Ilocos Norte News October 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.

Ilocos creates ‘Task Force Lambat’

The Ilocos region police office intensified its drive against all forms of criminality, with emphasis on countermeasures against the so-called “riding-in-tandem” criminals.

This developed when the ranking police officials in Ilocos province agreed during their recently concluded command conference to create “Task Force Lambat” in every police station in the region to identify the criminals.

Senior Superintendent Mansue N. Lukban, Ilocos region’s deputy director for operations, told that the “Oplan Lambat” enhances the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS), which is now already in full operation in the region.

Lukban said that the “Oplan Lambat” aims to put in place a more pro-active intelligence driven checkpoint operation to deter or drive away criminals and denies them the opportunity to commit crimes.

“We will create a Task Force Lambat in every police station to identify criminals, particularly those engaged in gun-for-hire activities using motorcycles and other vehicles to conceal their weapons and evade fixed and mobile checkpoints,” he added.

For his part, Ilocos region police director Chief Superintendent Franklin Jesus B, Bucayu reiterated his call for a more focused approach against the existing riding-in-tandem criminals and other lawless elements in the region.

“We will neutralize them and keep the community safe,” Bucayu stressed.

Feature: Ilocos Norte’s White Giants of tourism, energy

LAOAG CITY- The traveler going north of Laoag would not miss them by any chance. From a distance, they are like white three-horned giant robots guarding the seashore. For others, they seem white monuments, rising to the sky, in all their glory.

But for the province of Ilocos Norte, they are mighty giants in tourism and renewable energy.

They are the Windmills in the town of Bangui, the first wind power plant in the country and Southeast Asia, which set the trend in the development of renewable energy this side of the world. The traveler can count 20 windmills standing by the Bangui Bay. This flagship project of the NorthWind Power Development Corporation initially consisted of 15 Vesta wind turbines generated 24.74 megawatts and completed on May 7, 2005.

Another 5 wind turbines were later added increasing the plant’s total generating capacity to 33MW. Support facilities included the 5.7km 69kV transmission line from the plant to Laoag City and the 30MVA 13.8/69kV substation.

The Bangui wind farm is a response to the government’s call for the development of renewable energy sources. Dubbed ‘clean and green’ it is a milestone that jump-started the initiative of the government for energy projects across the country to cut down dependence on existing generating systems using imported fossil fuels. The use of and emissions from fossil fuels, scientists proved, have catastrophic effects to the environment which largely contributed to climate change.

In a couple of years, however, the traveler will be counting more windmills. That is because Governor Imee 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, all not far from Bangui.

Energy Development Corporation 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 percent of the energy used by the province from renewable energies,” Governor Marcos said.

Investors and developers of renewable energy have become interested in investing in the country following the passage of RA 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 which gives incentives to foreign and local developers, suppliers and end-users of renewable energy.

The ordinary tourist, however, may not be fully aware of, or particularly interested in, the technical and economic benefits of the Bangui wind farm, how it supplies 40 percent of the entire province’s electricity thru its connection to the Luzon Grid delivering power via Transco Laoag and reaches households via the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative.

It is because the 20 wind mills immediately captivate the eye – an aesthetic feast, a testament to the wonder of nature combined with the genius of man.

One of Ilocos Norte’s most famous images, the Bangui windmills have attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists. It made Ilocos Norte one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the country.

Data from the Department of Tourism showed that tourist arrivals in the province in 2010 numbered 191,300 while arrivals for the first quarter this year have reached nearly 50,000.

During the summer months, particularly during Holy Week, thousands of tourists walk the strip of the Bangui Bay foreshores under the gigantic windmills. One might feel rather so tiny under each turbine that stands 70 meters each, each blade measuring 41 meters in length or a total diameter of 82 meters.

Due to the influx of tourists to the wind farm, livelihood entrepreneurs have mushroomed. Many houses sell garlic and onions, straight from their farms. The more enterprising and skilled ones make wooden replicas of the windmill, complete with rotating blades, pebbles and seashells.

Manang Cely, one of the vendors of these replicas, said tourists go gaga over the miniature replica of the windmills. “They want it as souvenir for themselves or as gifts to friends,” she said in the local dialect.

