Ilocos Norte News November 2011

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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

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.

Imee Marcos to PNoy: Respect rule of law in Arroyo case

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Monday reminded the Aquino administration to respect the rule of law in the electoral sabotage case filed against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Marcos said the rule of law must always be respected. She noted that the Department of Justice seemed to ignore the Supreme Court when the DOJ continued to implement a watch list order against Arroyo.

The governor, who is the daughter of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, refused to say more about the electoral sabotage and pending plunder charges against Arroyo.

She said she expects the Arroyo legal drama to give a lesson to all.

Tagalog news: Mga alagang hayop nabigyan ng libreng bakuna

LAOAG CITY- Nagsagawa kamakailan ang Laoag City Veterinary Office (CVO) ng libreng pagbababakuna sa mga alagang hayop sa lungsod.

Ito ay bahagi ng programang Rang-ay ti Barangay ng lokal na pamahalaan na naglalayong tumulong sa mga barangay ng siyudad para sa pagpapaunlad sa lugar.

Ayon kay Dr. Arturo Cabello, City veterinarian, ang pagbibigay ng libreng bakuna ay mahalaga para mabigyang proteksiyon ang mga hayop at mailayo sila sa pagkakaroon ng sakit o peste na maaaring dumapo sa kanila.

Sa mga alagang aso naman ay binigyan ng bakuna para makaiwas ang mga ito sa pagkakaroon ng nakamamatay na rabis.

Isa rin ito sa mga paraan para matulungan ang mga magsasaka para ang kanilang mga alagang hayop ay hindi agarang namamatay.

Sa kabuuan, mayroong 25 baka at kalabaw ang nabakunahan sa barangay Lagui at 47 aso sa barangay 27 sa Laoag City.

Ang ganitong aktibidad ay taunang isinasagawa ng City Veterinary office kasama ang mga iba’t ibang opisina ng lokal na pamahalaan na siyang bumubuo sa Rang-ay ti Barangay.

Tagalog news: “Mukha” ng Laoag, pinapaganda pa

LAOAG CITY- Sakaling mapupunta ka sa Laoag City sa Ilocos Norte, agad na bubungad sa iyo ang isang park sa harap mismo ng Provincial Capitol at Laoag City Hall… ang Aurora Park o City Plaza.

Dito nakatayo ang isang monumento ng ‘tobacco monopoly’ na simbolo ng pagwasak ng monopolya ng tabako sa Pilipinas sa utos ng hari ng España noong panahon ng Kastila.

Dito rin sa Aurora Park kadalasan idinadaos ang mga trade fair at iba pang mga palabas. Maraming ring mga mag-aaral ang kadalasa’y umiistambay at nagpa-practice ng kanilang mga sayaw dito. Mayroon ding mga turista na nagpapalitrato at mga matatanda na nagpapahinga.

Subalit hindi na muna maaaring gawin ang mga ito sa Park sapagka’t sumasailalim ang Aurora Park sa ilang pagbabago upang mas mapaganda at maging kaaya-aya ito.

Kamakailan, naglaan ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Laoag City ng higit sa P6 milyon para sa magandang pagbabago ng park.

Sinabi ni assistant city engineer Fred Agpaoa na inaasahan nila na matatapos agad ang pagpapaganda nito bago dumating ang panahon ng kapaskuhan. Puspusan na kasi ang trabaho na ginagawa sa Aurora Park.

Nais ni City Mayor Michael Farinas na mapaganda ang park na nagsisilbi ding “mukha” ng lungsod dahil ito ang agad na makikita ng mga turista sa pagdating nila. Ang Laoag City na siyang kabisera ng lalawigan ay puntahan ng maraming turista, ng mga nag-lalakbay aral at pinagdarausan ng mga mahahalaga at malalaking pagtitipon.

Sa pagpapaganda ng park ay magkakaroon ng dalawang naglalakihan at makukulay na “fountain” at “stage” na pagdadausan ng mga palabas. Binabago na rin ang sahig at magdaragdag ng mga magagandang halaman sa gilid. Sa pagbabago na ito ng plaza ay siguradong mas magiging kaaya-aya ito sa mga turista at sa mga lokal na residente.

