his box with the words ‘Mango Export’ stamped on them. I felt the urge to ask him about it because I had a background in mango growing while I was still helping my other uncle’s mango farm in Ilocos,” he says.

He told Tan about this uncle’s mango farm and asked the exporter how the latter could help them expand the business.

“Tan became interested in exploring the mango business in Ilocos because he was in need of more products for export,” he says.

He says the exporter wanted to introduce mango spraying to farmers using chemicals such as potassium nitrate to induce the trees to produce more flowers uniformly in contrast with the traditional “smoking” technique.

Back then, Tolentino’s uncle was marketing his products around Ilocos and in Cagayan Valley. They wanted to produce more but didn’t have the market.

Tolentino says it was worth the shot to return to Ilocos and start mango farming.

Armed with P50,000 worth of farm inputs loaned by Tan, he returned to Ilocos and started encouraging farmers to switch to mango spraying. He served as Tan’s associate in his export business.

“Then things began to shape up for the Ilocos mango industry. Farmers began to realize more income because of the market that Tan provided,” he says.

Tan later provided more capital to farmers so they could grow more fruits and meet the demand of the export market.

Tolentino later started his own export business and was able to put up at least nine mango plantations, earning him the title “Mango King” of Ilocos Norte.

He sends his green mangoes (carabao or native type) to Hong Kong and Japan, while those which did not pass quality control are bought by mango processors who convert the fruit to mango juice or dried mango.

“Agriculture is the biggest employer in the Philippines. Mango is like a staple food. A food business will never go down. It always has big potential,” he says.

Tolentino’s unsolicited advice for new businessman is to invest in agriculture.

“There are low-risk businesses but the income is minimal as well. Then there are high-risk businesses like mango production and export. If you go past the risk, you can expect big money,” he says.

“You just have to be bullish. Starting a mango business is like a game of chance, you need to gamble,” he adds.

Tolentino says he had his share of frustrations, like in any other business venture. He lost money for five succeeding years but his other businesses helped him out of the slump.

He is also a softdrink distributor and owns a trucking business and a junk shop.

“Agriculture has big potential. I also have a vegetable farm and now supply our family’s and workers’ daily consumption amounting to P3,000,” he says.

He advises land owners to convert their idle land into vegetable farms, noting the high demand for vegetables down to the village level. “We still have to get our vegetables from Baguio when we can grow our own,” he says.

He also considers a good sense of timing of market trends as helpful to any new businessman.

He cites the case of the onion and garlic industry where there have been notable up and down curves in the market.

“Many farmers planted big volumes of garlic and onion this year hoping that they will still take advantage of the high prices last year. But since many farmers thought the same way, there is now a huge supply of onion and garlic in the market, resulting in low prices. It is the law on supply and demand,” says Tolentino, the newly elected president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ilocos Norte.

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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