During peak season, Cely said, they can sell as many as 100 of these replicas in a day. The smallest sells for three for a hundred; fifty pesos for the medium size; and one hundred for the one-foot tall replica.

“This has helped us augment our income from farming. We use the additional money for other expenses such as for education of our children and food” she said.

Suffice it to say, the Bangui Windmills blew in progress through natural technology to the province and people of Ilocos Norte as well as protection for Mother Earth.

Amazing Race Asia cruises to Ilocos Norte for next season’s epic

LAOAG CITY- Get ready for the season of 5 of the reality game show The Amazing Race Asia for will go to Ilocos Norte.

Ilocos Norte, particulary the municipality of Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud will be the show’s trail for season 5 which will be aired in next year’s episode.

The US-based reality show chose the seven great wonders from Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte for the utilization of the shows venue.

These spots include the Kaangrian falls, Avis falls, The Cape Bojedour which is thehighest light house in Asia, the famous Kapurpurawan rock formation all from Burgos, the Patapat bridge, the beaches of Pagudpud, and the first windmills in Asia located in Bangui.

Mayor Chrisente Garcia of Burgos said, “the team of the show were mesmerized with the tourist spots in our place and decided to shoot the episodes of the show here, upon the initiative of our provincial governor.”

“This is good because this will also be part of promoting tourism in our place,” he added.

The seven stop-overs in the place compliment the component and the game orientation of the show.

Basically, the structure of the race is for the teams to travel to different locations by following the route information, perform some various tasks, and checking in at the Pit Stop.

Teams normally complete all the tasks and check in at the Pit Stop before they are eliminated. Occasionally, on an elimination leg, if all other teams have checked in and the last team is very far behind, Route Markers may instruct them to go directly to the Pit Stop without completing the rest of the leg.

Milagros Gonzales, Chief of Department of Tourism Field office in Ilocos Norte, together with the mayor of Burgos, is currently having their field inspection to places where the show will commence.

The participants for the competition will be arriving this December to start the race.

Burgos’ Buraan River wins best inland body of water in Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY- Buraan River of the municipality of Burgos is this year’s winner in the search for best inland body of water in the province of Ilocos Norte

Lined with trees along the riverbanks and a mangrove, Buraan River has clean and clear waters and a source for fishing among the townsfolk.

Buraan River bested Pagsan River of Nueva Era and Magalis River in Banna, making it to the Hall of Fame in the province. It was also last year’s winner in the Regional Search.

The search for the best inland body of water is part of the Search for Cleanest, Greenest and Safest Local Government Unit (LGU). The search aims to recognize the efforts of LGUs in managing the environment and promoting people’s participation in all local governance and operations.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources led other government agencies such as the Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Public Works and Highways, Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the Philippine Information Agency during the monitoring and evaluation of inland bodies of water of various municipalities.

Arsenio G. Sandi, senior forest management specialist and head of the evaluation committee said, “We are here to see whether they are with the national government in protecting and maintaining the cleanliness and greenest of their place and bodies of water.”

“We also make sure that the residents along these bodies of water are complying with the Clean Water Act or other environmental laws that the discharge of their water waste is within the standards of the law.” he added.

The winning river is highly- equipped with support systems used to mobilize and maintain the cleanliness and protection of the environment.

The Municipality of Burgos is conducting a regular clean-up for the river. They even had a mangrove plantation. Planting of mangroves could improve the water quality by absorbing nutrients and other organic pollutants.

The competition is simultaneously conducted with the search for cleanest, greenest and safest Local Government Unit in the north.

No state honors for Marcos—Aquino

There will be no state funeral or any kind of state honors for the toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos under the Aquino administration, President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday.

Aquino said before the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines that the victims of martial law have yet to be accorded any apology or compensation.

“It will be the height of injustice to render any state honors to the direct mastermind of all their suffering,” the President said.

“I will not be sanctioning a burial for the late President Marcos,” he said.

Early this year, Aquino asked Vice President Jejomar Binay to study Marcos’ burial and recommend how the long-divisive issue could finally be settled. Aquino had refused to decide alone on the issue, saying he would naturally be biased.