Tagalog news: Palengke ng Laoag City inihahanda na para sa kapaskuhan

LAOAG CITY- Puspusan ang isinasagawang paghahanda ng Laoag City Market Council (LCMC) sa palengke ng siyudad para sa parating na holiday season. Maraming mga pagbabago ang inaasahan para sa darating na Pasko at Bagong Taon.

Mahigpit nang ipinatutupad ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Laoag ang pagsasagawa ng ‘waste segregation’ sa lahat ng parte ng siyudad lalong-lalo na sa mga palengke upang siguruhin ang kalinisan at kaligtasan ng mga mamimili pagdating ng inaasahang bakasyon.

Palagian din ang pagsasagawa ng Oplan Dalus sa loob at labas ng palengke tuwing Biyernes ng alas tres ng hapon. Masigasig namang nakikiisa ang mga market vendors dito.

Nagkaroon na din ang pagpipinta sa mga parking areas para sa maayos na pagpaparada ng sasakyan.

Sinabi ni Alfonso Antonio, assistant market officer ng Laoag na nagsasagawa sila ng pagpupulong sa lahat ng ng mga market vendor para kunin din ang kanilang mga hinaing at suhestiyon sa kani-kanilang mga puwesto.

“Mas nakatuon kami ngayon sa mga nagtitinda sa labas ng palengke kagaya ng mga fruit stand, binibigyan talaga naming sila ng puwesto para mas maayos ang ating palengke pagdating ng Pasko” dagdag pa ni Antonio.

Ipinag-utos din ni Laoag City mayor Michael V. Farinas ang paglalagay ng mga lead television sa ikalawa at ikatlong palapag ng palengke. Ito ay para ma-update ang mga tao sa loob ni palengke sa mga anunsyo ng siyudad.

“Bukod sa mas mabilis ang pagpapaalam ng mga anunsyo sa mga tao, mas matipid pa ito kaysa sa palagiang pagpapagawa ng mga tarpaulin at banner para sa mga patalastas” saad ni Farinas.

Inaasahan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Laoag na sa mga ganitong paghahanda ay maiibsan ang mga hindi magandang pangyayari sa siyudad sa darating na holiday season.

Tech-Voc students showcase skills in TESDA regional competition

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in this province hosted the Regional Youth Skills competition held at the Provincial Training and Development Center here.

Manuel Wong, TESDA-Pangasinan provincial director said the three-day competition aimed to showcase technical vocational education and training.

Competitors coming from the four provinces of the region - La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan were the winners in the provincial level competition conducted in their areas, he said.

Ilocos Norte provincial director Felisa Carag said the event was an opportunity for people to see what skills could be developed. “ It is a way of further developing our youth and at the same time show the standards that are being set as far as tech-voc education is concerned,“ Carag said. Provincial directors Marissa Alcantara of La Union and Joel Pilotin of Ilocos Sur said the coaches and other TESDA officials rallied their contestants to do their best in the competition.

Students competed in 12 trade areas – visual web page, software, hair dressing, beauty care, fashion technology, wielding, automotive mechanic, electrical, refrigeration and air conditioning, and the tourism areas that included food and beverage, commercial cooking, and restaurant management.

In the awarding ceremonies, the province of Pangasinan emerged as the regional champion with nine golds, two silvers, and one bronze. Ilocos Norte came in second with one gold, six silvers, and one bronze.

Finishing third and fourth are the provinces of La Union and Ilocos Sur with one gold, two silvers, one bronze; and one gold, one silver, and two bronze, respectively.

Regional director Washington Agustin told the contestants that they are not competing against each other but rather, against the standards of tech-voc education.

Winners in this regional contest will represent Region I in the national competition slated next year.

Ilocos Norte bikers, Diocese of Laoag on the road for ecology

LAOAG CITY- Bikers in the province of Ilocos Norte are back on the road. And they are biking to raise level of environmental awareness.

Edgar delos Trinos of the Commission on Social Action of the Diocese of Laoag said they are holding the Bike for Ecology as an annual cycling activity for ecological preservation, protection and rehabilitation.

“The Bike for Ecology continues to serve as an affirmation of our common and enduring effort to promote environmental awareness among our people,” Trinos said.

Now on its 10th year, the event will be participated in by more than 200 bikers from the different cycling groups in the province. “When the Director of the Commission on Social Action initiated the activity 10 years ago, there were only around 20 participants. Through the years, more and more joined this worthy cause,” he said.

Biking itself is good for the environment because it does not use fuel or pollutants to run.

The Bike for Ecology is also in line with the Christ the King celebration. It will be held on November 19, a day prior to the Roman Catholic celebration.

Armed with stamina, bikers will negotiate a northbound 54-kilometer stretch, from San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish in the town of San Nicolas to St Francis de Asisi Parish in Pasuquin town, the host of this year’s celebration.

Those who want to join may register at the Commission on Social Action near the Laoag Cathedral.

Ilocos Norte renewable energy sources attract more investors

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte- A memorandum of understanding was recently signed by Governor Imee Marcos and Mr Bae Jongsoo, a Korean national and CEO of Mirae Energy Corp for the construction and operation of a solar power plant in the coastal town of Currimao.

Lito Badua of Mirae Asia Energy Corp. said they are eager to start the 20 megawatt power plant to generate renewable source of energy. The corporation will initially conduct soil testing in Barangay Pagulodan for the project.

Governor Marcos hopes that this new energy resource will lead to further development in the province thru more revenues, job generation and cheaper electricity.

Aside from the solar power plant, there will be more wind farms to be put up in the province. Governor Marcos, in the second quarter of the year, announced that three more wind power developers were given the go signal to build five more power plants this year.

Energy Development Corp. will operate a $310 million 86MW facility in the town of Burgos while Energy Logistics will put up its plant also in Burgos and another in Pasuquin town with a capacity of 120MW costing $380 million.

UPC Renewables will also build a 50-MW wind farm in Pagudpud, the northernmost town of Ilocos Norte.

“We break our dependence on fossil fuels and within the next few years, we must generate 50% of the energy used by the province from renewable energies,” the governor said.

Ilocos Norte is home to the first windmills in the country and Southeast Asia. The 20 windmills in Bangui town is a milestone that jump-started the initiative of the government for energy projects across the country that would cut down dependence on existing generating systems using imported fossil fuels.

Aside from the windmills, the province has also hosts and operates a hydropower plant in Pagudpud.

Ilocos presents its rich, unique products at trade fair

LAOAG CITY- Come and buy the best of Ilocandia products at the trade fair in Ilocos Norte.

Shell craft from the artisans of Pagudpud. Table runners, shawl, blankets, barong tagalog made of Abel fabric from the loomweavers of Paoay. Damili or clay pots from San Nicolas. Fruit wines from the mountains of Adams. Mouth-watering longganiza and empanada from Batac. Crispy-licious chicharon or bagnet from San Nicolas. Native kakanin from Currimao.

These are just some of the products showcasing Ilocano pride being sold at the 16th “Sagut ni Ilokano,” Partuat ti Kalokuan Trade Fair 2011 at the Ilocano Heroes Hall in Laoag City.

The trade fair is spearheaded by the Partuat ti Kailokuan, an organization of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in the province, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, Laoag City Government and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte.

According to Norbel Dolores of the DTI, the fair aims to promote the One Town, One Product (OTOP) of the different towns and develop markets for the products of the MSMEs.

“This is also to uphold and promote local products,” Dolores said.

Aside from the OTOPs, there are other products from other provinces of Region 1 and the Cordillera Administrative Region at the trade fair. Some of these are the sweet puto calasiao and kutsinta from Pangasinan; furniture from Ilocos Sur; knitted garments, wooden crafts and leather goods from CAR; wooden wellcrafts from Bauang, La Union.

There are also ornamental plants and flowers being featured at the trade fair. A big pot of Poinsettias in time for the holidays, for example, cost P250 while decorative cactus cost much less.

If, however, one gets tired of shopping, one can sit down to a delicious empanada, longganiza, igado, miki and other native foods at food kiosks at the trade fair.

The trade fair is open from 9 am to 8 pm and will run until November 18, 2011.

Ilocos Norte gov’t gives free PhilHealth cards to indigents

LAOAG CITY- Some 10,615 indigent-families were the beneficiaries of free Philhealth insurance from the provincial government of Ilocos Norte recently. Governor Imee Marcos distributed the health cards during ceremonies held at the Marcos Stadium in Laoag City.