Binay in June recommended that former Marcos should not be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani but that full military honors could be accorded if he is laid to rest in his northern political stronghold instead.

His flamboyant widow, Imelda, has long pushed for the burial of her husband in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) in Taguig City, but has been opposed by pro-democracy and left-wing groups, which have accused the late dictator of plundering the nation’s coffers and of massive human rights violations during his two-decade rule.

Marcos was ousted in a 1986 “People Power” revolt led by Aquino’s late mother, Corazon Aquino. Marcos died three years later in exile in Hawaii and his body was returned in 1993 to his northern Philippine hometown of Batac in Ilocos Norte province, where it has been displayed in a glass coffin and has become a tourist attraction.

Fun-filled competitions in celebration of children’s month in Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY- The provincial government of Ilocos Norte through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Office will hold a fun-filled dance and chorale competitions for day care center children, ages 3–5 years in celebration of National Children’s Month this October, according to Lilian Rin, PSWD Officer.

“The contestants will be the representatives of the 21 municipalities of the province, excluding the cities of Laoag and Batac,” Rin said.

“This is one way of making the public, particularly our children, aware of their rights and privileges, such as the right to education; health care; play and recreation, among others. We also want to hone the talents of our children and teach them camaraderie and sportsmanship,” she said.

The competitions will be held on October 21. Winners of the provincial contest will compete at the regional level to be held in San Fernando City, La Union on October 28.

The theme of this year’s celebration of Children’s Month is “Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) Para sa Bright Child: Pakilusin, Palakasin, Pagtulungan Natin.” This is in support of the campaign to strengthen the LCPC which is the enabling mechanism for the creation of a child-friendly society that is sensitive to the needs of the child, and where all sectors work to produce holistic and sustainable strategies that promote child rights.

Olot Resthouse still under government control

THE Olot Resthouse in Tolosa town, Leyte remains with the government despite a Supreme Court ruling last year ordering a government body to return ownership of the property to the family of late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Commissioner Ma. Ngina Teresa Chan-Gonzaga said Thursday that Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, wife of the late dictator, has not made a claim on the 42-hectare property barely a year after the High Court ruled that the sequestration is invalid.

The Supreme Court issued the order on December 7, 2010.

"The writ of sequestration for Olot property was defective. It has to do with the possession only. In terms of the main case, it is still pending in court. That decision has not been executed and it is still under the possession of PCGG," Gonzaga said.

The court said an order of sequestration could only be issued upon a showing "of a prima facie case" that the properties are ill-gotten wealth, in accordance with Section 26 of Article XVIII of the Constitution.

According to Gonzaga, even if the mansion will be restored to Marcos, there are still limitations like disposing the property since it still under litigation.

In its latest ruling, the Supreme Court said that the lifting of the sequestration order will not necessarily be fatal to the main case since it does not follow from such lifting that the sequestered properties are not ill-gotten wealth.

"Such lifting simply means that the government may not act as conservator or may not exercise administrative or housekeeping powers over the property," the decision said.

On February 28, 1986, immediately after assuming power, President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order 1, creating the PCGG, which is empowered to recover all ill-gotten wealth of the former President, his family and close allies.

Within a month of its creation, the PCGG moved to sequester any property, documents, money and other assets in Leyte, belonging to Representative Marcos, her brothers Benjamin Romualdez and Alfredo Romualdez, and their agents.

The sequestration order against the Olot Resthouse was issued March 18, 1986. The Marcos widow filed a motion to quash the sequestration order against the Olot Resthouse, claiming that such order was issued only by PCGG agents, violating rules.

The former first lady also claimed that no prima facie evidence that the Olot Resthouse constituted ill-gotten wealth. She pointed out that the property is the ancestral home of her family.

The property has 17-room sitting on 42 hectares of beachfront land, with a golf course, swimming pool, cottages, a pelota court and a pavilion.

Gonzaga said that even if Marcos will claim the estate, it will still be classified as recovered assets with the pending case.

The official confirmed that other than the Olot Resthouse, there are also other PCGG recovered assets questioned in High Court due to defective writ of sequestration.

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