According to Lilian Rin, provincial social welfare and development officer, the beneficiaries are “regular indigents” identified by the local social welfare office based on the National Household Targetting System for Poverty Reduction. “The recipients are former beneficiaries. The health insurance is just a renewal because their cards are about to expire,” Rin said.

The beneficiaries are from the 2 cities and 12 towns of the province, namely: Laoag City, Batac City, Banna, Dumalneg, Marcos, Currimao, Paoay, Adams, Burgos, Carasi, Pagudpud, San Nicolas, Sarrat and Solsona.

The provincial government shares with the national government in paying the premium of the health insurance to secure the health needs of the families. The percentage, however, depends on the class of local government unit.

“Governor Imee wants to give free Philhealth insurance to more indigents in the province,” Rin said.

Schools along nat’l hi-ways ordered to regulate road barricades

LAOAG CITY- The province of Ilocos Norte ordered the schools division of the Department of Education (DepEd) to regulate the putting up of barricades along the roads in front of schools.

Atty. Windell Chua, provincial administrator, said that the province will coordinate with the barangay officials so that the barricades will only be put up when students are arriving and departing from school. The barangay tanods are usually the ones manning these barricades.

For the Philippine National Police the barricades serve as obstacle to slow down crime suspects during hot pursuit operations.

To some tourists visiting the province, the sight of barricades is like a scene in a conflict area thus affecting tourism in the area.

Cecilai Aribuabo, DepEd superintendent in Laoag, said that they will coordinate with principals and officials of different schools to comply with the provincial government’s order.

This year, the local government of Ilocos Norte is focusing on eliminating crimes and promoting “boating” tourism in the province.

‘Self- reliant NGOs’, subject for summit

LAOAG CITY- "Be a self-reliant non-government organization."

This was emphasized by Dr. Roberto de los Reyes, Chairman of Regional Association of Non-government Organization (RANGO) as the resource speaker of the recently conducted NGO summit in Ilocos Norte.

In the summit, the non-governmental organizations taught them to have their own strategy on rasing funds for the mobilization of their projects and programs such as fund-raising activities, engage in businesses ventures for profit, and empowering the local NGOs to be able to establish a well-known organization to carrying out various activities with the local government units (LGUs).

The empowering should begin with the Municipal Association of Non-government organization (MANGO). The same should develop activities that would multiply the funds of the NGOs in their area.

Dr. de los Reyes also encourages the NGOs of each municipality to establish a cooperative as a way of earning profit and helping the members to earn individually.

NGOs are self-funded organization which particular aims to help the members earn money for their needs and eventually breaks the cycle of poverty through their partnership with the government.

As a civil society organization, they have three (3) main components: People’s organization, the social development, and the private sectors. Each of them has a vital role in attaining the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals.

The summit also taught the members the ability of the NGOs in settling and managing things the right way, the NGO way. “We must show that private individuals are taking vital roles in the elimination of poverty, and we must show them our NGO leadership style, that we are self-reliance and a self-governing organization”- Dr. de los Reyes emphasized.

Aside from empowering the organization from the private sector, the summit also stressed its role in uniting and strengthening the LGUs- NGO partnership towards local development.

The summit was attended by various members of NGOs from the different municipalities in the province.

Marcoses firm on hero's burial

LAOAG CITY- For more than two decades, the body of the late President Ferdinand Marcos has been lying in a mirror casket in a mausoleum in his Batac hometown waiting to be buried.

Former First Lady and now first district representative of Ilocos Norte, Imelda R. Marcos, said in an interview that the Marcos family is still waiting for a miracle. They are still fighting for a decent and a hero’s burial.

“We will still fight that Ferdie will take his final rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, maybe not now but in the near future. I believe there is a divine purpose why Ferdie was kept this long” said the former First Lady.

Contrary to what VP Binay declared four months ago when he was assigned by Pres. Aquino to look into the matter, the Marcoses confirmed on having no final say on that.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos said, “We have not yet agreed on that, our family still counts on hero’s burial.”

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imelda “Imee” Marcos is also open in making public apology to Martial law victims. She reiterates that their family is open and has always been open in saying sorry to those people who believed they were victimized during his father’s regime.

The Marcos corpse is still visited by local tourists who want a glimpse of his body, most of them Marcos loyalists who want to pay tribute to the late president.

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